Criminology and Criminal Justice

Our Criminology and Criminal Justice programme is for those passionate about understanding crime, its causes, and its consequences. This course will take you through a range of topics, from youth justice and serious organised crime to the impact of social factors like gender-based violence, segregation, and inequality on criminal behaviour.

Explore important areas such as public policy, social harm, and how drug policies shape society. Our interdisciplinary approach integrates sociology, law, and public policy, giving you a comprehensive perspective on criminality and justice.

You will investigate critical issues like social inclusion, substance misuse, and legal processes, gaining insights into crime and criminality. Learn about policing, the criminal justice system, and how the media reports crime. This programme prepares you to address crime and vulnerability in various contexts.

Our course also covers rehabilitation, offering a deeper understanding of how the system supports offenders in reintegrating into society. You’ll examine how race and religion influence crime and the impact of serious organised crime on communities.

By studying with us, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for employment in the field of criminology and criminal justice.

In your first year, you will lay the foundation for understanding criminology and criminal justice. You will study the basics of criminology, exploring what crime is and how it affects society. Modules in youth justice, will help you understand the causes of youth crime and how the system handles young offenders. Key modules will introduce you to the criminal justice system, including the roles of the police, courts, and correctional institutions. Additionally, you will explore how social factors like race, gender, and class influence crime and responses to it.

Compulsory

Preparing for Employment (20 credits)
Introduction to Criminology (20 credits)
Young people, Gangs and Serious Offending (20 credits )
Substance Misuse and Criminality (20 credits )
Legal Process (20 credits)
Study Skills (Law) (20 credits)
Course Disclaimer

In your second year, you will deepen your knowledge of criminology and criminal justice. You will study policing, learning about the challenges and strategies used by law enforcement. Modules on rehabilitation and criminal justice will teach you about the various methods used to rehabilitate offenders and reduce reoffending. Modules on gender-based violence and social harm will help you understand the broader context of crime and its effects on different groups. You will also delve into public policy , examining how laws and policies are created and their impact on crime and justice.

Compulsory

Understanding Crime, Justice and Punishment (20 credits)
Preparing for Criminological Research (20 credits)
Police, Policing and Society (20 credits)
Social Inclusion, Victimisation and Welfare (20 credits)
Volunteering: The Gateway to Employment (20 credits)
Rehabilitation of Offenders (20 credits )
Optional

International Mobility Opportunity (60 Credits)

In your final year, you will focus on advanced topics and practical applications. You will explore crime reporting in the media, understanding how crime is portrayed and its impact on public perception. You will explore serious and organised crime, learning about the impact and strategies used to combat it. You will learn about research methods used in criminology, helping you gather and analyse data effectively. You will also have the opportunity to conduct independent research, applying the knowledge and skills you have gained throughout the course to a topic of your choice.

Compulsory

Crime and Vulnerability (20 credits)
Gender, Race, Religion and Crime (20 credits)
Serious, organised Crime (20 credit )
Media and Crime (20 credits )
Independent Project (40 credits)

The course will be assessed by a mixture of written coursework, project work, presentations and exams.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS