Criminal Investigation with Psychology with Placement and Social Sciences Foundation Year

Want to explore sociology, psychology, social work or adult nursing practice but not quite ready to study at degree level?

Students will study a range of topics that are central or highly relevant to the study of the social sciences. You’ll explore areas such as mental health and wellbeing, contemporary issues in social sciences, and professional practice to help prepare for undergraduate study.

The course has an applied focus – students are encouraged and enabled to apply their theoretical knowledge to real world problems, such as mental health, psychological wellbeing and everyday problem-solving.

On successful completion of the foundation year, students will be eligible to progress onto our sociology programme or one of our psychology undergraduate degrees, which are accredited by the British Psychology Society. Students interested in social work or adult nursing practice can apply and be interviewed for either of these degrees.

During this foundation year, you’ll begin to develop the academic writing and independent learning skills necessary to study a scientific discipline. You’ll also begin to learn the basics of thinking and writing in social sciences.

You’ll be taught by an experienced team who are accessible and approachable, and ultimately dedicated to providing an inclusive learning environment.

The course offers an introduction to a range of topics within psychology and sociology and other social science disciplines

What does this course lead to?
Studying this foundation degree can help you on to the path of studying a full psychology, sociology, social work or adult nursing practice undergraduate degree. If you meet all the requirements at the end of the course you could go on to study the BSc (Hons) Criminal Investigation with Forensic Psychology course.

FOUNDATION MODULES
Professional Practice
Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences
Crime and Risk in Society
Media Project in Social Sciences
Investigating in the Social Sciences
Psychological Approaches to Mental Health

If you successfully pass the Social Sciences foundation year, you will automatically progress onto Year 1 of the BSc (Hons) Criminal Investigation with Forensic Psychology course, where you will study the following modules:

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Perspectives within Psychology
Psychology and Social Change
Big Questions in Social Sciences
Criminal Justice Process
Explaining Criminal Behaviour
Researching Criminal Worlds

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Individual Differences and Social Psychology
Psychology of Crime
Cybercrime and AI
Methods and Analysis in Criminology
Global Crime
Crime Scene Investigation

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Issues in Forensic Psychology
Dangerous Offenders
Investigation of Serious Crime
Dissertation

YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Cognition and Consciousness
Conceptualising Psychopathology
Quality Stats: An Assortment of Advanced Analytical Methods
Terrorism and Political Violence
Police, Law and the Community

Students are assessed by a combination of presentations (individual and group), essays, practical reports, portfolios (i.e. non-essay written assignments consisting of a variety of written pieces based on independent learning), and in-class electronic tests.