These distinct and complementary subjects enable you to appreciate the complex nature and diversity of today’s modern society. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the internal and external forces that shapes our lives and determine our life chances. As part of your studies you’ll assess the merits of competing theories and explanations. Your understanding will be enhanced by our links with highly renowned academics and via the additional enrichment activities on offer. Teachers within the department come from a variety of backgrounds and specialisms, bringing an often unique quality to their teaching. Having high standards and expectations means that each individual in their care is guided to achieve to the best of their ability.

This exciting course is designed to provide students with an understanding of criminology. The course is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities. Students on the course will study different types of crimes and will look at the role of technology and how it’s contributed to the creation of new crimes, e.g. cybercrimes. Students will also have the opportunity to investigate how the media can play a part in societal stereotypes of criminals as well as the ongoing problems of fear of crime. Students will explore criminal behaviour as well as social policy and methods of punishment, e.g. does prison work? Criminology allows you to investigate a wide range of interesting theory which will improve your ability to analyse key facts. Class debates surrounding key topics and theory will enhance your ability to evaluate which is crucial for the examinations and the internal assessment.

Many students who have studied Criminology choose to study Social Science related degrees at university such as Criminology, Sociology, and Law. This course is also suitable for students considering careers within the criminal justice system, e.g. the probation services, policing, the courts and tribunals service or the national offender management service.

Certificate:

There will be one controlled assessment in December 2019 and one written examination at the end of the course.

• Part 1: Changing Awareness of Crime (Controlled assessment) 50% of Certificate or 25% of Diploma.
• Part 2: Criminological Theories (Variety of short answers as well as essay responses in examination form in May 2020) 50% of Certificate or 25% of Diploma.

Diploma:

There will be one controlled assessment in December 2020 and one written examination at the end of the course.

• Part 3: Crime scene to courtroom (Controlled assessment) 25% of Diploma
• Part 4: Crime & Punishment (Variety of short answers as well as essay responses in examination form in May 2021) 25% of Diploma (The WJEC Level 3 Single Diploma in Criminology is the equivalent of one A level)

Year One:

• Changing awareness of crime
• Criminological Theories

Year Two:

• Crime scene to courtroom
• Crime & Punishment

To study Criminology you will require 5 GCSEs at grade 5/4 to include English and Maths.