About the course
Calling on a wide range of disciplines, from law and politics to health and psychology, this course gives you the knowledge and skills to be a global social scientist with employability across many sectors.
Delivering the most up-to-date theory and practice, Criminology and Sociology reflects both national and international developments in these ever-changing fields. It gives you the critical-thinking skills and intellectual confidence to develop your own position on such important issues as individual and social responsibility, crime and punishment, and global social dilemmas.
In the first year, you learn the foundations of both subjects as well as core skills in social sciences and research. Your second and third years build on this foundation while providing you with opportunities to explore special interests through optional units such as the politics of migration; youth and crime; and crime and the media. The final year also includes an independent research project of your choice.
Why choose this course?
- It has an overall student satisfaction rating of 100% (NSS 2022)
- Learn to explore different theoretical perspectives, developing your ability to interpret and evaluate evidence, research, and make informed, reasoned arguments
- Study with expert staff from a variety of social science backgrounds including forensic psychiatry, policing, offender management, social work and youth justice
- All staff are actively involved in research in areas such as human rights, safeguarding, policing, social justice, public policy, youth crime and violence, and offender management
- Voluntary work is embedded into course units so you learn through real-life situations and see policy in action
- Take the course over four years and include an optional year’s placement in industry (see below), allowing you to gain practical skills, build your CV and make contacts
- If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate course
Course Leader - Deborah Spring
I have been teaching sociology, criminology, psychology and criminology and child and family studies in a number of educational settings since I qualified with a degree in Sociology and Criminology and a master’s degree in Criminology in 2015. I developed a keen interest in many areas such as the family, mental wellbeing, crime issues and I have been involved in important research to human trafficking.
Why Study in the School of Applied Social Sciences?
- Courses developed in partnership with practice agencies
- Our research involving robots, shows that they can improve mental health and loneliness in the elderly
- Part of the SASS change makers initiative
Units
- Career Planning For Social Scientists (ASS102-1) Compulsory
- Introducing Academic Skills (ASS103-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Criminology (ASS073-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Research And Social Enquiry (ASS100-1) Compulsory
- Modern Political Thoughts And Governance (ASS104-1) Compulsory
- Understanding Societies, Identities And Structures (ASS069-1) Compulsory
- Power In Political Thought (ASS116-2) Compulsory
- Research 1: Collecting Data (ASS110-2) Compulsory
- Research 2: Exploring Data (ASS113-2) Compulsory
- The Social Sciences At Work (ASS099-2) Compulsory
- Theorising Crime, Punishment And Justice (ASS100-2) Compulsory
- Addictions And Society (ASS106-2) Optional
- Cybercrime (ASS112-2) Optional
- Gangs And Serious Youth Violence (ASS067-2) Optional
- Refugees, Displacement And The Politics Of Migration (ASS096-2) Optional
- Rehabilitation Of The Offender: Probation, Restoration And Social Justice (ASS097-2) Optional
- Sociology Of Health And Illness (ASS045-2) Optional
- Sass Change Maker Project Dissertation (ASS139-3) Compulsory
- Sass Change Maker Research Dissertation (ASS142-3) Compulsory
- Urban Crime (ASS144-3) Compulsory
- Childhoods In Global Context (ASS023-3) Optional
- Crime And Media (ASS102-3) Optional
- Forensic Mental Health (ASS033-3) Optional
- Green Criminology: Environmental Crime And Ecological Justice (ASS143-3) Optional
- Human Rights And Global Governance (ASS147-3) Optional
- Terrorism In A Global Context (ASS141-3) Optional
- Work And Welfare In The 21st Century (ASS145-3) Optional
How will this course improve my career prospects?
Because of the subject specialist knowledge and transferable skills gained, you will be able to function effectively in any of the sectors indicated below:
Youth work, Social work, Early intervention, Special needs education, Teaching assistant, Residential work, Youth custody, Migration/asylum support, Third sector organisations, Family support worker, Learning mentor, Youth Justice, Residential work, Policy advisor, Probation service, Victim support worker, Research, Substance Misuse Worker, Teacher/Lecturer/Education Roles, Equality and Diversity Officer, Victim Care Officer, MI5/ MI6, Counter terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service, Immigration centre, Private security, Human resources, Local Govt, Civil Service, Private Sector, Housing sector, Advocacy and advice roles, Forensic science, Journalism, Care delivery/management, Prison, Psychologist, Customs and Border Roles, Intelligence Analyst, International Aid/Development Worker, Legal Careers, Counselling and Mental Health Roles, etc.
*international students are eligible of receiving the VS'S scholarship of 1000GBP
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.