COURSE CURRICULUM

The first year of the BA Criminology degree provides a strong and comprehensive introduction to the core ideas, concepts, and structures that shape the study of crime and justice. This foundational year is designed to help students begin thinking critically about how crime is defined, who defines it, and the social factors that influence both offending and responses to it. Through modules such as Crime and Society and Theories of Crime, students will be introduced to different criminological perspectives, gaining insight into how crime has been understood across time and cultures. Other modules like Introduction to the Criminal Justice System and Principles of Criminal Law explore how justice is administered in England and Wales, examining the roles of key institutions and the legal frameworks that guide them. The module Crime and Punishment allows students to critically evaluate different approaches to punishment and consider the societal impacts of penal policies. A dedicated module, Studying Criminology, ensures that students are equipped with the essential academic and research skills needed to succeed at university level, including how to write critically, structure arguments, and engage with academic literature. This year also encourages students to reflect on key social issues such as inequality, victimisation, and the relationship between individuals and the state, helping to develop a well-rounded perspective on crime. By the end of the first year, students will have a solid grasp of the fundamental debates and challenges in criminology and will be well-prepared to explore more complex and specialised areas of the subject in their second and third years. The curriculum offers a careful balance of theoretical insight and real-world application, laying the groundwork for deeper academic exploration and career development in criminal justice, research, policy, or social advocacy.