BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology

Overview

Sociology & Criminology examines how social structures shape opportunity, identity, and justice. You will study classical and contemporary theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and criminological perspectives on crime and punishment. Field visits and guest speakers from policing, probation, and community organisations connect academic study to practice. BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3 years full-time, and the credit total is 360. Students move from Introduction to Sociological Imagination through Introduction to Sociological Imagination; Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice; Social Research Methods & Study Skills; Contemporary Society & Social Inequalities; Culture, Identity & Socialisation; Youth, Crime & Subcultures, and finish on Honours Sociology & Criminology Dissertation. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result. Reading is a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. The artefact a marker expects is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Apply sociological theory to contemporary social issues Design and conduct ethical social research projects Critically evaluate criminal justice policy and practice Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.

Research methods training includes ethical fieldwork and data analysis using NVivo and SPSS.

Who This Programme Is For

• ✦Students interested in social justice and community work
• ✦Future researchers in sociology or criminology
• ✦Professionals in policing, probation, or charity sectors

Programme Structure & Delivery

Learning Outcomes

• ✦Apply sociological theory to contemporary social issues
• ✦Design and conduct ethical social research projects
• ✦Critically evaluate criminal justice policy and practice
• ✦Communicate findings to policymakers and communities

Career Pathways

• ✦Probation Officer Trainee
• ✦Charity Project Worker
• ✦Policy Researcher
• ✦Police Staff Roles
• ✦Further Study (MA)

Curriculum