Criminology and Law BA (Hons)

" Criminology and Law BA (Hons)

Want to know more about our courses and life at the University? Why not tweet us #AskCU and find out!

— Coventry University (@covcampus) February 9, 2015 OVERVIEW

This Criminology and Law degree course runs in 2016/17.

The reduction of crime is a key target against which governments are measured, stirring up strong opinions among people from all backgrounds and age groups and receiving widespread media coverage.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

Our Criminology and Law degree draws on theory and practice from a wide range of disciplines associated with crime and criminal justice. Designed to equip you with a detailed understanding of the social, psychological, philosophical and legal aspects of criminology, all of which will be complemented by ongoing study of constitutional, administrative and criminal law.

The course is also designed to enhance your job prospects and we actively help students to prepare and plan for a career by ensuring that they have the necessary skills required to enter employment.

If you choose this course you will benefit from:

• links with employers including Police, HM Prison Service, and Coventry Youth Offending Service;
• experienced teaching staff who bring professional or research expertise in to their teaching;
• guest speakers from different sectors of the criminological spheres such as the Prison Service, Police, UK Borders Agency and Youth Offending Team;
• a number of field trips (e.g. prisons, The Old Bailey, The Holocaust Centre);
• the opportunity to visit the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, the Stasi museum in Berlin and Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

In the first year you will be introduced to the study of crime through the following modules: Introducing Criminology, Controlling Crime, Introducing Criminological Research; and Academic and Professional Skills You will also cover the British legal system and the nature of law.

During the second year the Criminology half of your degree covers Prisons and Punishment and Policing and Society. This complements your study of Law in the other half of the programme, which covers criminal law and practical legal skills. You will also undertake the planning of a research study as well as a module that allows you to develop career interests through a practice-based study.

The final year focuses on issues connected with crime and you will be given the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge, first through a module that introduces a series of current issues of criminological interest, and second through an individual research project that leads to the production of a dissertation on a topic of your choice. You will also take modules in International Criminal Law and Globalised Organised Crime, as well as a module that builds your employability profile through exploring enterprise in practice.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE BE TAUGHT?

Your course will be based on a series of workshops with some lectures, associated seminars and individual or small-group tutorials.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

An estimated percentage breakdown of how your final grade is assessed is as follows: formal examinations 5%; coursework, tests, essays 80%; practical or project work 15%.

A compulsory Add+vantage module must also be completed: please see the page on the Add+vantage scheme for more details.

TEACHING CONTACT HOURS

In a typical week you will have up to 14 contact hours of teaching and this will break down as:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: tutorials (or individual project supervision) and online support arranged according to the requirements of the module hours

Medium group teaching: 6-8 hours of workshops or seminars each week

Large group teaching: 4-6 hours of lectures each week

Personal study: 15-20 hours each week of self-directed study

"