Criminology and Psychology

Explore criminological issues, forensic psychology, and the psychology of crime and mental health to help build an impactful career in preventative education and rehabilitation in the criminal justice system and beyond.

This interdisciplinary course offers a chance to explore crime and criminal justice through critical perspectives and psychological insights. By applying theory to real-world settings, you should gain the skills needed to address key societal issues and prepare for an impactful, rewarding career in this field.

Contemporary curriculum: gain expert insights into crime prevention, rehabilitation, witness and victim trauma, and the inner workings of the justice system.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: this course offers a nuanced perspective on crime and justice by merging criminological theories with psychological principles, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Industry-focused learning: our approach combines innovative teaching methods and immersive simulations in our mock prison cells and moot room to prepare you for the complexities of crime and justice, ensuring your learning is directly aligned with current challenges in the criminal justice system.

Why you should study this course
Specialised topics: specialise in an exciting range of topics and themes within the programme. These include the psychology of criminal behaviour, rehabilitation and criminal justice, psychology in forensic contexts and punishment and control.
Project-based learning: actively engage in real-world, meaningful projects and work on complex problems. Create tangible solutions and develop essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and communication. Assessments are designed to reflect the type of work and tasks carried out by those working in criminology and psychology. They may include the production of opinion pieces, reports and research papers, posters and infographics, as well as problem-solving scenarios such as assessment centre exercises. These are designed to showcase your expertise and real-world readiness.
Impactful work: graduates can expect to make a real difference by working on crime prevention, rehabilitation and justice reform, helping to create safer, more equitable communities.
Applied learning: the course provides a deep understanding of the psychological factors influencing criminal actions and societal responses, helping to prepare you to work within systems that deal with offenders, victims and law enforcement.
Academic community: learning experiences are designed to be built around collaboration and research, taught by a team of accessible criminologists and psychologists.

Where our graduates work
Recent graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate qualifications and work for a range of organisations, including The National Crime Agency, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, HM Prison Service, Coventry Cyrenians, West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police.

Course Modules

This course has a common first year. The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience. If you discover a passion for a specific area of study, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year, upon successful completion of your first year and subject to meeting progression requirements.

Year One Modules:
The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour
The Criminal Justice System
Crime Patterns and Analysis
Principles of Investigation: Theory and Practice

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Year Two
In year two you will continue to build on your knowledge and understanding of crime and criminal justice by looking deeper into forensic psychology and at key institutions, such as policing, and systems of punishment. You will also be introduced to the concept of victimology. Finally, you will begin preparing for your final year research project by exploring methods and processes for researching crime.

Modules
Researching Crime - 20 credits
Victims and Victimology - 20 credits
Perspectives in Forensic Psychology - 20 credits
Forensic Psychology in Context - 20 credits
Policing and Society - 20 credits
Punishment and Control - 20 credits

Placement Year
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,250. For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Final Year
In the final year you will apply the knowledge from your first two years in the more specialised areas of violence and exploitation and organised crime. You will also be able to develop specific interests and expertise to suit your career plans through options in Psychology including crime-related areas such as addiction or aggression, or other areas such as counselling or educational psychology. You will also take your research project in which you will produce a research paper on your own contribution to knowledge.

Modules
Global Organised Crime - 20 credits
Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice - 20 credits
Optional module - 20 credits. Choose one from the following:
Criminal Behaviour and its Contexts
Addictive Behaviours
Child and Educational Psychology
Optional module - 20 credits. Choose one from the following:
Clinical Neuroscience
Counselling Psychology
Aggression and Violent Behaviour
Research Project in Criminology - 40 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website.