Criminology and Psychology

This joint honours degree in criminology and psychology is ideal if you’re interested in the relationship between crime and social issues such as ill-health, poverty and discrimination, and gaining an understanding of the workings of the human mind. In the most recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 100% of all 2017 graduates from this course were in work or further study within six months.

Unravel the debates surrounding the causes of crime from the perspectives of both sociology and psychology in this programme taught by expert staff. The combination of criminology and psychology will give you an expertise in theories and approaches from both disciplines, allowing you to critically evaluate the causes and effects of crime and deviant behaviour.

Gain a solid grounding in developmental, social and cognitive psychology, as well as study how the individual develops through infancy, childhood and early adult life, the development of personality, social factors that influence behaviour, and the development of perception and human thought.

You’ll also be introduced to criminological theory, including the assumptions that underlie intervention and control, and to the criminal justice system including the police, judiciary and prisons where you'll examine the concept of justice and sentencing. You’ll learn the research skills needed to measure and interpret crime, including both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and through optional modules in your second and third year, you’ll begin to pursue the areas that most interest you. Options are wide-ranging and include terrorism, victimology, serial offenders and forensic psychology.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• A minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National or Advanced Diploma).
• GCSE English grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate access or other preparatory courses or have appropriate work experience. If you don’t have traditional qualifications or can’t meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Criminology, Policing and Law Extended Degree (including Foundation Year) BSc (Hons).

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Accelerated study

If you have relevant qualifications or credit from a similar course it may be possible to enter this course at an advanced stage rather than beginning in the first year. Please note, advanced entry is only available for September start. See our information for students applying for advanced entry.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time. Year 1 modules include:

• Cognitive and Developmental Psychology (core, 30 credits)
• Introduction to Criminological Theory (core, 30 credits)
• Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (core, 30 credits)
• Personality and Social Psychology (core, 30 credits)

Year 2 modules include

• Individual Differences and Social Psychology (core, 30 credits)
• Measuring and Interpreting Crime (core, 30 credits)
• Crime in Context (option, 30 credits)
• Crime, Media and Technology (option, 15 credits)
• Developmental Psychology and Cognition (option, 30 credits)
• Perspectives on Policing (option, 30 credits)
• Psychology and Employment (option, 15 credits)
• Youth, Crime and Violence (option, 15 credits)

Year 3 modules include

• Criminology Work Experience (core, 15 credits)
• Clinical and Health Psychology (alternative core, 30 credits)
• Cognition and Emotion (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Counseling Psychology (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Crime Control and Penology (alternative core, 30 credits)
• Criminological Research Practice (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Criminology Project (alternative core, 30 credits)
• Forensic Psychology (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Psychology of Learning and Education (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Social Control, Drugs and Organised Crime (alternative core, 30 credits)
• Social and Cultural Psychology (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Work Psychology (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Gender and Sexuality (option, 30 credits)
• Serious and Serial Offenders (option, 15 credits)
• Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (option, 15 credits)
• Victims and Crime (option, 15 credits)

After the course

A combined degree in criminology and psychology is useful in a variety of professions including policing, social work, the probation service, human resources, victim support services and local authority research. Graduates often undertake further postgraduate academic study or vocational training.