Taught by experts in their field, our course is informed by the latest developments in social research.

You’ll discover how to assess the issues surrounding crime and social problems. We’ll help you answer questions such as: how does society work, how are crime and other social problems situated in society, and how do different cultures understand these problems? What can we learn from the success of social policies in other countries?

Our BA (Hons) Criminology and Social Policy degree provides an international approach to help you understand a wide range of social issues, including crime and criminal justice, inequality and welfare, race, immigration, disability, addictions, youth and ageing. We’ll give you the skills to research, analyse and assess the key issues for yourself. You’ll also benefit from our strong research links with on-campus organisations such as the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research, and the Dementia Centre.

In Semesters 1-4, you’re required to take the following core modules:

• Applying a Sociological Lens – showing the power of thinking sociologically about the social order and a range of contemporary social issues.
• Applying a Social Policy Lens – introduces students to an understanding of social policy as a subject of study with a focus on contemporary Britain.
• Understanding Social Policy – historical and theoretical perspectives on social policy analysis, including crime policy.
• The Development of Social Theory – an introduction to a range of social, particularly sociological, theoretical perspectives.
• Crime and Criminal Justice – the architecture of the criminal justice system, and evidence and explanations for crime and offending.

You’ll also be able to choose additional modules in any subject in semesters 1-4.

In Semesters 5-8, you’ll take two core modules:

• Research Process is split into two modules.
  • The first is an introduction to a range of research methods and a number of issues relating to the exploration of the social world.
  • The second will give you a deeper understanding of research methods in sociology and social policy.

You’ll also choose seven advanced option modules, which could include: Ageing, Social Policy and Society; Crimes of the Powerful; Alcohol and Society; Surveillence, Technology and Society; Social Policy on the Ground; Punishment and Society; Race, Ethnicity and Migration; and Gender, Crime and Justice. Final-year Honours students will undertake a research based dissertation.