COURSE CURRICULUM

The Criminology BSc at Brunel University provides a comprehensive and critical understanding of crime, criminal justice, and social harm. In the first year, students are introduced to the foundational concepts of criminology, exploring the social, legal, and cultural definitions of crime, the history of the discipline, and the role of the media and institutions in shaping perceptions of criminality. They engage with case studies, global perspectives, and the urban environment of London to understand crime in context. The second year deepens this knowledge with modules on global and intersectional criminology, crime and deviance, and research methods, equipping students with skills in both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Optional modules allow exploration of youth crime, gangs, mental health, victimology, colonialism, digital culture, and humanitarian issues. In the final year, students undertake a dissertation and the Criminology in Practice module, applying research skills to independent projects while developing professional and employability skills. Additional optional modules cover topics such as drugs, crime, capitalism and sex, psychosocial perspectives on violence, housing, criminal law, terrorism, migration, urban sociology, and environmental justice. Across all three years, the program emphasizes critical thinking, engagement with contemporary debates, and the ability to analyse crime, justice, and social issues from multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives, preparing students for diverse careers in criminology, criminal justice, research, and related fields.