Criminology and Psychology with foundation year

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.

Please note that the foundation year of this Coventry University degree will be delivered from our CU Coventry campus. Course delivery from year 1 of the degree onwards will be from our Coventry University campus.

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course.

Foundation year
The foundation year course offers an introduction to your chosen subject and helps you develop the necessary skills for degree-level study. It aims to provide a thorough understanding of legal principles and best practice. With a focus on European, national and local contexts, this course explores the development of legislation and case law with core academic skills.

Degree
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

Foundation year

• Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.

• Provides a grounding in key areas of criminal law and legal practice.

Degree

• 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.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

Course Modules

The foundation year offers an introduction to your chosen subject and supports you to develop the skills required for degree-level study.

Modules:
Introduction to the English Legal System
Contract Law
Criminal Law and Practice
Academic and Professional Skills for Lawyers

Year One:
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 which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses:
Criminology BA (Hons)
Criminology and Forensic Investigations BA (Hons)
Criminology and Law BA (Hons)
Criminology and Psychology BA (Hons)
Criminology and Youth Justice BA (Hons)

Your first year aims to give you a thorough grounding in the study of crime, criminal behaviour, justice, and the law in a global context. Working alongside students from Criminology, and Criminology and Law, you will not only develop the knowledge you need to progress in your degree, but also be encouraged to think critically about the issues, see crime from legal and moral viewpoints, and be creative in finding solutions to problems.

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

Year Two:
Crime, Nature and Resistance
Psychology in Forensic Contexts
Policing
Punishment and Control

Sandwich Year:
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final years 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.

Final Year:
Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice
Forensic Mental Health
Victimology
Option modules, Choose one from the following two modules:
Aggression, Violence and Serious Offending
Violence and Exploitation

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.