Criminology

Investigate, scrutinise and understand the causes, consequences and responses to crime with our Criminology degree.

• A programme of study which focuses on criminological, sociological and psychological perspectives of crime.

• Examines crime, justice and punishment at local, national and transnational levels of society.

• A theoretical and applied approach to criminology to develop your knowledge and skills.

Criminology explores the causes, motivations and patterns of crime. In addition to improving our knowledge and understanding of crime, criminology also considers responses to crime and informs policies and practices in policing, law, criminal justice and punishment.

With our Criminology degree, you'll study crime from a variety of approaches, gain practical and relevant experience, and develop transferable skills that you can take into a range of careers and employment sectors.

Professional Placement Year

A Professional Placement Year (PPY), traditionally known as a sandwich year, is where you undertake a period of work with an external organisation for between 9-13 months. The placement occurs between your second and final years of undergraduate study. You can engage in multiple placements to make up the total time and are required to source the placement(s) yourself, with support from the Careers team.

Course Modules

In year one you’ll learn about the research traditions of criminology and be introduced to key concepts, theories and issues. You’ll investigate different types of crime and you’ll also learn about criminal law and criminal justice agencies and institutions.

In year two you'll study contemporary debates in criminology and criminal justice and the history and development of policing, crime control and prevention. You can also choose from a number of optional modules to create a programme tailored to your personal interests. You can investigate the criminological imagination by exploring differing perspectives and theories within criminology. You can also study violent crimes such as homicide and robbery.

In year three you’ll undertake an original piece of criminological research in an area that interests you and you’ll also be able to examine terrorism, punishment and penology and victimisation with our optional modules. You’ll have the choice to take our optional module in criminology which involves working with prison learners through a partnership with HMP Erlestoke. There will also be opportunities to undertake a voluntary placement in an organisation relevant to the criminal justice sector with our optional community engagement module.