Our BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology is a three-year degree. The course is aimed at students who are interested in criminal justice but for whom the broader disciplinary span of sociology is also attractive. A distinctive focus across the programme as a whole is on facilitating the development of a criminological and sociological ‘imagination’. This entails not simply the acquisition of foundational principles, concepts and theories, but a sustained emphasis on thinking with such ideas and approaches through the development of heightened critical reflexivity. Sociology, perhaps more than any other discipline, encourages an engagement with uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity through fostering an awareness of the social contingency of knowledge and the related need to probe beyond initial appearances and understandings. This capacity to look further and to imagine otherwise has profound significance beyond the disciplinary study of criminology and sociology; it lies at the core of the broader vocational significance of the programme. The BA Criminology and Sociology directly harnesses this potential by a consideration, from its inception, the future contexts, roles, and workplaces in which the knowledge, understandings, abilities and skills developed in the programme might be applied.
There is a high level of face-to-face tuition including delivery by expert criminologist(s) and sociologists who are currently active in this field of study. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of cutting-edge criminological and sociological theorising and will be able to apply this to current socio-economic policies and conditions. The programme builds towards the development of an understanding of criminology and sociology informed by theory and research at the very forefront of these disciplines. The emphasis throughout is not simply upon learning from criminological and sociological ‘thought and talk’ but on learning to ‘think and talk’ in ways that enable a direct application of programme knowledge and skills to current and anticipated future workplace contexts. The programme delivery model centres on providing enhanced levels of support and interaction through problem-based, reflexive, scaffolded learning built around real-world examples and cases. In the 2021 National Student Survey, The University of Law has been ranked first amongst universities in England for the category of 'teaching on my course'. We have an overall 5 Star rating from QS World University Rankings and 5 stars in Teaching, Employability, Online Learning, Academic Development and Inclusiveness.
Course Requirements
BBC at A Level and Grade C/4 or above in GCSE English Language, or equivalent qualifications.
Students who will be under the age of 18 but no younger than 17 at the commencement of the course are permitted.
International entry requirements: An English language level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 or above with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
Career Path
Careers in the criminal justice system, policing, probation service, customs, immigration, social researcher, housing sector and the NGO and charity sector.
Course Details
Full-time three-year Criminology and Sociology
Our Criminology and Sociology degree programme has been designed by practising criminologists to enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of cutting-edge criminological and sociological concepts and theories, and to apply them to current socio-economic policies and conditions.
We’ve designed our Criminology and Sociology course to deliver a high level of face-to-face tuition so that you can get plenty of support while you develop a critical understanding of criminology and sociology in relation to current issues. Some of the areas that you’ll get to focus on include urbanisation, embodiment, family, globalisation, migration and marginalisation.
The diversity of the programme content on this course means that you’ll have an excellent grounding to enter a wide variety of fields after graduation. It is also a strong basis for further postgraduate study, should you wish to study further and specialise in one of the areas that you’ve learned about.
Course Structure
Year 1: 31 study weeks
Semester 1
Foundations of Criminology
Foundations of Sociology
Feminist Sociology
Semester 2
Contemporary Criminology
Media, Crime and Control
Contemporary Sociology
Year 2: 30 study weeks
Semester 1
Cybercrime
Sociology of Embodiment
Sociology of the Family
Semester 2
Sociology of Religion and Belief Systems
Youth, Culture and Controls
Zemiology: The Crimes of the Powerful and the Victimization of the Poor
Year 3: 30 study weeks
Semester 1
Research Methods
Dissertation/Research Project
Semester 2
Choose three*:
Marginalisation
Migration
Terrorism
The City and Globalisation
*All options are indicative and subject to availability.
Assessment
At the end of each semester, you’ll get a week for revision before two weeks of assessments.
Exams: Two hours, ten multiple-choice questions and two long-form questions
Coursework: Essay, project report or portfolio
Oral presentation
We run mock assessments to allow you to practise before too.
How to Apply
Applications for all our undergraduate courses are open.
