COURSE CURRICULUM

The Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons) degree is structured over four years to progressively build knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills. In Year 1, students are introduced to the historical, legal, and philosophical foundations of criminal justice, alongside an understanding of social science research methods that support effective academic inquiry. In Year 2, learning deepens through the exploration of key criminological theories and debates, while students are introduced to criminal investigation and policing. They also develop a stronger understanding of research processes, with a focus on conducting ethical and valid studies. In Year 3, students take a more applied and critical approach, examining areas such as prisons, youth justice, and contemporary criminal justice issues, with opportunities to specialise in policing through a competitive selection process. This specialism leads to a Criminal Justice (Policing) award upon graduation. In Year 4, students complete an independent research dissertation on a chosen topic related to criminal justice or policing. They also study advanced topics through optional modules such as victimology, global security, and crime as social harm, while having opportunities to explore international justice systems or gain practical experience through work-based learning modules.