KRIM4962 – The Sociology of Legal and Illegal Drug Use
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course provides a basic introduction to sociological studies of legal and illegal drug use. Readings emphasize classics such as Goffman, Becker, Collins, Bourdieu and Latour, and show how these theories have been integrated in contemporary empirical research, in Norway and internationally. Topics include detailed studies of particular drugs (e.g. cannabis, MDMA, heroin, alcohol, tobacco) as well as studies of the formal and informal control of drug use and different treatment practices. It also discusses the phenomenological and philosophical background of concepts such as intoxication and addiction.
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
At the end of the course, you will have obtained knowledge of the most central questions and positions in contemporary sociological debates about legal and illegal drug use and have received thorough understanding of the following:
- What characterizes cannabis use, cannabis culture, and cannabis markets?
- What is the social meaning of getting high, and what cultural practices are associated with alcohol and other drugs?
- What is the sociological approach to or understanding of addiction?
- How has the social understanding and stigma of tobacco changed and what consequences does the increasing delegalization have?
- What characterizes drug use in club setting and how is both legal and illegal drug use gendered?
- How is drug use controlled formally and informally?
- How is drug use treated, for example in prison, and what is the difference between zero tolerance approaches and harm reduction?
Skills
Students will:
- learn to interpret, analyze and critically discuss scholarly texts with a view to their possible implications for social and political practices in the drug field;
- learn the basis of and be able to reflect upon basic themes, problematics and dilemmas in academic, public and policy debates concerning legal and illegal drugs.
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apply the learned contents to assess the tendencies of future developments in the drug field.
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think creatively about case studies on legal and illegal drugs, suggest and develop relevant example research questions and projects.
Competences
Students will:
- enhance their capability to question and discuss urgent and sensitive aspects of contemporary drug phenomena and policy realities through the lenses of sociological theory.
- enhance their capability to formulate and reflect on their own ideas of the individual and societal causes of drug use, their possible harm, and solutions to the “drug problem”.
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have deepened their knowledge about analytical tools, which will help them to study phenomena critically and develop their own standpoints on drug use, drug policy and drug policing practices. Tools and insights can also be transferred to other key areas studied in criminology.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with KRIM2962 – The Sociology of Legal and Illegal Drug Use
Teaching
Lectures
Examination
Students are graded on the basis of a 4 hour written exam.
Digital examination
The written examination is conducted on desktop computers in the examination venue.
Read more about written examinations using Inspera.
Examination support material
You may bring up to two copies of a general (non-legal) spelling dictionary, regardless of language. Incorporations are not permitted.
No other examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria
This guide is used by examiners for grading this course.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.