Criminology

Get under the skin of the criminal justice system and learn how criminology can have an impact on promoting change. Immerse yourself in live-action and virtual reality crime scenes, and tackle face-to-face suspect interviews.

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.

Delve into current issues
Develop an understanding today's societal issues and social justice to help develop solutions for a more socially equitable and fairer society.

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 criminological perspectives examining theories on the causes of crime and deviance. You will 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 look at policy and practice to develop your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the criminal justice processes, gaining a grounding in criminal justice research. You’ll explore how key concepts and theories shed light on topics including poverty and social exclusion, community, media, education, globalisation, and consumer culture and their relationship to crime, deviance and criminal justice.

Year 2
In your second year you’ll advance your awareness of criminological theory to enhance your analytical skills to understand contemporary and global issues connected to harm, crime, justice and the social world. You’ll also extend your critical reasoning skills as you examine processes of social change and explore consumer culture, ethnicity, globalisation, politics and the State, within a historical and contemporary perspective. Your training in research methods will provide you with an insight into research preparing you early for your final year dissertation project. You will also have the opportunity to apply for place on the 'Inside Knowledge' module that partners students with learners at Exeter prison in a rewarding environment of collaborative learning.

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. The placement could be in any appropriate external setting. Alternatively, you can gain this experience by selecting our Work-Based Learning module in your final year.

Final year
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 the 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.

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