BA (Hons) Criminology (Full Time)

Our Criminology degree explores the nature, incidence and repercussions of crime and criminal behaviour. Students join challenging debates on topics such as interpretations and solutions to crime and disorder, the role of the media, and the fairness of judicial systems in England and Wales.

Key elements include:

• Highly qualified course team with wide experience in higher education and professional practice, including criminal law, probation, policing, drugs services and government research
• Enthusiastic, approachable and supportive tutors dedicated to your academic and professional development
• Associate lecturers with very high-level professional experience
• The course examines crime from an interdisciplinary perspective, including elements of law, history, sociology, politics and psychology
• Study of how crime is defined, investigated and prosecuted and how defendants and victims are processed by the criminal justice system in England and Wales, in comparative context
• Opportunities for voluntary work experience, internships and work shadowing
• Wide variety of guest speakers able to offer up-to-date professional and academic insight
• Active learning through seminars and formative assessments
• A wide, imaginative and professionally relevant range of assessment strategies and activities
• Teaching programme under continuous review, via engagement with student representatives and feedback exercises.

The Criminology team at Solent has consistently scored well in the National Student Survey. An external examiner also noted that the team had generated ‘a community of scholars’.

Industrial focus

Employability is at the heart of this course. Students graduate with professional and managerial skills and knowledge used in criminal justice organisations and more widely in professional practice. These include the frontline police, courts, prisons, probation and victim services in addition to their support services in the public and private sector.

Graduates from this course are attractive to a wide range of employers and are working in all of these fields. Tutors are working to smooth the process of applying for these roles via enhanced application and employment training.

A wide range of criminal justice professionals provide lectures on their experiences in aspects of criminal justice and policy, including potential careers in the field. There are also many opportunities to undertake voluntary work in relevant fields, and to take part in work shadowing and internships.

The course is international in orientation, drawing comparisons in approaches and practice from a variety of jurisdictions. This emphasis is important, both academically and professionally, in the context of increasing globalisation.

Course content

Year 1

Six core units:

• Introduction to Sociology
• Crime and the Individual
• The Political Environment of the UK
• Introduction to Criminology
• Criminological Research Skills and Methods
• Criminal Process and Responsibility.

Year 2

In Year 2 students are required to choose a pathway, which will determine the focus of their study in Years 2 and 3. The two pathways are Criminal Justice and Crime Analysis and Investigation. All students study three core units (common to both pathways), two units in their specialist pathway and one option unit:

Core units:

• Diversity, Equality and Criminal Justice
• Policing, Politics and Social Change
• Criminal Research Methods and Skills 2.

Criminal Justice pathway:

• Criminal Law in Context
• Criminal Evidence and Procedure.

Crime Analysis and Investigation pathway:

• Critical Issues in Criminal Justice and Penology
• Critical Issues in Criminal Investigation.

Options:

• History of Crime and Punishment
• Politics of Terrorism and Violence
• Youth Crime, Youth Justice.

Year 3

Students take two core units (common to both pathways), one unit in their specialist pathway and two option units:

Core units:

• Project Design and Dissertation
• Crime, Risk and Community Safety.

Criminal Justice pathway:

• Comparative Criminal Justice.

Crime Analysis and Investigation pathway:

• Leadership and Management in the Investigative Context.

Options:

• Dangerous Offenders
• Landmark Cases in Criminal Justice
• Security, Policing and the State
• Alcohol, Drugs and Crime
• Political Violence and Counter Terrorism in Northern Ireland
• Crime and Media Culture
• Leadership and Management in the Investigative Context
• Cyber Crime.

Why choose Solent?

This course is delivered by an established team of specialist staff drawn from a wide range of relevant professional and academic experiences and supported by a diverse range of visiting speakers and associate lecturers from the criminal justice community.
If you are interested in developing a broad awareness of issues concerning crime, deviance and social control in a complex national and global context, then this is the course for you.

• There are currently field visits to a variety of relevant locations, depending on the chosen study pathway. Recently these have included study visits in collaboration with criminal justice agencies and institutions in the USA.
• The course is particularly well connected with local and national criminal justice agencies who contribute to the development of the programme and offer opportunities for professional engagement.
• The course has a consistently excellent record for student satisfaction and supports a range of opportunities to undertake voluntary work and internships in preparation for employment in the criminal justice sector.

&nbsp

Assessment

A wide and innovative variety of methods is used, ranging from conventional essays and exams to group and individual projects and presentations.

Projects/work experience

• Opportunities for internships and temporary work experience, including at the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office and the Prison Service.
• Positions on Criminal Justice panels, such as the Youth Offender Panel.
• Special constables, work shadowing and volunteering opportunities in a range of criminal justice settings.

Key career skills

Research methods, critical analysis and interpretation of information, communication, teamwork and leadership.

Student quote

Luke Cain

“The course is very interesting: it allows you to explore different perspectives on crime and the possible reasons for why crime exists.

“As you progress through the course you begin to learn to explore and rationalise the causes of crime and the possible effects the media can have.

“A visit was organised by students with the help of lecturers to the Police Museum in London which was a lot of fun and informative. We were shown a history of the City of London Police and went on the famous Jack the Ripper Tour to different locations of murders (those who wanted to were shown scene-of-crime photographs).

“The Criminology course this year has had many great nights out celebrating key events throughout the year. Once you begin your course, you will meet new people and develop friendships as the course progresses.”

Key info from UNISTATS