COURSE CURRICULUM

The BSc Criminology and Criminal Psychology degree at Aberystwyth University integrates the study of criminology with a strong focus on the psychological aspects of criminal behaviour and offender management. In the first year, students build foundational knowledge through modules covering crime control and prevention, introduction to criminology, legal and criminal justice systems, and essential skills for criminologists, alongside an introduction to psychology. Optional modules such as criminal law and criminology in action allow students to tailor their studies according to their interests. In the second year, the focus shifts to psychological explanations of criminal behaviour, the study of crime from a psychological perspective, quantitative research methods, and approaches to treatment and rehabilitation of offenders. Optional modules provide opportunities to explore related areas, including cybercrime, criminal justice placements, youth justice, family and child law, and media representations of crime. In the final year, students consolidate their understanding of psychology and crime and advanced offender management, while options such as empirically based criminology dissertations, law-focused dissertations, critical perspectives on imprisonment, and employability skills further enhance research and professional competence. The degree equips students with analytical, research, and practical skills that are essential for careers in policing, probation, youth justice, prisons, and wider criminal justice roles, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for professional practice in complex criminal justice environments.