Orientation Interview – Dr Matthew Allen (CRIM104)

Ben and Kim had the opportunity to sit down with Dr Matthew Allen to discuss his background as a criminologist and what first-year students could expect in his unit this year. Dr Allen is a Lecturer and Unit Coordinator in Criminology, as well as being a historian and criminologist whose research is focused on the 18th and 19th centuries.

In addition to this impressive and interesting research focus, Dr Allen is the Unit Coordinator for CRIM104 – Deviance; which examines and explores the social relation to gender, sexuality, race, bodies, minds, drug use, and violence. Breaching social norms or judgements is considered deviant and deviance is both a universal and ubiquitous phenomenon. Students taking this unit can expect to learn the concept of deviance as a means of critically analysing society. It is recommended that students undertaking a Bachelor of Criminology study CRIM104 in their first year, if not first trimester. More information about this fascinating unit can be found here.

This interview is part of a series of Orientation Interviews, designed to make first-year students feel more at ease and reassured about what they can expect at UNE. Starting out at University can be highly overwhelming and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that students feel as comfortable as possible.

Dr Allen is very approachable and implores all students concerned or apprehensive about studying this unit to contact him via email on matthew.allen@une.edu.au or via phone on 02 6773 2125. More information about Dr Allen can be found here.