The BSc (Hons) Sociology and Criminology explores the relationship between social behaviour and crime via a fusion of two fascinating disciplines. The course will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of key areas within sociology and criminology while encouraging the integration of diverse perspectives to address sociological issues, societal functioning, human experience, and behavioural patterns.
You will gain an appreciation for the historical origins and evolution of sociology and criminology, understanding how these fields have developed over time and their impact on contemporary society. The program allows you to explore complex social problems through the lens of criminological theories, analysing issues related to crime, class, victimisation, and societal responses to crime and deviance, fostering a deeper understanding of these topics.
You will acquire knowledge of various paradigms, methods, and research techniques relevant to sociology and criminology and learn to recognise the limitations and appropriate use of these methods and conduct empirical research projects under supervision. The course instils a strong sense of ethical conduct in research, aligning with guidelines set by the British Sociological Association and British Society of Criminology.
In addition to subject-specific knowledge, you will develop a wide range of transferable skills such as critical thinking, research, communication, and problem-solving abilities which are valuable for employment opportunities both within and outside the field of sociology and criminology.
In the first year, you will be introduced to core theories and key thinkers in sociology, such as Marx, Durkheim, Conflict and Feminist theories as well as the fundamentals of conducting research in sociology. You will also explore the key thinkers within criminology, as well as being introduced to new areas of criminological understanding, including online crime.
In the second year, alongside learning about subjects related to the different divisions within criminology, you will explore the topics introduced in the previous year in greater depth.
In the third year, you continue to develop subject-specific knowledge, covering topics such as policing, criminal profiling and the sociology of the criminal justice system, and apply your understanding of research methods and data analysis to complete a piece of empirical research.
Level 4:
Introduction to Qualitative Methods
Introduction to the Sociological Imagination
The Big Deal – Sociology of Drugs, Dealing and Addiction
Key Thinkers in Criminology
Crime in the Media
Online Crime
Level 5:
Conducting Sociological Research – Preparing for Dissertation
Sociology of Crime
Penology - Understanding the Punitive System
Victimology
Understanding Violent Crime
How Society Works
Level 6:
Dissertation
Sociology of Law and Order
Understanding Criminal Profiling
Contemporary Issues in Policing
Politics, Propaganda, and International Relations
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; document analysis; individual and group presentations.
The following entry points are available for this course:
Applicants who do not meet the published entry requirements will be considered on an individual basis based upon prior learning and relevant experience.
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
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Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Outside of course fees, there are some additional costs associated with the completion of the programme.
For example, there may be optional enhancement trips with costs dependent on location.
Additional costs may include the purchase of core texts – we acknowledge individuals may prefer hard copy core texts for annotation and reference.
Email:universitystudiesadmissions@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk
Phone:01284 716341
Monday to Thursday 9.00 to 16.30
Friday 9.00 to 16.00
73 Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3SP
At West Suffolk College
