What Makes This Course So Special?
This course gives you the opportunity to enhance your understanding of an increasingly intriguing and challenging social issue - crime. The national and local news provide increasing coverage of crime, and other issues associated with crime, and these are explored in the study of criminology and the criminal justice system undergraduate degree programme. Television programmes make the subject much more accessible to people and depict conditions in prisons for inmates. This raises key questions about how society should respond to crime and offenders. This programme of study is interested in the theories of crime, as well as how policies and practice operate in the criminal justice system. In this sense theory, policy and practice are woven together.
The course provides a broad based theoretical and practical understanding which you can take into your work placement in year 2. Students on the course have previously gained work experience within a variety of relevant organisations including Victim Support and the Welsh Assembly Government. The Criminology and Criminal Justice teaching team place emphasis on the importance of these placements to help you to put the theory of what you have learnt at university into practice.
In addition to lectures and the placement, you will also have the opportunity to learn from a number of visiting speakers coming in from the criminal justice system sector. These often include practitioners from the Police, Probation and Prison Service. They will provide you with unique, practice based perspectives and knowledge from different areas of the Criminal Justice System.
Visits to external agencies and a working prison may also be available as part of the course. Staff pride themselves on the contacts they have made over the years with key players in the criminal justice system and retain many contacts within the sector.
Course Intro
Criminology and Criminal Justice students study areas of society that affect the everyday lives of people all over the world. Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behaviour. It explores the reasons why people break laws in their country and how society deals with offenders. Criminal Justice relates to government systems and practices that are designed to maintain social control, deter crime and authorise punishments and rehabilitation programmes for offenders.
Agencies within the Criminal Justice system include the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Service, Courts and Prison Service.
You will develop your understanding of criminal behaviour. You will look at who offenders are and why some people may be more prone to engaging in criminal activity than others. You will explore social problems often associated with criminal behaviour and challenge some preconceived ideas about offenders.
Additional features of this course may include visits to outside agencies to gain a unique insight into the British Criminal Justice System and a relevant work placement.
What You Study
Year One:
• Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Introduction to the Youth Justice System
• Introduction to Research
• Skills for a Professional Environment
+ 2 further choices
Year 2
• Crime, Society and Social Problems
• Punishment and Sentencing
• Addressing Youth Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
• Research Methods
• Professional Practice (Work Placement)
+ 1 further choice
Year 3
• Crime, Criminals, Victims and Communities
• Youth Justice – The Historical and Political Perspective
• Dissertation
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
In the past students have gone on to have very successful careers in the Criminal Justice System with some working for Victim Support, the Police Force, Prison Service and other areas of the justice system. On completion of the course, there may also be opportunities for you to progress your studies via a Masters course.
Interview Required?
No interview will be required if you meet the programme entry requirements. However, we would encourage you to use the opportunity to attend one of our Open Days to talk to the tutors about the course.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including essays, exams and poster style presentations.
Student Soundbite
“I enjoy absolutely everything about the course…the different tasks, discussions, interactions with one another and using various sources in lectures make it really interesting – a very cool course.”