Understand the causes of crime and how society responds to it. Investigate current issues, debates, and trends surrounding crime and the criminal justice system. Gain real-world experience volunteering in roles within the criminal justice system and graduate with a qualification in Criminology.
Course overview
What makes an act a crime? Who is a criminal? Why do people commit crime? How do they stop offending? What makes someone vulnerable to victimisation?
We recognise a Criminology degree is is a diverse area of study and so we offer you the opportunity to choose from these four specialist course routes:
BSc (Hons) Criminology (UCAS code M930)
The generic Criminology route will allow you to explore the key issues and debates around crime and victimisation in society today, covering topical and dynamic content, and reflecting current issues, policy and practice within the criminal justice system. You'll understand the causes and consequences of crime and how we manage and respond to it as a society. We provide extensive opportunities for you to volunteer and gain career-relevant experience to ensure you graduate with the transferable skills, broad knowledge-base, and critical awareness that studying for a Criminology degree provides. You will take part in continuous training to become a social researcher – which is a valuable extra skill to have for future employment. If you want to work with some of the most vulnerable and dangerous people in society, we will help to equip you with the skills to do it.
BSc (Hons) Criminology: Criminology and Criminal Justice (UCAS code M931)
The Criminology and Criminal Justice pathway will provide you with a working knowledge of criminological thought and detailed investment in more specific issues, debates, and research regarding the criminal justice system, and processes of justice more generally. You'll develop detailed knowledge and critical awareness of theoretical approaches to and practice-based implementations of criminal justice systems; issues regarding the rights and access/barriers to justice for victims of crime and harm; and processes of offender management, governance, and rehabilitation.
BSc (Hons) Criminology: Vulnerability and Social Care (UCAS code M932)
The Vulnerability and Social Care pathway will provide you with a strong working knowledge of theory and research on vulnerable populations and practice-based approaches to counselling and safeguarding policies. It emphasises the development of critical awareness and practitioner approaches to social policies aimed at addressing social inequalities and social care; vulnerable populations and victimisation processes within public, domestic, and institutional contexts; approaches to safeguarding and accountability; and core counselling skills, practices, and help strategies.
BSc (Hons) Criminology: Inequality and Social Justice (UCAS code M933)
The Inequality and Social Justice pathway specialises in criminological issues which intersect with social inequalities such as gender, sex, sexuality, race, and ethnicity. A strong emphasis is placed on social justice, such as persecution, exploitation, and discrimination – issues that, more often than not, escape conventional notions of criminal justice. It emphasises the development of detailed knowledge and critical awareness of theoretical and empirical relationships between power, inequalities, and social change, especially in relation to the impact of globalisation; global and local issues regarding diversity, discrimination, and human rights; and theories and practices of exploitation, hatred, and persecution in relation to issues such as homophobia and sex work.
Why us?
- Our Criminology courses are ranked 20th in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2022)
- We have strong links with organisations and institutions such as the HM Prison Service, Youth Justice Service, and local police constabularies, enabling you to volunteer or do work placements to gain experience and enhance your employability
- We offer an applied route which includes visits to the courts, guest talks from current practitioners, and a work-based placement
- Our Criminology academic team is responsible for founding and running the Local Appropriate Adult Scheme in collaboration with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Northumbria police, which provides you with a unique opportunity to volunteer as an appropriate adult during your studies, achieving an additional professional qualification
- Your learning is constantly informed by current work from research-active lecturers who specialise in researching domestic violence and abuse, the risk management of offenders, gender based violence, desistance from crime, the criminalisation of sex work, policing, and disability and vulnerability
Course structure
A typical week studying for the BSc (Hons) Criminology degree will include a range of lectures, seminars, workshops, group work, computer-based learning, and independent study. You will be assessed by methods such as written coursework, essays, research projects, and presentations.
You'll be given the opportunity to specialise in areas such as Criminal Justice, Vulnerability and Social Care, and Inequality and Social Justice.
Throughout your studies, you will have a designated personal tutor and one-to-one support from academic staff at the University to help you develop your skills and get the best out of your assignments.
Part-time study
If you choose to study this Criminology course part-time, you will study the same course as full-time students over a longer period of time. You will typically complete 40-80 credits a year rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All our modules are taught during the day and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
BSc (Hons) Criminology is a flexible degree which gives you the opportunity to specialise in the areas which interest you the most. In addition to a broad range of Criminology modules, you can choose from options in Health and Social Care, which is our sister course.
Facilities
You'll be based at Wearside View, situated on the award-winning St Peter's riverside campus. The location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.
Career ready
A degree in Criminology creates a number of career options and you will graduate ready to work in a range of employment settings due to the transferable skills and critical awareness studying Criminology provides. Your skills in analysing data, undertaking research, and developing strong arguments will be highly valued by many employers.
Previous graduates now work in various roles within and beyond the criminal justice sector, such as policing, probation, youth justice, fields of education, working with vulnerable adults, victim support, and roles within the government. Explore more career options with one of our Crime, Policing, and Investigation degrees.
Many of our graduates also choose to continue their studies at masters and PhD level.
Voluntary work and opportunities
We have strong links with a number of organisations which offer placements and voluntary work opportunities during the Criminology course, including Northumbria Police, the probation service, HM Prison Service, youth offender teams, community rehabilitation companies, criminal court, and victim support agencies. This gives you the opportunity to gain valuable experience in an area you're interested in which will help you in your career once you graduate.
Work-based placements
You can also choose to incorporate an 84-hour work placement into your Criminology degree. You'll have the opportunity to work with criminal justice agencies or an organisation which supports people who are at risk of offending or who have been in contact with a criminal justice agency. Examples include Shelter, Campus Police, Changing Lives, NEPACS, NERAF and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, and the Prince's Trust programme.
Many of our students remain with their organisation to continue their volunteer work, or in some cases, move into paid roles once their placements finish. Placements are an excellent way to gain real-world experience which can help you decide which career path to take and whether a particular job role is for you.
The Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult scheme
We are incredibly proud to have founded the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme (NLAAS) in a unique partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Northumbria Police. The scheme is the first of its kind in the country and moves to address a serious shortage of appropriate adults in the region. You will be trained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 to provide a 24-hour volunteer service across the Northumbria Police force area.
As a volunteer, you will offer assistance, advice, and emotional support throughout a person's time in police custody. Taking part in the scheme not only gives you the opportunity to gain real-world experience, but also enables you to undertake a professional Level 2 accreditation in working as an appropriate adult with vulnerable adults and juveniles.
Centre for Applied Social Sciences
The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS) combines original academic research with practice-based collaborations and outreach activities, often working directly with practitioners, policymakers, and front-line delivery staff regionally, nationally, and internationally.
The mission of CASS reflects that of the University's aim as a civic university: to take an active interest in the social issues that affect the region and beyond by engaging in research and practice-based collaborations that aim to improve living conditions, address inequalities and social exclusion, and promote social justice.
Currently our research focuses around three strands: children, young people and families; communities, health and social exclusion; and crime, victims and social justice. CASS regularly hosts visiting speakers and holds events that you will be invited to. This can be an excellent way to learn from the real-life experience of experts in the field who already have a strong track record in sociological and social policy-related social research.
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