Criminology with foundation year

Explore why crime happens, who defines it, how it impacts communities and ways to prevent it, so you're equipped with the knowledge to understand crime and create positive change.

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
Explore the causes and impacts of crime while building analytical reasoning, investigative skills and real-world insights. Develop the expertise needed to shape a safer, more just society and pursue an impactful career in criminal justice and related fields.

• Comprehensive exploration of crime: investigate a wide range of criminal behaviours, from everyday offences to serious global issues like human trafficking and terrorism. Examine how these have evolved over time.

• Applied learning: learn to connect important theoretical viewpoints to current problems and discussions, applying these theories in real-world situations.

• Career-focused: analyse and evaluate new developments and topics related to crime, the management of crime and the criminal justice system, both at the local and global levels. The course is aimed at those with an interest in criminal justice or wanting to become a practitioner in crime investigation and prevention, public protection, offender management and rehabilitation, intelligence or witness/victim services.

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

• Stay ahead of the curve: we employ a variety of imaginative and innovative ways of learning, including the use of real-world simulations, to enrich the educational experience and address pertinent issues associated with crime and the criminal justice system.

• Project-based learning: actively engage in real-world, meaningful projects and work on complex problems to create tangible solutions. Develop essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

• Real-world insights: learn from experts and industry professionals and engage with real-life case studies within the criminal justice sector. These include criminal psychology, global crime, victimology, policing, punishment and control, youth justice and rehabilitation.

• Academic community: the learning experience is built around collaboration and research, taught by a team of accessible criminologists who actively engage in research, publication, and real-world practice.

• Beyond the classroom: previous students have visited Crown Court and prison and volunteered with local police, helping them gain first-hand experience of these specialised settings.

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

Course Modules

Foundation Year
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)

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

Year Two

Modules:
Crime, Nature and Resistance
Youth, Crime and Justice
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 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.

Final Year

Modules:
Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice
Digital Technology and Crime
Victimology
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.