BA Criminology and American Studies

Example structure
Studying at Essex is about discovering yourself, so your course combines compulsory and optional modules to make sure you gain key knowledge in the discipline, while having as much freedom as possible to explore your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.
For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are just a selection of those available. The opportunity to take optional modules will depend on the number of core modules within any year of the course. In many instances, the flexibility to take optional modules increases as you progress through the course.
Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.
In your final year you choose between American Society: Ethnic Encounters in the Making of the USA and Globalisation and Crime. You don't take both.
Year 1
The Enlightenment
Introduction to Crime, Law and Society
Introduction to United States
Introduction to United States Sociology
Skills for University Studies
Introduction to US History (optional)
Introduction to United States Literature (optional)
Year 2
America: Centres and Margins, Borders and Boundaries
Sociology of Crime and Control
Policing, Punishment and Society
Social Entrepreneurs, Sustainability and Community Action (optional)
Doing Interdisciplinary Research for a BA Dissertation: Approaches, Methods, Practice (optional)
Final year
Term Abroad Module 1 (optional)
Term Abroad Module 2 (optional)
American Society: Ethnic Encounters in the Making of the USA
Final Year Dissertation (optional)
Women, Gender and Sexuality in US History (optional)
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree. Our Programme Specification gives more detail about modules on your year abroad.
Teaching
American Studies modules taught through one-hour lectures plus one-hour classes of about twenty students
Spend either a term or a full year experiencing the American education system
Criminology teaching is arranged to allow a lot of freedom in how you organise your learning experience, with a focus on discussion and problem-solving
Other Criminology modules include lab sessions to improve technical research skills
Assessment
Assessed through a combination of written coursework and end-of-year examinations
Criminology assessment weighting is 50% coursework and 50% examinations
Complete a supervised dissertation on the topic that most inspires you
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