Criminology

Our Criminology degrees don’t just teach you the theories behind criminality, we help you understand the causes, reactions and solutions to crime. If you study with us, you could either study Criminology more broadly or choose to specialise on one of our pathways.

At University of Staffordshire , you’ll study the complex causes of crime and how our societies should respond to pressing problems, such as domestic violence, knife crime, or drug related crime, as well as supra national issues such as terrorism and transnational organised crime. What’s more, you’ll learn to consider the social context in which crime and punishment takes place, and eventually, you’ll start to challenge your preconceptions of ‘violence’, ‘harm’ and ‘justice’.

You’ll explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. You’ll be investigating and discussing the explanations for crime and how the courts deal with them. Plus, you’ll explore the role of punishment and the secure estate, investigate crimes of the powerful, and come to understand the role of the media within the justice system.

Pathway Options:

You will be given the chance to specialise in a particular area of Criminology from your second year onwards, tailoring your study to align with your career aspirations. You will be able to continue to study Criminology as a broad subject, or specialise by taking one of the following pathways: Offender Management, Victimology or Organised Crime and Terrorism.

The MSci course combines Bachelors-level and Masters-level study in one integrated programme. Students follow the same structure of study in years 1 to 3, but complete advanced modules and an integrated placement option in their fourth and final year.

Course Modules

Year One Core — All Pathways: Crime Prevention; Essential Skills for Criminology; Introduction to Research Skills; Psychology in the Justice System; The Criminal Justice Process; Theories of Crime and Justice

Year Two Core – Standard Pathway: Designing Research Projects; Law for Justice; Media and Crime
Year Two Optional — Standard Pathway: Crime, Harm and Victimisation; Offender Management; Organised Crime; Risk and Vulnerability; Understanding Terrorism: Causes and Theories

Year Two Core – Offender Management Pathway: Designing Research Projects; Identifying Suicide and/or Self Harm Prevention; Law for Justice; Media and Crime; Offender Management; Prison and Probation Laws and Regulations

Year Two Core – Organised Crime and Terrorism Pathway: Designing Research Projects; Law for Justice; Media and Crime; Organised Crime; Understanding Terrorism: Causes and Theories
Year Two Optional – Organised Crime and Terrorism Pathway: Crime, Harm and Victimisation; Offender Management; Risk and Vulnerability

Year Two Core – Victimology Pathway: Crime, Harm and Victimisation; Designing Research Projects; Identifying Suicide and/or Self Harm Prevention; Law for Justice; Media and Crime; Working with Victims: Restorative and Trauma Informed Practice

Year Three Core – Standard Pathway: Dissertation Project; Placement; Punishment and Penology
Year Three Optional — Standard Pathway: Child Safeguarding; Contemporary Terror Movements: Classification & Responses; Cybercrime; Policing and Society; Serial Killers; Transnational Organised Crime

Year Three Core – Offender Management Pathway: Community Justice; Dissertation Project; Mental Health Assessment for Non-Mental Health Professionals; Rehabilitation of Offenders; Serial Killers

Year Three Core – Organised Crime and Terrorism Pathway: Contemporary Terror Movements: Classification and Response; Dissertation Project; Placement; Punishment and Penology; Transnational Organised Crime

Year Three Core – Victimology Pathway: Child Safeguarding; Dissertation Project; Mental Health Assessment for Non-Mental Health Professionals; Placement; Rehabilitation of Offenders

Year 4 Core — All Pathways: Contemporary Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice; Postgraduate Project

We recognise the importance of enabling you to benefit from a range of different forms of assessment. Therefore, you will encounter both traditional (for example, unseen examinations and essays) and newer modes of assessment (portfolios; reflective diaries; case studies; presentations). The assessment strategy also includes the reflective portfolio and presentation we use to assess the placement module (and the placement year for those taking the BSc (Hons) Criminology with a Placement Year). Our assessment strategy strives to provide a mixture of controlled forms of assessment (examinations) and autonomous forms which are reviewed annually via award monitoring. This variety of assessment arises from a concern firstly, to ensure that you can realise your educational potential as fully as possible and secondly, to ensure that you are exposed to forms of assessment which enable you to demonstrate a range of learning outcomes appropriate to the particular modules, levels and award.