Criminology BA Honours

Join one of the longest-established university criminology departments in the world with a team that supports policy development at national and international level

Duration

3 years full-time

Attendance

Full-time

Fees

$11,300 (CA) $15,800 (INT)

Course Summary

A degree in criminology is a broad introduction to the justice system, focusing on topics that arm you with an understanding of justice in society. If you’re interested in how society responds to criminal behaviour and the opportunities and challenges that this provides, then this is the course for you. Blending theory with practice, you’ll develop your knowledge by exploring key issues related to crime and justice before testing that knowledge through placements within criminology-focused organisations and projects. Your degree will focus on key elements of criminology and sociology including crime and control, social sciences, justice and punishment, and forensic skills. Our close links with key criminal justice agencies such as the police, the probation service, and youth offending teams means you’ll take part in real life projects from within the system. During the course you’ll develop a suite of skills that equip you for success in a range of criminology careers, in roles such as victim support, and offender rehabilitation in organisations. Using a combination of lectures, discussions, workshops and guest masterclasses, you’ll enhance your communication, researching, and analytical skills. The work placement is a key element of the course which helps broaden your experience. The work placement’s taken in one of the organisations that are the backbone of the justice system. Understanding policy ideation and implementation is a core part of the degree. You’ll develop your understanding of the effects of criminology and its behavioural effects across class, as well as gaining a knowledge of criminological theories and concepts. We know sometimes you’ll need assistance and support when it comes to your studies. During your time with us you’ll get assistance from a Personal Tutor. If you require a little extra support, we have Student Learning Assistants and Graduate Academic Assistants on hand to help. We also support you in getting work experience, volunteer opportunities, internships, and other networking opportunities. Our deep links with the industry give students the opportunity to get their foot in the door and enjoy a successful career.

Course Content

This degree provides an in depth exploration of crime, criminals, victims and interaction with the Criminal Justice System. It is aimed at those who have an interest in how society responds to deviant behaviour and challenges the concept of social deviancy.  You will focus on the theoretical concepts of crime and criminality and gain a thorough grounding in the important elements of criminology that will enable you to progress to postgraduate study, or begin your career within a criminal justice setting. All staff are involved in researching key issues related to crime and justice, and the findings of their research will influence your learning and research skills. As such you will learn to understand the factors that influence criminological research, policy and practice, and learn the fundamental skills of research and analysis. Throughout the course you will take part in active debates affecting policy, in areas such as the relationship between the police and the public, reform of the prison and probation services, and the working of the criminal courts. You will explore the various theoretical arguments that try to explain why some individuals commit crime, whilst others do not. We also use current events in the media to stimulate theoretical, philosophical and political debates, which will help to sharpen your critical thinking skills. Our close links with key criminal justice agencies such as the police, the probation service, and youth offending teams means you take part in real life projects from within the system, which can support and inform your thinking and help you produce original and progressive academic work. At the end of this course, you will have developed a suite of professional skills to equip you for success in your career journey. You will be able to research a given topic, analyse the data and prepare a critical summary of your findings supported by empirical evidence. You will enhance your skills to communicate verbally through presentations, the written word by essay assignments and electronically utilising the Universities e-learning platforms. You will develop excellent awareness of how policy is created, interpreted and implemented, and how this informs society. You will also be able to draw on a wide range of criminological theories and concepts in order to develop a debate or discussion and to justify your conclusions. You will gain confidence in your own ability to work as an individual and as a team member in order to produce a final product for scrutiny by your peers. ·You will develop advanced analytical skills that will enable you to critically evaluate a wide range of materials including theory and policies, strategies, and operational plans.

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