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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Key features
Learn alongside a skilled team of criminologists actively involved in teaching and research, many of whom have worked within criminal justice or allied fields and have strong links with the British Society of Criminology and the British Sociological Association.
Study a variety of topics delivered through a block-taught process that encourages active and experiential learning to engage a diverse student population.
Develop key personal, professional and practical skills that enhance employability upon course completion.
Gain knowledge and insight into local, national and global criminological contexts from experienced academics working at the edge of criminological research and working to promote SDG16 (for which DMU is the global hub) on Peace, Justice and Stronger Institutions.
Participate in in-depth learning experiences through our DMU Global programme. Previous trips include the study of state crime at Auschwitz, subcultures in Chicago, and genocide education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Discover your individuality within the field of Criminology by conducting a self-designed research project from beginning to end that channels your creativity and aligns with your own world views
Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.
Overview
The Criminology with Psychology degree examines the causes, legal framework and responses to crime, combined with the study of psychology.
It provides students with practical knowledge and transferable skills to become active citizens who critically reflect on, and challenge, established institutions and practices to contribute to their community and build a more just society. It will focus predominantly on the sociology of crime, while also consulting the study of psychology in the areas of philosophy, social policy, law and jurisprudence. This will assist students in developing a critical awareness of contemporary issues in criminology in local, national and global contexts, alongside the development of a holistic approach to criminal justice. Students will have the opportunity to develop a suite of professional and personal skills to enhance their employability including: reflexivity, critical thinking, ethics and professional conduct, alongside theoretical and practical skills to enter a diverse range of career pathways within criminal and social justice roles. The programme provides students with skills to support learning for life through inquisitive and reflective practice, and the confidence to respond to the complexity and ambiguity of social change.
The majority of this course is led by the Criminology team and so is suited to those with a predominant interest in society as a whole – please see the module breakdown for more detail.
Modules
Year 1
Studying at university
This module introduces students to the key skills required to undertake an undergraduate degree programme in Criminology. Students will learn practical skills enabling them to find and present academic sources, develop effective approaches to reading and writing in an academic setting. They will acquire presentation, team work, and referencing skills.
Principles of social research
This module introduces students to the principles of social research. Students will recognise and apply critical thinking, explore the concept of ethics in research, and reflect on biases and positionality. They will explore philosophical questions and how different world views shape our understanding of crime, harm and justice.
Applied Psychology
Introduces students to the discipline of psychology, an overview of five core areas: biological, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology.
Journeys through justice
Students will explore the concept of justice and what it means in the context of criminology. By mapping the institutions of criminal and social justice such as police, prisons, probation, courts and the community sector, students will explore pathways through justice and how it may or may not be achieved.
Year 2
Explaining criminological issues
In this module, students will explore core criminological theories in relation to crime, harm and victimisation. These criminological theories are situated in the context of and applied to a range of issues pertinent to complex problems in crime, harm and justice. The module builds a more critical awareness of from Level 4 Module Contemporary Issues in Criminology with a view to developing a ‘criminological imagination’.
Communities of justice
This module explores the Institutions, practices & interactions of justice. Students will explore the debates on the nature of imprisonment, punishment, rehabilitation and desistance. This module will consider debates on race, power, gender, criminalisation, youth justice as they apply to communities of justice. This module builds on the content of Level 4 module Journeys Through Justice.
TBC
Researching justice journeys
The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of research methodologies used in social science research. The module will explore a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, techniques, and forms of analysis with students engaging with the practicalities of a range of research methods.
Year 3
Planning social research
In this module, students will identify a relevant criminological topic and design a final year research project. They will develop a series of appropriate research questions, describe and evaluate an appropriate research design and consider the ethical implications of a research project on a criminological topic.
Justice in a globalised world
In this module, students will explore advanced theoretical perspective to help them understand crime in a global context. Students will critically evaluate how these ‘global’ crimes and harms impact crime, harm and victimisation in society. They will also develop knowledge and critical understanding of transnational crime prevention and justice organisations and institutions.
Two optional modules
This will be a choice of two 15 credit psychology modules.
Final year project
This module is designed to enable students to complete an independent project. Students will integrate their knowledge and skills from across the degree programme to complete a final project. This project will be in the form of one of the following; 1) extended essay, 2) an empirical based research project or 3) social activism project based on their project proposal from module Planning Social research.
The range of psychology modules available are subject to change and are dependent on student numbers enrolled and could be withdrawn without prior notice due to limited numbers.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry criteria
GCSEs
Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including English
Plus one of the following:
A levels
A minimum of 112 points from at least two A levels
T Levels
Merit
BTEC
BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit
BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit
Access to HE Diploma
Pass in QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff with at least 30 Level 3 credits at Merit.
We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.
International Baccalaureate: 24+ points
English language requirements
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.
English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Interview: No
Work experience: No
Personal statement selection criteria
An ability to work independently and take a pro-active approach to learning
Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
Information relevant to the course applied for
Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Teaching and assessments
Year 1
Studying at university
This module introduces students to the key skills required to undertake an undergraduate degree programme in Criminology. Students will learn practical skills enabling them to find and present academic sources, develop effective approaches to reading and writing in an academic setting. They will acquire presentation, team work, and referencing skills.
Principles of social research
This module introduces students to the principles of social research. Students will recognise and apply critical thinking, explore the concept of ethics in research, and reflect on biases and positionality. They will explore philosophical questions and how different world views shape our understanding of crime, harm and justice.
Applied Psychology
Introduces students to the discipline of psychology, an overview of five core areas: biological, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology.
Journeys through justice
Students will explore the concept of justice and what it means in the context of criminology. By mapping the institutions of criminal and social justice such as police, prisons, probation, courts and the community sector, students will explore pathways through justice and how it may or may not be achieved.
Year 2
Explaining criminological issues
In this module, students will explore core criminological theories in relation to crime, harm and victimisation. These criminological theories are situated in the context of and applied to a range of issues pertinent to complex problems in crime, harm and justice. The module builds a more critical awareness of from Level 4 Module Contemporary Issues in Criminology with a view to developing a ‘criminological imagination’.
Communities of justice
This module explores the Institutions, practices & interactions of justice. Students will explore the debates on the nature of imprisonment, punishment, rehabilitation and desistance. This module will consider debates on race, power, gender, criminalisation, youth justice as they apply to communities of justice. This module builds on the content of Level 4 module Journeys Through Justice.
TBC
Researching justice journeys
The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of research methodologies used in social science research. The module will explore a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, techniques, and forms of analysis with students engaging with the practicalities of a range of research methods.
Year 3
Planning social research
In this module, students will identify a relevant criminological topic and design a final year research project. They will develop a series of appropriate research questions, describe and evaluate an appropriate research design and consider the ethical implications of a research project on a criminological topic.
Justice in a globalised world
In this module, students will explore advanced theoretical perspective to help them understand crime in a global context. Students will critically evaluate how these ‘global’ crimes and harms impact crime, harm and victimisation in society. They will also develop knowledge and critical understanding of transnational crime prevention and justice organisations and institutions.
Two optional modules
This will be a choice of two 15 credit psychology modules.
Final year project
This module is designed to enable students to complete an independent project. Students will integrate their knowledge and skills from across the degree programme to complete a final project. This project will be in the form of one of the following; 1) extended essay, 2) an empirical based research project or 3) social activism project based on their project proposal from module Planning Social research.
The range of psychology modules available are subject to change and are dependent on student numbers enrolled and could be withdrawn without prior notice due to limited numbers.
Career Opportunities
Placements
We have a team of practice-based criminologists, helping you develop the knowledge and skills required to work within the criminal justice sector.
Volunteering and research opportunities, develop your practical and professional skills, and enhance your employability upon graduation, and are available in local criminal justice agencies, including prison, probation, youth offending services, and victim support. Students are also encouraged to visit the local magistrates’ courts and prisons.
Graduate Careers
We have an employability lead for Criminology with Psychology BA (Hons) who focuses on building up employment links and hosting events to encourage students to think about careers.
Past events include a Frontiers for Future Careers webinar series where local and national organisations hosted session with our criminology students. Guests included CJS agencies, charities and career support services.
Graduate career opportunities are varied, with recent graduates going on to work in sectors including:
Policing
Youth justice
Community safety
Crime prevention
Victim Support
Prison Service
National Probation Service and probation partner organisations
Substance misuse services
Social work
Teaching
Policy related employment
Academia
DMU Global
International experiences can help you differentiate yourself in an increasingly competitive graduate jobs market. We offer fantastic opportunities throughout Europe and further afield which will help you gain invaluable educational, work-related and cultural experiences through our DMU Global and Erasmus schemes.
Previous global experiences have included summer schools in Turkey, Japan and South Korea, giving students the opportunity to learn alongside students from around the world, study unique modules and explore the cities of Istanbul, Fukuoka and Seoul.
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