Psychology with Forensic Applications (with a Placement Year)

If you’re interested in crime and investigation and want to explore how psychology can help us to understand criminal behaviour and justice system processes, this course provides an excellent basis for a career in forensic and investigative psychology related areas.

You’ll analyse the ‘before, during and after’ stages of a crime as you discover how forensic psychologists support investigations. You can get hands-on at simulated crime scenes, practise interview techniques and learn about managing offenders inside our custody suite and prison cell.

The course puts crime into context and involves analysing major cases, such as killer GP Harold Shipman and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

Other topics range from whether criminals can be rehabilitated to how psychological factors can explain wrongful convictions. You’ll delve into psychological profiling too, so you can build up a picture of an offender’s characteristics.

Our facilities include Cognitive Research Cubicles, an Observation Room, Psychology and IT labs, VR equipment, as well as access to Simulation Suites at the University.

The degree can lead to a variety of postgraduate study and career opportunities, including specialising in forensic or clinical psychology and roles in victim support, youth offending services or with police forces.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Forensic and Investigative Psychology

Course Modules

Year One: Applying Psychology; Becoming a Researcher 1; Foundations in Psychology; Psychology in the Justice System; Steps to Success 1

Year Two Core: Psychology of Crime and Serious Offending; Becoming a Researcher 2; Developmental and Biological Psychology across the Lifespan; Steps to Success 2

Year Two Optional: Victimisation and Social Harm; Sentence Management and Rehabilitation; Psychology Option Choice 1

Year Three: Placement

Year Four: Forensic Applications of Psychology; Psychology Project; Society and the Mind; Steps to Success 3

Year Four Optional: Psychology Option Choice 2; Vulnerabilities and the Criminal Justice System; Punishment, Prisons, Rehabilitation and Desistance

Reflecting the different needs of learners, we use a wide range of assessment methods.  These are carefully designed and monitored to enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes for each module and also to allow elements of choice and co-creation (e.g., Steps to Success career planning assessments and Psychology Project).  Methods range from traditional essays and exams, through to case study analysis, research report writing, critical reviews, group presentations, live briefs, advisory report, presentation pitch and reflective writing.  All modules have formative assessment opportunities and we ensure that students undertake a variety of assessment methods at each level and that they are interesting, challenging and develop skills valued by employers.