BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology with Foundation Year The University of Law Undergraduate Programmes

The programme is a 4-year BA (Hons) in Criminology and Sociology. 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. Module design, presentation, assessments, pedagogic methods, and structured content — in particular, the module ‘Social Sciences at Work’ — will consistently encourage students on the programme to apply the theories, research, issues, debates and controversies of the primary sociological and criminological curricula to real-world problems and settings. The emphasis throughout is not simply on 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. A key example, in this respect, is the inclusion of a research training ‘spine’ (Researching Social Worlds 1–3) that runs across the final four semesters of the programme.

Course Requirements

• Applicants are required to possess 48 UCAS Points from a maximum of 3 A Levels or equivalent qualifications, plus GCSE English Language at Grade C/4.
• Students who will be under the age of 18 but no younger than 17 at the commencement of the course are permitted.
• A non-standard application route is also available.

Route A (September 2022 entry)

• Applicants should demonstrate a minimum of 2 years of professional work experience evidencing management of people and/or processes and provide a professional reference. All applicants must successfully pass a formal interview. Any applicant without GCSE English language at grade C/4 will be invited to complete The University of Law English Test (ULET).

Route A (January 2023 and beyond)

Please note this route is only available for applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa to study with the University:

• Applicants who do not possess 48 UCAS points from a maximum of 3 A Levels or equivalent but can demonstrate a minimum of 2 years of professional work experience evidencing management of people and/or processes and provide a professional reference will be considered. All applicants must successfully pass a formal interview. Any applicant without GCSE English language at grade C/4 will be invited to complete The University of Law English Test (ULET).

Career Path

Careers in the criminal justice system, policing, probation service, customs, immigration, social research, housing sector and the NGO and charity sector.

Course Structure

Foundation Year

Semester 1

• Citizenship
• Academic and Report Writing
• Numeracy Skills in Context

Semester 2

• Foundations of Business Management
• Foundations of Law
• Foundations of Social Science

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.

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.

Foundation Year (Four years)

You can choose to take an additional Foundation Year before you start your course. This introductory year focuses on developing the key skills required to study at the degree level. You will study six modules and on successful completion progress onto any of our three-year degrees.

How to Apply

Applications for all our undergraduate courses are open.

Fees

September 2023:

• UK - £9,250 per annum
• International - £16,700 per annum (London), £15,900 (non-London)

Fees are locked for future study years, i.e. the student will pay the same price each year.