COURSE CURRICULUM

The BSc Criminology degree at University of Reading provides a structured exploration of crime, law, and criminal justice through sociological, legal, and policy perspectives. In the first year, students study core modules such as Introduction to Criminology, which examines key concepts like crime, punishment, power, and social control, alongside Legal Skills for Criminologists, Criminal Law, and Introduction to Criminal Justice, which together build a foundation in the English legal system and the institutions that respond to crime. The second year develops more advanced understanding through modules including Crime and Media, Advanced Criminological Theory, Criminological Research Methods, and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice. These encourage critical analysis of how crime is represented, how theories of crime have evolved, and how research is conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Students also examine current policy debates and the impact of inequality and social change on justice systems. In the final year, students complete a dissertation or research writing project, applying independent research skills to a criminological topic of their choice. Across the programme, emphasis is placed on analytical thinking, legal understanding, and research competence, preparing students for careers in criminal justice, policing, law, policy analysis, social research, and related fields.