Criminology and Sociology

Explore the nature of crime and the criminal justice system in modern society with our leading academics and through our links with partners like HMP Exeter and Landworks.

Hands-on learning
Enter the Murder House and take part in live-action and virtual reality crime scenes to gain practical experience in multiple types of criminal investigations.

Investigate real cases
Join the Plymouth Cold Case Unit to test your research skills and gain hands-on experience investigating unsolved missing persons cases.

Expand your understanding of sociology
Study key sociological concepts and theories with topics including poverty, social exclusion, crime and media.

This course is for you if...

• you're fascinated by the causes of crime and how the criminal justice system works

• you want to get hands-on, taking part in live-action and virtual reality crime scene simulations

• you're motivated to put skills into practice with local and national criminal justice agencies

• you're committed to promoting social justice and aspire to make a meaningful impact in your community

Course Modules

Year 1
In your first year you’ll explore various perspectives on criminology and examine theories on the causes of crime and deviance. You’ll develop an understanding of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and examine crime in the context of economic, political and social frameworks. You’ll also study key sociological concepts and theories, with topics including poverty and social exclusion, work, community, religion, media, crime, education, globalisation, and consumer culture.

Year 2
In your second year you’ll advance your awareness of criminological theory to understand social process that underpin crime and criminal justice. Your understanding of criminology will take you to consider beyond crime to include broader social harms. You’ll also extend your critical reasoning skills as you examine processes of social change and explore consumer culture, ethnicity, globalisation and politics and the State, in historical and contemporary perspective.

Optional placement year
Gain valuable on-the-job experience through our optional placement year. We will support you in your second year in deciding whether to take this opportunity, and assist you in finding a placement and being prepared for it.

Final year
You have the option to take a placement year in your third year of study. In your final year, you’ll design and implement your own research project to produce your dissertation, working independently with the support of a member of our academic team. You will also study modules that reflect new, emerging trends in criminology that utilise current local, national and world issues. This includes green criminology, leisure and deviancy, violence and harm, justice in practice, social change and global issues such as state crime, war and terrorism. Or you can explore sociology in greater depth through modules including the mass media, drugs in society, health and the body.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.