Criminology BA (Hons)

The first year of the programme provides an introduction to exploring ‘crime’ in its social, historical and political context. Getting to grips with the key concepts in Criminology and its wider social scientific roots is dealt with at Year One to ensure easy transition to Years Two and Three. Our Studying Society module explores the use of social science research methods and ensures that by the second year all students are fully acquainted with IT and virtual learning tools.

In addition to the compulsory modules, you may also choose 30 credits from the following optional modules:

• Sociological Theory (30 credits)
• Social Change and Social Policy in Contemporary Society 1 (15 credits)
• Social Change and Social Policy in Contemporary Society 2 (15 credits)

• Sociological Theory (SOCI101) Level 1 Credit level 30 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 40:60 Aims

• To introduce key classic and contemporary sociological theories.

• ​ To give students an appreciation of the relevance of sociological theory in producing knowledge of the social world.

• ​To support and guide engagement both with a series of canonical sociological texts and the critiques thereof (and with specific respect to their gendered and ethnocentric nature)

• ​To describe and examine a range of key concepts and theoretical approaches within sociology and evaluate their application in differing contexts

• Learning Outcomes Familiarity with key sociological theories and their inter-relation​​An ability to e valuate the respective contribution of specific sociological theories/theorists to the discipline
  ​A capaci ty to identify and assess the relative merits of sociological theory for the analysis of the social
  

  ​An appreciation of the complexity and diversity of social life

  ​Competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts in sociology, and appreciation of their contribution to knowledge

• Social Change and Social Policy In Contemporary Society 1 (SOCI102) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 50:50 Aims
• Encourages you to think about history in sociological terms, particularly about the ways in which an understanding of the past can help to illuminate the present.
• Provides you with an appreciation of continuity and change in social life in Britain, with an emphasis, inter alia, on politics, social policy, the economy, family life, and social and cultural relations.
  
  

• Provides you with an understanding of how different social scientists have studied, described and explained these processes of continuity and change in various areas of social life​.

• Provides you with a way of putting wider processes of continuity and change in social, cultural, political and historical context​.

• Provides you with a foundation of theories, concepts and knowledge for study at the second and third years. ​

• Learning Outcomes Encourages you to describe processes of social continuity and change over time in various areas of social life from a sociological perspective.
  

  Encourages you to t hink critically about what we gain by investigating the links between the present and the past.

  ​ Encourages you to a pply and evaluate sociological theories and concepts in relation to various conceptual, methodological and empirical issues surrounding the question of history and the analysis of social change in various areas of social life.

  Supports the transition to modules in the second year with knowledge and understanding of key events and debates in social, political and economic ​life.

• Social Change and Social Policy In Contemporary Society 2: Changing Inequalities (SOCI103) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 50:50 Aims

• To provide students with an appreciation of the main changes that have taken place in British society since 1945, with a particular emphasis on ''race'' and ethnicity, gender and social class.

• ​To provide students with an understanding of how sociologists have studied, described and explained these changes.

• Learning Outcomes

  The learning outcomes of the module are that students will be able:

  to describe and explain some of the main social changes that have taken place in British society since 1945 by drawing upon sociological studies.

  ​to discuss the inter-relationship between ''race'', ethnicity, class and gender and understand the influence of these on society.

  to evaluate different sociological concepts and theories and relate these to broader historical, social and political contexts.

  ​

• Studying Society (SOCI106) Level 1 Credit level 30 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims To introduce students to the field of social enquiry and its proper objects of study To introduce students to the principles and process of social research To introduce students to strategies for finding, accessing and evaluating sources of information To introduce students to basic methods and techniques of data production and analysis To introduce students to basic techniques for presenting and communicating information effectively Learning Outcomes An understanding of the nature of social enquiry and its objects of attention An understanding of key principles in social research An understanding of the social research process An ability to find and access existing sources of information An ability to critically evaluate sources of information and knowledge claims An ability to produce and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data effectively

  An ability to present and communicate information and findings of research in an effective manner

• Introduction To Crime and Society (SOCI107) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 100:0 Aims

• To provide an introduction to sociological criminology

• To introduce concepts and frameworks through which the nature, extent and ‘causes’ of crime have been conceptualised

  ​

• To consider how crime is constructed, perceived and responded to within society

  ​

• To explore the inter-relationships between crime, social problems and their context

  ​

• Learning Outcomes

  Explain how crime is constructed as a social problem.

  Discuss some of the main ways in which sociologists and academic criminologists have sought to explain ‘crime’.

  ​

  Distinguish the approaches taken by sociological criminologists and compare them to other approaches (such as common-sense).

  ​

  Comment on the relationship between theories of crime and popular, media and/or policy-responses.

  ​

  Situate discussions of crime and criminalisation within an understanding of social divisions in contemporary society.

  ​

• Controlling Crime - An Introduction (SOCI108) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  To provide an introduction to the main institutions of criminal justice

  To explore and reflect critically on key concepts and debates about criminal justice responses to crime and victimisation

  ​

  To raise awareness about how crime and victimisation are constructed in by agents and practices of crime control

  ​

  An appreciation of the range of responses to crime and deviance and an ability to interpret the values and practices of the agencies which administer them.

  ​

  Learning Outcomes Familiarity with key institutions of the criminal justice system, their roles and context (historical/social). An understanding of relevant criminal justice concepts, debates and approaches and be able to employ these to reflect critically on criminal justice institutions.

  ​

In the second year, the core modules provide a deeper coverage of the range of criminological knowledge and particular controversies in criminal justice practice. We also explore the role of the criminologist in the world of policy and activism in modules such as Understanding Crime, Justice and Punishment, Policing, Crime and Social Control and Punishment, Penalty and Prisons. Students will also study Social Research Methods 1 and 2.

Optional modules currently include:

• Social Exclusion
• Beyond Crime: Culture, Power and Harm
• Domestic and International Drug Policy
• Understanding Non-Profit Organisations: Work Based Learning

• Understanding Policing and The Police (SOCI241) Level 2 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims 1. To introduce some key concepts, topics anddebates in the sociology of policing and the police
  
  2. To provide an overview of the historicaldevelopment of modern police organisations
  
  3. Be able to explain and critically evaluate the ideathat there is a distinctive ‘cop culture’
  
  4. Be able to recognise and comment upon the relevance of keysocial divisions (including class, gender and race) for thinking about policingand police organisations
  
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of issues of policegovernance and accountability, including the significance of human rights​
  Learning Outcomes

  ​Be able to recognise and comment upon the significance of different accounts of the emergence of modern police organisations, and of their role and function in society​

  ​Be able to identify some of the different institutions which are involved in contemporary policing, and demonstrate an awareness of some of the challenges posed by an increasingly plural and global policing environment​​