Introduction
Course summary
With crime frequently in the news and always an important issue, criminology has never been more relevant. The Criminology BA Honours aims to enthuse, inspire and equip you with the skills for a successful career in today's competitive job market.
Criminology draws on a wide range of human and social science disciplines, and the course has been designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of criminology as an interdisciplinary subject area. It will also equip you with the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.
Westminster's criminologists are concerned with who commits crimes and how offenders should be punished, but at the heart of criminology are fundamental questions about how 'crime' is defined, how criminal law is made, and how definitions of crime and justice vary historically and cross-culturally. Where better to study this fascinating discipline than in the heart of the UK's policing and criminal justice systems? Contemporary concerns are reflected as the subject engages with globalisation and culture throughout the theoretical, qualitative and the empirical.
Course structure
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study in this course.
Year 1
Subjects of study include:
Controversies in Criminal Justice
Crime and the London Underworld
Justice and Human Rights
Psychology and Crime
Researching Crime and Justice
The Criminological Imagination
Credit Level 4
Year 2
Subjects of study include:
Forensic Criminal Psychology
Gender, Crime and Justice
Globalisation, Crime and Control
Race, Crime and Justice
Radical Criminology
Research Methods in Sociology and Criminology
Youth, Crime and Justice
Credit Level 5
Year 3
Subjects of study include:
British Convict Criminology: Connecting Prisons and Universities Through Higher Education (available only to a limited number of students)
Criminological Research in Action
Dissertation
Human Rights and Global Injustice
Immigration, Crime and Control
Issues in State Crime
Media and Crime
Psychology Crime and the Popular Imagination
Punishment and Modern Society
Victims of Crime
Work Experience in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Credit Level 6
Entry Requirements
UK
One of the following (or equivalent qualification):
A Levels – BBC
International Baccalaureate – 28 points
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma / National Diploma – DMM / D*D*
Access to HE Diploma – Pass with 45 credits at Level 3 with a minimum of 33 Level 3 credits at Merit or Distinction.
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
GCSEs - minimum grade 4 (Grade C in grading system prior to 2017) in Maths and English.
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each element.
EU/International
International Baccalaureate – 28 points
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each element.
Careers
Career development centre
Our Career Development Centre has just been shortlisted for the Best University Careers Service in the National Undergraduate Employability Awards for 2017.
With a growing network of over 3,000 employers around the world and a team of experienced careers consultants, we are here to help you succeed.
In 2015–16, we helped over 1,500 students find work placements across a range of sectors, with 250 employers attending 14 on-campus skills and careers fairs.
As a Westminster student, you’ll have access to our services throughout your studies and after you graduate.
We can help you:
find work placements related to your course,
find part-time/vacation, placement and graduate jobs, including voluntary experience,
find international opportunities to enhance your employability,
market yourself effectively to employers,
write better CVs and application forms,
develop your interview and enterprise skills,
plan your career with our careers consultants,
meet employers and explore your career options at our employer fairs, careers presentations and networking events throughout the year.
