FdA Criminology and Criminal Justice (HTQ)

Do you have an enquiring mind? Are you interested in why people commit crimes or become victims of crime? Discover the political, personal and social aspects of crime with a FdA in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Here at University Campus Oldham, we give you the tools to understand what constitutes crime, consider how crime and criminal behaviour impacts children and young people, and reflect on ways of addressing crime within our society.

Our FdA has been aligned with job roles in Youth Offending Services within Local Authorities. This is course is a Higher Technical Qualification which is approved by IFATE which means you will develop skills and knowledge needed for working with children who have offended or who are at risk of offending.

Year 1
Looking Beyond Crime and Criminology (20 Credits)
This module begins by exploring the realities of crime in our society, looking at how crime is defined, measured and represented. We then move on to explore alternative conceptions of ‘crime’ through the social harm approach, investigating how the idea of ‘social harm’, affects our perceptions of crime, the criminal, and criminalisation and with what effect.
Skills, Research, and Employability (20 Credits)
This module supports students to develop a range of transferrable skills which will underpin future research and assessments, alongside facilitating independent learning and reflective practice.
The History of Criminal Justice (20 Credits)
This module outlines the history of punishment and criminal justice in the UK and shows how systems of criminal justice are, and have been, influenced by the social, political, religious, cultural, and theoretical trends and themes. Within this module we explore the importance of these contexts to the development of criminal justice and acknowledge that such development cannot be understood outside that context.
Crime and Morality (20 Credits)
This module is designed to introduce students to the wider and often controversial issues in criminology alongside exploration of the theoretical context in which enquiry about crime is located. The module examines several political, moral and legal concepts such as obligation to obey the law, disobedience, criminalisation, policing, human rights and justifications of punishment.
Key Approaches in Criminology (20 Credits)
The module is designed to stimulate, challenge and provoke thought and debate and to introduce students to the key theorists and ideas within criminology, so they can engage critically with the framework ideas, theories and practices that inform their respective approaches.
Criminal Justice in Action (20 Credits)
This module introduces the major stages, processes, procedures and personnel comprising the Criminal Justice system in England and Wales. The module includes guest lectures from practitioners within the CJS and a visit to the Crown Court.
Year 2
Mandatory Modules
Research Methods and Theory 1 (20 credits)
This module will support your development and understanding of methodological topics and theories within criminology. Learn how to utilise this to inform a historical understanding of the development of criminology as a colonial enterprise, and current debates around decolonising research at universities.
Research Methods and Theory 2 (20 credits)
Develop and extend your understanding of current debates in theory and research. To support the application of strategies and decisions in relation to research practice and planning.
Understanding Policing and Security (20 credits)
Explore developments in policing history and the sociology of policing and security. Apply explanations and frameworks critically to current issues in policing and security.
Youth Justice (20 credits)
Explore critical explanations of how the state responds to young people breaking, or at risk of breaking, the law or acting in an antisocial way.
Punishment and the Penal System (20 credits)
This module aims to introduce you to key issues and debates relating to the justification and use of punishment following a conviction for a criminal offence.

The course is assessed using a range of methods including essays, examinations, presentations, reports, reflections, research projects.