Police studies

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1021124CEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Department

Criminology

Educational team

Sofie De Kimpe (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

24 contact hours Lecture
75 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

Students get acquainted with the police organization, police culture and basics of Belgian police law. The subject covers primarily the Belgian police organisation and structure. Students learn how the current Belgian police system was shaped through history. they study the current structure of the system (hierarchy, governance and leadership of the police). At the end of this course, students are familiar with the Belgian organisation as described in the Belgian Police Law.

Besides the structure, the culture of the police is discussed by refering to the international literature on the sociology of the police: the role and function of the police and the concept of policing. The relationship between the police and the puvlic is highlighted, with special attention to police legitimacy.

Students understand contemporary police problems and questions. The students are able to analyse and evaluate police policy.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Blauw., Een handboek over de politie, haar functie, werking en organisatie., De Kimpe, Sofie; Van den Broeck, Tom, 2023, Vanden Broele, 978-90-496-1992-3, 2023

Additional info

Obliged Reading

The students are obliged to read a book or article on police studies. One question on the exam refers to this reading excercise. detailed information can be found on Canvas.

Arrangements evening students

The lessons of the day students are recorded for the evening students. For the evening students 2 meetings are provided. One at the beginning of the semester where we will explain content of course, and one at the end of the semester where student have ton prepare Q&A for professor. Students wil'll have to have seen the video lessons or have read the concerned chapters of the Syllabus to prepare the Q&A. .

Learning Outcomes

Algemene Competenties

Knowledge and Insight

Graduates have knowledge about and understand the main questions and the central theoretical concepts of international police sociology
Graduates have knowledge and understanding about police policies and debates on this subject
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the international understanding on the role of the population in the functioning of the police
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of international insights about the police culture
Graduates can see the dimensions of policing, indicating their mutual interest and feedback to a critical analysis of police work
Graduates have a view of the historical development of the police
Graduates have knowledge and understanding of the current force structure and legal framework of the Belgian police
Graduates have knowledge and understand the connection between the historical developments within the Belgian police and the current force structure and legal framework
Graduates can, based on the knowledge of police sociology, formulate critical comments about the current Belgian police system

Skills

Graduates can relate in a scientific manner relevant police problems and issues to theoretical insights.
Graduates can communicate (oral and written) scientifically based insights on a synthetic and structured way.

Attitudes

Graduates have an interested, inquisitive and independent attitude which makes them follow the international and national developments within the police;
Graduates have a great interest in and sensitivity to the social impact of the police;
Graduates respect the emotional aspects of policing and the relation between the citizens and the police;
Graduates have a dogmatic vision which they do not go looking for "ultimate truths", but recognize the relative uncertainty and ambiguity of insights from an open scientific attitude.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

During the exam, there is a test of insight, ability to synthesise, critical reflection and verbal skill. The exam consists of open-ended questions spread over the course material.
A reading assignment is given each year. One question is asked about this during the oral examination part.

Use of AI
It is not allowed to use generative AI to generate output related to the evaluation task.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context