Criminology – BA (Honours)

At a glance

Study the causes and effects of crime and pursue a career in the criminal justice sector. You specialise in areas of criminology such as crime prevention and policing. Work-based learning and overseas exchange opportunities offer you ways to build your CV and gain the edge in the job market.

Key points
• Gain an in depth understanding of criminology and then specialise.• Learn from lecturers who are active practitioners in the criminal justice sector.
• 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?
Criminology explores crime, criminality and criminal justice institutions and processes.

This course

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 the expertise of lecturers who are active in the Hallam Centre for Community Justice and have a wealth of academic and practical experience. We also have strong links with local, regional and national agencies in the criminal justice sector. For example, the criminology team train all the probation officers across the Yorkshire and Humberside region on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. This means they can offer you practical up-to-date perspectives on your studies.

To maximise your career prospects in the area, you have a range of industry opportunities during the course such as work-based learning with organisations including South Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Probation Trust and SOVA. There are also career management sessions, and the opportunity to gain an international outlook with overseas study exchange options.

International academic exchanges take place in the second semester of your second year. Previous exchanges have taken place with universities in Australia, Canada and the United States.

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, including • information gathering and analysis • problem solving • presentation skills • organisational and time management skills • critical thinking and analysis • equality and diversity awareness.

Key areas of study
Gain a foundation in key areas of criminology and criminal justice in your first year then specialise with optional modules such as • crime prevention • gender • hate and bias crime • high risk and serious offenders • media • policing and prisons • sexual and violent crime - drugs and crime.