BA (Hons) Criminology

Duration: Three years full-time or part-time options available

Requirements:

Applicants must have three A-levels at grades CCD or above, BTEC triple grades MMP or above, or Access 3-36 D/M with min 3D, GCSE English Language at grade 4 or grade C or above and GCSE Maths or a Science at grade 4 or grade C or above.

UCAS points: 88UCAS code: 72H2

Fees UK students: £9,250 per annum

Fees for International students: £11,000 per annum

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In addition to the above fees students are required to self-fund travel costs associated with placements and an annual trip within the UK.

Course Overview

Act on your intrigue and develop the skills for applying scientific methods to study the causes of crime, the social impact of crime and profiling of criminals with our criminology degree. Study crime from sociological and psychological perspectives. You'll be able to understand and explain what motivates criminal behaviour; the political landscape, the effectiveness of anti-crime policies and impacts on the victims of crime.

You'll examine big questions relating to social justice and also the various challenges that exist in the criminal justice system. Our criminology degree blends theory with practice through research and work placements within crime focused organisations, which frame your knowledge with real life case study examples.

More Info

Much of this criminology degree is delivered in authentic criminal justice agency environments. These include actual court rooms, surveillance centres, coroner’s courts, police custody suites and police station. Back on campus you'll have access to realistic, simulated environments such as a mock prison, crime scenes’ house where you would work on investigating, constructing and reconstruction cold cases. You'll examine crime in the context in which it happens at the local, national and international arena and you will attend two site criminological visits per year. One of which is a group assignment focused on overnight outdoor collection of evidence.

Why this course at Marjon?

High-profile professionals leading guest lectures.
Practical research placements.
Your class rooms are the law courts, coroner courts, surveillance units and police suites.
Focus on psychological profiling and psychosocial pathologies, exploring how to predict criminal behaviour.
Realistic simulated environments on campus - mock prison, police cell, crime scenes and a moot court room.
Research and study abroad options.
We work with many partner agencies including Devon and Cornwall Police, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Derriford Hospital Emergency Department, Victim Support, Keir Housing, Youth Justice Board, Court Service Plymouth and Davenport Community Safety Programme.

Perfect if you're curious about:

What is crime?
Why is there crime in the first place?
Who commits crime?
Are you a victim of crime?
How best do we support victims and offenders to prevent crime?
Do we have an obligation to victims of crime?

Book an Open Day How to apply for this course

Modules

* denotes an optional module:

1st Year

Criminal Justice Careers
Explore the possible criminal justice careers that are available to students. It involves a series of guest lecturers who are employed in criminal justice roles.
Law and Human Rights
You'll study the fundamentals of law and justice, examining the rules of law and the nature of justice, the law of human rights and other key criminal justice legislation.
Crime and Criminology
Explore the control of crime and responses to crime - perceived breaches of the criminal law evoke a series of responses from a network of agencies we refer to as the criminal justice system.
Understanding Research: Theory and Method
An introduction to social sciences research.
Psychology in Practice
This is enquiry based learning which will see you discussing topics of current interest within the field of psychology.
Victims and Offenders: Children and Youth People
You'll delve into the subjects of victims and victimology, exploring the constructions of offenders and victim amongst the children, young people and the elderly.

2nd Year

Bio-social Criminology
Explore biological and psychological theories of crime causation – classical, ecological theories of crime and physiological theories related to crime are interrogated.
Thinking Like a Criminologist
Introduces the key skills involved in thinking like a criminologist, with equal emphasis on gaining a theoretical and practical understanding of criminology.
Research Methods
This module is designed to support you as a researcher. You will be in the field doing empirical research.
Policing and Managing Crime*
This module involves examining policing and investigating crime, the role of policing in society, community justice and local crime initiatives, crime scene modelling and case management.
Forensic Psychology*
You'll explore cognitive, biological, psychodynamic psychology perspectives on memory and look at perception and identification and the role of psychology in the investigation of crime.
Media and Crime
You'll learn new skills in discourse analysis, frame analysis, image, narrative and genre analysis for interrogating media representations of crime and criminality.
Engaging with Employability Criminology
You'll do up to 50 hours work placement over a six month period in a criminal justice agency.

3rd Year

Global Criminology
Comprised of international debates and policies surrounding crime; criminology in global contexts; transnational crime; comparative criminology; relativity of crime; international organisations and crime responses.
Punishment and Prisons
You will learn about social, economical and political contexts in relation to how crime is controlled and punished.
Criminological Project: Dissertation
The production of an honours dissertation support by a supervisor.
Conflict & Conflict Resolution*
Underpinning the module is the appreciation that conflict and conflict resolution is fundamentally about social justice so whilst our interventions may be addressing one specific level, we need to be aware of the wider context.
The Ethical Professional
You'll develop a deeper understanding of legal duties and professional approaches to ethics in criminal justice, philosophies, theories and debates in criminology ethics and ethical issues in criminology.
Criminal Psychology*
You will look at psychological aspects which underpin criminal behaviour, addiction, mental health and neuropsychology.

How will you be taught?

Includes lectures, seminars, simulated scenarios, group and individual tutorials as well as site visits and guest lecturers form senior professionals in the justice fields.

How will you be assessed?

Assessment methods are varied and include portfolios, essays and reports. There are two end of semester exams and you will be appraised based on your participation in the class room and in groups.

Current Students

“I really value the experience the lecturers have had in the Criminal Justice System, it is extremely useful to be able to hear about real life experiences and to go on trips such as the Magistrates Court. It is also great that we have guest speakers to talk to us about the work they do within their specialised fields. The lectures and essays challenge you in order to help you reach your full potential and the lecturers help you to learn ways to complete your work effectively and efficiently.”

“I most enjoy studying crime scene photography, it is so interesting and the practical sessions actually help you to develop what you learnt in lectures. This course has made me more confident and has given me friends for life.”

“I’ve been able to experience what court life is like by doing my placement with criminal defence solicitors. My researching and writing have improved massively. I am a more confident person now than when I started this course.”

“I think the crime scene photography is great because of the practical element. I’m getting opportunities to learn about all aspects of Criminology and to do a research placement with the police.”

Lecturers

Dr Hazel Bending

Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences

Hazel is a chartered psychologist. She teaches psychology, mental health and wellbeing and reflective practice. Her research focuses on how students best learn; investigating how various techniques from using technology to wellbeing can enhance students’ experiences and skills.

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Dr Andrew Whittington

Senior Lecturer - Forensic Criminology

Andrew is a Senior Lecturer with experience and skills as a taxonomist and expert witness in forensic entomology.

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