Psychology and Criminology

The BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology will provide you with a comprehensive grounding in the subjects of psychology and criminology as empirical social sciences that aim to understand the mind and behaviour, crime and deviance. You will understand the key principles, ideas, and techniques within the subjects of psychology and criminology, and apply them in an ethical and safe way.

You will explore ideas of criminality, deviance and psychopathology, cover different aspects of psychology such as biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and consider the social impact of deviance in youth.

The course delves into social aspects of criminology and psychology, for example the social impact of crime on individuals and communities, social inequality, gender, age and sexuality, with links to the history of crime and criminality. The course provides an in depth look at human behaviour, including deviant behaviour and attitudes towards deviance over time.

You will learn about a range of themes from criminology including victimology, cybercrime, terrorism and extremism, sex crimes and the role of the media in portraying crime, terrorism and deviance.

As you progress through the degree, you will develop your academic and personal skills including research, critical thinking, time management, teamwork and self confidence in discussing challenging and – at times – controversial issues.

The course is designed in a holistic way to ensure the development of key psychological and criminological transferable knowledge and skills that will enable you to specialise in your area(s) of interest. The skill acquired within this course will assist you to undertake further training and/or study as required to work as a practitioner psychologist or in the criminological sector. Thus, you will study modules relevant to the core areas of psychology: biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods and individual differences. You will also study the key themes within criminology, with particular focus on new and emerging models within crime and deviance, with modules such as key thinkers in criminology, online crime, contemporary issues in policing and severe crime.

Level 4:

Introduction to Research Methods

Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology

Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology

Key Thinkers in Criminology

Crime in the Media

Online Crime

Level 5:

Research Methods

Biological and Cognitive Psychology

Social and Developmental Psychology

Penology – Understanding the Punitive System

Victimology

Understanding Violent Crime

Level 6:

Dissertation

Psychometric Testing in Employment

Understanding Criminal Profiling

Contemporary Issues in Policing

Psychology of Marketing and Persuasion

A range of assessment methodologies are utilised and designed to enable you to explore your discipline and personal interests.

Assessment methods include both formative and summative submissions.

Formative assessments are designed to develop your critical thinking and subject skills in a regular and directed manner. The tasks also enable you to develop safely, freely and creatively without the pressure of a formal assessment. You will participate in group discussions, give presentations and jointly explore themes and arguments. Group discussions and debates are aimed at improving your understanding and skills sets rather than the acquisition of knowledge per se and are structured in such a way as to maximise effective participation and engagement. They are normally preceded by a prescribed course of reading and preparatory exercises. These formative assessments will deepen your understanding of the theme or subject and develop communication skills; encourage a critical (but tolerant) self-critical approach to discussions and build self-confidence to think quickly on your feet, to communicate articulately and persuasively with others, and to recognise the value of close collaboration and exchange of ideas.

Summative assessments include written assignments in the form of essays and reports; psychological reports, document analysis; individual presentations as well as timed constrained exams both seen and unseen.