Criminology and Psychology BA (Hons)

Course overview

Course graduates leave equipped for rewarding careers within the Criminal Justice System, offender management and rehabilitation, crime investigation and prevention, victim services, public protection, and intelligence.

You will have the opportunity to:

• put theory into practice by using major theoretical perspectives and linking them to issues and debates in the world today
• analyse and evaluate various topics and new developments related to crime, the management of crime and the criminal justice system, both at the local and global levels
• use imaginative and innovative approaches to address issues related to crime and the criminal justice system.

Why you should study this course

• Develop practical skills required for graduate employment in various criminal justice and criminal psychology roles.
• Expert speakers from agencies involved in criminal justice complement and contextualise your understanding (subject to availability).
• Gain a global perspective of crime and psychology, allowing you to compare different methods and ideologies.
• Collaborate with students in different disciplines to add breadth to your learning.
• Authentic prison cells to enhance your studies.

Careers and opportunities

With a view to shaping your prospects as a graduate, teaching, learning, and assessment take a problem-based approach which means you get to deal with real-world issues and scenarios combining theory and practice delivered by a current teaching team with a diverse range of experience including mental health, sexual offending, imprisonment, and probation to name a few. External speakers and visiting lecturer/practitioners also bring expertise to the classroom (subject to availability).

Assessments are coursework based and varied to test independent and team-working, communication, analytical and critical thinking, and other transferable skills designed to enhance your employment prospects within or outside the criminological sphere. With an emphasis on inter-cultural awareness, the course also offers opportunities for overseas experience through field trips and study abroad with the aim of making you a strong contender for a graduate level career in the global jobs market².

Criminology and Psychology not only provides you with the knowledge and skills for working within the criminological sphere – in areas such as the police in uniformed and civilian roles, courts, prison staff and outreach, probation, victim support, security, and community safety – but also develops transferable skills that equip you for a wide range of graduate level careers. For example, some roles recent students have undertaken have included teaching, retail management, and fraud investigation for the financial industry. Many students opt for postgraduate level study.