About the programme

Looking for a qualification that goes beyond the theories of criminology? This innovative degree combines studying criminological thought with legal studies. It’s aimed at providing you with a broader, more practical perspective that could give you a real edge in your career.
This BA (Hons) degree is designed to cover all aspects of criminology and the criminal justice process. An exciting branch of the social sciences, Criminology draws on a wide range of disciplines to look at the social causes of crime, as well as the psychology of crime and punishment. But through your legal studies, you’ll also gain an understanding of how the law deals with crime.
This degree’s combination of legal and criminological studies makes it different from many traditional criminology programmes. Often, these only look at the social science aspects of crime, rather than covering the legal issues too. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to gain a deeper insight into crime that they can apply in a practical way.

Programme modules:

Level 1

• Developing Criminological Skills
• Criminal Justice Process
• Thinking Sociologically
• Contemporary Issues in Criminology
• Youth Justice
• Constitutional and Administrative Law

Level 2

• Theoretical Criminology
• Criminal Law
• Research Methods in Criminology
• Crime and Social History
• Applied Criminology and Professional Practice

Level 3

• Crime, Deviance and Culture
• Project*
• Mentally Disordered Suspects, Defendants and Offenders
• Forensic Psychology
• Prison Studies
• Police Studies
• Crime and the City
• Community-based Crime Prevention
• Terrorism Studies

*equivalent to two modules

Learning materials

Textbooks are provided with specially written study guides containing interactive materials. Opportunities for student/student and student/tutor discussion are provided via our Student Community website.
Additional learning resources include access to the ATHENS database and the UK Libraries Plus system.

Assessment and examinations

Assessment is through a mixture of coursework and examination. Coursework includes essays, logs, research projects, practical tasks and a final-year dissertation. Assessment at Level 1 is often by coursework, in order to provide you with maximum feedback and guidance. Across Levels 2 and 3, the emphasis shifts to examination-based assessment, but there will be no more than four exams per level.

Duration

Each module requires 200 study hours (approximately six months) but you can study more than one module at a time.

Award

BA (Hons) in Criminology and Criminal Justice on successful completion of the full programme. You can also study individual modules, or gain a Certificate of Higher Education, Diploma of Higher Education or an Ordinary BA degree, depending on the number of modules completed.