Criminology and Sociology – BA (Honours)

At a glance

Study the issues of crime and how it impacts on society. Gain a foundation in both criminology and sociology then develop your knowledge in specialist areas such as crime prevention and policing. Other opportunities such as work-based learning and overseas exchange options offer you ways to build your CV before you graduate giving you the edge when you enter the job market.

Key points
• Gain an in depth understanding of criminology as it relates to sociological studies. • Benefit from the research and expertise from two key subject centres.
• Maximise your career prospects with work-based learning and overseas exchanges.
• Learn important general skills to give you the option to work in many different areas.

What is criminology and sociology?
Criminology is the study of the many causes and effects of crime.Sociology is the scientific study of the nature, structure and workings of human society.

This course

Study crime and its relationship to society on this joint degree. You learn the many types, causes and consequences of crime and the criminal justice institutions and the processes that seek to reduce offending, alongside studies of human society, social groups and social structures.
Your studies can help you find a career in areas like criminal and community justice, education, personnel work, the civil service, or other options in the community or public sector.

You benefit from teaching staff who are active in two research centres – Hallam Centre for Community Justice and our Centre for Education and Inclusion Research. Thanks to this involvement with research we can offer course content that is up to date and teaching perspectives that are of a very high standard.

To maximise your career prospects in the area, you can take advantage of a range of opportunities during the course, such as • work-based learning • career management sessions • the opportunity to gain an international outlook with overseas study exchange options.

In the second and third year all students can take a credited placement module or a simulation module, where you are taught by practitioners. In previous years, placement students have worked with organisations such as South Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Probation Trust and SOVA.
International academic exchanges take place in the second semester of your second year.

As well as being prepared for a career in criminology, criminal and community justice areas, you also gain skills that make you attractive to all employers. These skills include • information gathering and analysis • problem solving • presentation skills • organisational and time management skills • critical thinking and analysis • report writing • the ability to construct and argument based on sound evidence • equality and diversity awareness.

Key areas of study
In your first year you study to gain a foundation in key areas from both subject areas including • crime • society • social behaviour • offending behaviour • criminal justice.

You then use this core understanding to develop your specialist criminological knowledge with a range of optional modules such as • crime prevention • gender • hate and bias crime • health • high risk and serious offenders • media • policing and prisons • religion • sexual and violent crime • drugs and crime.