Criminology BA (Hons)

Year one establishes your broad understanding of the social sciences and issues of social inequality, introducing you to the many facets of criminal justice and criminological theory. You will quickly become immersed in debates about the role of the media in constructing crime as a social problem and the history and contested role of the Police service in the UK. We will explore the underlying psychological and social causes of crime and you will visit a Magistrates court to see how criminal justice is administered.

In year two you will think in more detail about ‘what works’ in terms of preventing and reducing crime. You will critically examine the moral and ethical dimensions of punishment and explore a range of social problems, considering how criminal justice and social policy offer very different ways of responding. You will also have the choice of studying either the psychology of the criminal justice system or exploring criminal justice systems across the world, comparing responses to global crime topics. This will deepen your understanding of the theoretical assumptions and ideologies that frame criminal justice policy in our increasingly globalised society. You will also have the opportunity to develop your ideas for your final year capstone project and undertake a work placement as part of your studies.

In your final year you will delve deeper into issues of equality and diversity in criminal justice and the crimes committed by big business, corporations and state actors such as the Police and national governments. You will also pursue independent, in-depth research into a criminological topic of particular interest to you. This can either be in the form of a traditional dissertation or an extended project that explains a crime related issue to an audience of your choice. You will also be able to choose from a range of tailored option modules that, for example, examine youth crime or explore crime in a specific neighbourhood through a photography project.