Criminology and Sociology with Foundation Year

Why study Criminology and Sociology with Foundarion Year at Liverpool John Moores University?

• Taught by subject specialists with national and international reputations for their research and civic engagement

• Delivered using innovative teaching, learning and assessment methods, with options for fieldwork at home and overseas, with international study opportunities

• The teaching team are committed to sociology and criminology in action, and to making a difference in peoples' lives

• You will have opportunities to participate in 'out of classroom' learning activities including educational field visits to organisations, museums, art galleries, places of worship and walking tours

• Work placement opportunities in teaching, international development, charities, tourism, media, creative and heritage industries

• 93% of students on this course said teaching staff were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025)

About your course
The BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University combines two contemporary and popular disciplines, providing you with grounding in core elements of both subjects, together with a wide range of optional modules that will enable you to follow your own pathway.

Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking skills by questioning what we mean by the terms 'crime', 'criminals', 'punishment' and 'justice'. You will learn about the institutions of the criminal justice system and study areas like corporate crime, state crime, miscarriages of justice, policing and drugs. The two disciplines share many concerns, and our degree brings the two subjects together in ways which emphasise the areas of social policy, the variable impact of age, class, gender, sexuality, religion and ethics, disability and ethnicity on social life.

The degree is taught in the Sociology department, and your personal tutor will be a sociologist. The modules will be taught by a team of well-qualified, experienced and dedicated staff from the Sociology and Criminology departments.

You will study social science research methods, including qualitative surveys and qualitative techniques, and be provided with a thorough grounding in theoretical perspectives which are drawn upon in the critical investigations of societies and of criminology.

The degree carefully fosters an international perspective on society and criminology, considers the relationships between the local and the global, and includes opportunities to study abroad, undertake educational field work visits to South Asia or Europe.

Pathways can be built through the study of modules, which concentrate ecological issues, social policy and cultural analysis of media, music, sport and religion. You will also receive training in sociological methods and sociological and criminological theory.

The degree also offers you exciting work-based and work-related opportunities to gain professional experience relevant to your degree.

Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Criminology and Sociology honours degree programme yet. Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Please visit the Liverpool John Moores University website for detailed module information.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose.

We understand that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, so we use a range of traditional and innovative assessment methods. These include essays, exams, reports, individual and group presentations, policy analyses, online tests, wikis, critical reviews, posters and group work. Approximately 75% of your assessments will be by coursework and the rest by exam, but this varies according to the options you choose.

Constructive feedback on your assessed work is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies. Your tutors will provide this in writing, by email or in face-to-face meetings where they will help you identify your strengths as well as areas where you may need to put in more work. They can also direct you to further support if you feel you need it.