Criminal Investigation with Psychology with Social Sciences Foundation Year

The BSc (Hons) Criminal Investigation with Psychology course gives you the opportunity to combine your interests in crime and psychology to gain a degree that will prove invaluable for a career in crime scene investigation and detection.

The course encourages you to develop a critical understanding of the core principals of both criminology and psychology – and focuses on real-world studies that reflect current understandings and practice from these fields. From criminology you will gain a critical understanding of criminal investigation processes and criminological theories and research, enabling you to explain and analyse deviant and criminal behaviour. Psychology modules will enable to you develop an analytical appreciation of the core areas of psychological science, such as the study of human development, cognition and personality.

Learning at Solent is industry-led and supported through a highly experienced academic team, with activities and assessments geared towards your future career in the criminal justice and policing sectors. An interactive style that encourages participation enables you to practice the skills required for success in modern crime scene investigation.

Close industry connections with local, national and international criminal justice and policing agencies enrich the learning as well as provide opportunities to apply your growing skills and knowledge. Networking through volunteering is encouraged and you can also select one of our four-year placement degrees.

If you’re looking to study our criminal investigation with psychology degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the social sciences foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the social sciences foundation year.

This course also offers the option of a placement year. A placement year allows you to put what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.

Who is this course for?
This course is suited to students who wish to follow a career path in criminal investigation with psychology or similar professional/voluntary capacity.

You will build analytical and research skills that can be transferred to a broad range of careers, along with valuable industry connections through site visits, guest speakers and lecturers’ own networks within the industry.

What does this course lead to?
If you’re looking for a career path in criminal investigation or psychology, this is the course for you.

You will be well placed for roles within the criminal justice sector and related fields, while your analytical and research-focused skills, along with a range of transferrable skills will aid employability in a broad range of careers, such as in the business and voluntary sectors.

FOUNDATION YEAR
Core Modules

Work-Ready Professional Skills
Wellness, Recreation, Society
Investigating in the Social Sciences (Social Science Pathway)
Mental Health, Wellbeing and Wellness (Social Science Pathway)

YEAR 1
CORE MODULES

Criminal Justice Process
Police and Social Control
The Criminal Mind: Understanding and Applying Theory
Behaviour and the Brain

YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES

Criminological Fieldwork: Methods and Practice
Crime Scene Investigation
Diversity in the Social World

OPTIONAL MODULES - Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Punishment, Resistance and Desistance
True Crime in the Information Age

PLACEMENT YEAR

FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES

Investigation of Serious Crime
Dangerous Offenders
Applied Criminology: Final Project
CHIP

You may be assessed by a combination of:
Written assessments
Written exams
Portfolios
Workshops
Individual presentations
Group presentations
Fieldwork