Why study this course?
This joint BSc 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.
More about this course
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.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 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:
Child Development and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Cognition and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Criminological Theory (core, 30 credits)
Introduction to criminological and sociological theory (core, 30 credits)
Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (core, 30 credits)
Personality (core, 15 credits)
Social Influences on Thinking and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Individual Differences (core, 15 credits)
Measuring and Interpreting Crime (core, 30 credits)
Social and Cultural Understanding of Us and Others (core, 15 credits)
Cognition (option, 15 credits)
Crime in Context (option, 30 credits)
Crime, Media and Technology (option, 15 credits)
Development Across the Lifespan (option, 15 credits)
Perspectives on Policing (option, 30 credits)
Youth, Crime and Violence (option, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Crime Control and Penology (alternative core, 30 credits)
Criminological Research Practice (alternative core, 15 credits)
Criminology Project (alternative core, 30 credits)
Social Control, Drugs and Organised Crime (alternative core, 30 credits)
Clinical Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Cognition and Emotion (option, 15 credits)
Counseling Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Criminology Work Experience (option, 15 credits)
Forensic Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Gender and Sexuality (option, 30 credits)
Health Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Serious and Serial Offenders (option, 15 credits)
Special Topics in Personality and Social Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Specific Learning Differences (option, 15 credits)
Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (option, 15 credits)
Victims and Crime (option, 15 credits)
Work Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
Careers with a criminology and psychology degree include policing, social work, the probation service, human resources, victim support services and local authority research.
