Criminology BA Honours
DURATION
3 up to 4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 15,400 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international | UK: £9,250
Introduction
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 across theoretical, qualitative and empirical domains.
Our graduates go on to develop careers in a wide range of sectors, including the police and policing-support organisations, the National Probation Service, local government and crime prevention.
Our course is organised around three distinctive themes – justice, human rights, and crime in its local and global contexts. However, the core and optional subjects cover an extensive range of topics, including processes of criminalisation and victimisation; the social, legal and cultural meanings of crime; the causes and organisation of crime and deviance at all levels; understanding crime in relation to class, gender, race and ethnicity, religious faith, and sexuality; and the practical and political processes of preventing and managing crime.
We make use of Westminster’s central London location to facilitate off-site learning, with visits to the High Court of Justice, theatres and a prison. In Year 3, as part of the core module Criminological Research in Action, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which in recent years took students to Berlin.
Top reasons to study with us
- Work experience opportunities – our work experience module in Year 3 will allow you to gain valuable practical experience. Many of our students find placements in a range of criminal justice agencies
- Award-winning leadership – our course leader was awarded the British Society of Criminology award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2016) for his design and implementation of the curriculum
- Field trips – In Year 3, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip, which in recent years took place in Berlin. You'll also be able to take part in field walks around London, including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice
Why study this course?
- Fantastic central London location
Based on our Regent Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major global city. - Field trips
You'll have the opportunity to take part in a field trip abroad and field walks around London, including visits to theatres, prisons and the High Court of Justice. - A supportive environment
We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.
Career Opportunities
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you in achieving your full potential.
- Student satisfaction
96% of our students agreed that they were satisfied with the course.
(Source: Discover Uni, accessed in December 2020) - Transferable skills
You'll gain the knowledge and experience to work in sectors such as crime prevention, local government, the police and policing-support organisations. - Graduates in work or further study
90% of our Criminology BA graduates are in work and/or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
(Source: Discover Uni - site accessed in December 2020)
Career development
Many of our graduates are currently pursuing successful careers in teaching, the civil service, criminal justice agencies, law, and higher education administration.
Many of our graduates go on to study further, and a number are now pursuing successful academic careers of their own.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Charity/third sector worker
- Civil Service roles
- Local government officer
- Police officer
- Probation officer
- Youth justice worker
- Social researcher
Graduate employment
Graduates from this course have found employment in sectors including:
- Crime prevention
- Local government
- National Probation Service
- Police
- Policing-support organisations
Admissions
Curriculum
Teaching and learning methods include lectures, seminars, independent study, and off-site learning such as visits and field walks which make use of Westminster's central London location.
Assessment methods may include essays, debates, criminal justice policy analysis, individual and group presentations, exams, statistical analyses, and your dissertation.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study in this course.
Year 1
Subjects of study include:
- Controversies in Criminal Justice
- Justice and Human Rights
- Researching Crime and Justice
- The Criminological Imagination
- Crime and the London Underworld
- Psychology and Crime
Credit Level 4
Year 2
Subjects of study include:
- Globalisation, Crime and Control
- Radical Criminology
- Research Methods in Sociology and Criminology
- Work-based Learning
- Forensic Criminal Psychology
- Gender, Crime and Justice
- Race, Power and Criminal Justice
- Youth, Crime and Justice
Credit Level 5
Placement Year
Professional experience or study abroad year
Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in the industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award of Bachelor of Arts with Honours - Criminology with Professional Experience.
Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award of Bachelor of Arts with Honours - Criminology with International Experience.
Year 3
Subjects of study include:
- Dissertation in Criminology
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Critical Policing
- Human Rights and Global Injustice
- Immigration, Borders and (In)Justice
- Issues in State Crime
- Media and Crime
- Psychology, Crime and the Popular Imagination
- Punishment and Modern Society
- Work Experience in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Credit Level 6
International Opportunities
Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.
Opportunities could include:
- Taking part in a semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.
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Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.