Choose our Criminology and Sociology degree and you’ll benefit from studying two closely related disciplines; with training both in criminology and the theory and methods of sociology.

Learn how to ‘think like a criminologist’ and apply criminology to the context of modern life, social diversity and inequalities in society. Criminologists are interested in how activities are defined as criminal, explanations for crime and social reactions to crime.

You’ll explore fascinating questions surrounding the criminal justice system, the social contexts of crime, and the relationship between behaviour and punishment. Why and how do people break the law? How can the criminal justice system define this, and how do we police, prosecute and punish people?

Our Criminology and Sociology course reflects the latest developments in social research and is taught by experts in their fields.

In Semesters 1-4, you’ll 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 Classical and Contemporary Social Theory
• Crime and Criminal Justice – the architecture of the criminal justice system, and evidence on, and explanations for, crime and offending.

You’ll also take additional modules in any subject in semesters 1-4.

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

• The 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. In the second, you’ll gain a deeper practical and theoretical understanding of research methods in sociology, criminology and social policy.

You’ll also choose seven advanced option modules, which could include: Sociology of Childhood; Crimes of the Powerful; Social Stratification; Punishment and Society; Social Networks and Social Connections; Crime Trends; Work and Society; Drugs Crime and Society; or Gender, Crime and Justice. When you reach your final year of the Honours degree, you’ll undertake a research based dissertation.