Sociology and Criminology

For lots of politicians, ‘tough on crime’ is their go-to election pledge — the promise of a safer, fairer world. But with overcrowded prisons, multiple corruption crises, and declining faith in the criminal justice system, are we really any closer to understanding and tackling crime?

By blending two exciting subject areas — and expanding on both, with a range of modules exclusive to this combined-honours course — our BA Sociology and Criminology degree offers a bigger picture of a pressing problem. As a criminologist, you’ll examine the criminal justice system, and key questions around issues like offending, punishment, and rehabilitation. As a sociologist, you’ll analyse the norms and values of the world around you — as well as your own core beliefs.

It takes the lens of sociology to truly understand crime: the conditions that drive it, how it’s represented culturally, and society’s image of winners and losers, perpetrators and victims. As a social phenomenon, crime is society’s toughest question — and it’s only by exploring concepts like identity, inequality, prejudice, education and class that we can hope to properly answer it.

Why study Sociology and Criminology at NTU?

• Learning at the cutting edge. In a fast-changing world, explore today’s hottest topics in sociology and criminology.

• We’re Top 5 in the UK for number of accepts to Sociology courses (UCAS End of Cycle Report 2025)

• Combine two exciting subjects to learn how the insights of sociology and criminology fundamentally shape one another.

• Get priceless hands-on experience. We’ve partnered with organisations like Notts Police and Women’s Aid to tackle real issues.

In the name of change and social justice, it’s time to start thinking differently — to explore new trends and concepts in the worlds of sociology and criminology, to critically consider the beliefs and values of our society, and to reimagine your own ideas around crime and justice.

Course Modules

Built on TEF ‘Gold’-rated teaching, our BA Sociology and Criminology degree takes a more informed, joined-up approach than other combined-honours courses. Rather than bolting together a pair of subjects, we’ve designed this course to highlight the connectivity between the two: to show how sociological insights can be applied to criminological problems.

In Year One you'll study:

• Images of Crime and Criminal Justice

• Constructing Crime

• Foundations of Social Theory;

• Privilege and Power: Understanding Social Inequalities

• Sociology at Work

• Study and Research Skills

In Year Two you'll study:

• Rethinking Social and Criminal Justice

• Explaining Crime

• Constructing Modern Societies

• Sociology and Service Learning

• Applied Social Research

• Optional modules include: Gender, Sex and Sexuality; The Body in Society; Sociology of Education; Religion, Nonreligion and Everyday Belief; and Politics and Social Justice.

In Final Year you'll study:

• Theorising Contemporary Society

• Research Project

• Sociology of Work and Career.

• Optional modules include: Sociology of Harm; Race, Culture and Society; Popular Culture; Identities and Intimacies; Media & Crime; Gender and Crime; Cultural Criminology; Crime, Race & Empire; Digital Culture and Society; and Political Violence and Terror.

The majority of your work will be assessed through coursework-based essays, reports and a final year research-based dissertation. You'll also be assessed through a combination of formal examinations and practical assessments such as group and individual presentations and portfolios.