Overview

Criminology is the study of crime, human rights and the criminal justice system at the individual, social and global level. You examine the contribution that psychological perspectives and methods can make to our understanding of crime and the criminal justice system.

As psychology with criminology student, you cover core modules included in the BSc (Hons) Psychology programme, in addition to specific modules in criminology.

By studying psychology with criminology you consider the impact that society and the media have on crime rates and public perceptions of crime. Like our other psychology degree programmes, the analytical and communication skills you develop on the course are prized by employers in a wide range of careers. This degree provides an excellent academic background for a variety of stimulating careers in psychology and criminal justice agencies as well as in research, education and in a wider variety of voluntary and statutory organisations.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society and can be your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.

Professional accreditation

This is a joint honours programme accredited by the British Psychological Society

Course structure

Year 0 (foundation year) core modules

Academic Study Skills Toolkit

This module will assist you in developing the personal and academic skills that you will need for undergraduate study. It focuses on developing skills such as information retrieval, evaluation, critical thinking, note-taking, presentation skills and group work.

Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences

This module will introduce you to the historical and contemporary development of social science disciplines and will provide examples of theoretical challenges and the ways in which research is applied in society. You will gain an understanding of the critical differences between disciplines and how interdisciplinary research is fostered through collaboration. You will also be introduced to academic standards, ethical guidelines and research protocols, personal development planning and to a range of study and transferable skills relevant to your degree course and beyond.

Fake News: Propaganda and Polemics, Past and Present

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your skills in thinking critically about the information and analysis presented in an array of media in today’s digital world, drawing on the methodologies of a range of disciplines within the social sciences, humanities and law. You will explore examples of the debates over fake news in both the past and present, and look at how fake news can be used to both support and undermine the status quo, enabling you in the process to become more savvy and engaged citizens.

Historical and Popular Crimes, Justice, Laws and Psychology

This module introduces you to the history of crime and justice, using media representations and crime fiction as a way of exploring crime over time, including aspects such as changes in society, law and education in this context.

Projects

This module allows students to identify an area of interest related to their undergraduate degree and to explore this through a small scale research project where students will be required to produce an analysis of an area of focus.

Teesside: History, Literature, Culture and Society

This module provides you with an opportunity to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the Teesside region. You will learn about Teesside’s history, culture and society through the examination of various topics which will give you a deeper understanding of the region, both past and present.

Year 1 core modules

Criminal Justice

This module explores various aspects of the Criminal Justice System, including a range of agencies and institutions that operate within it. The initial focus is placed upon introducing students to the historical foundations of criminal justice in the 19th century and the material/ideological conditions of Victorian Penalty. Whilst plotting this historical trajectory towards a contemporary understanding of the Criminal Justice System, a number of facets will be explored including the era of penal-welfarism, the dislocations of neoliberalism, criminal justice under New Labour and the Coalition Government. The aim is to locate our understanding of criminal justice within a broader historical, political, social, and economic context. The module will also explore a number of specific themes, for example, probation, prisons, restorative justice, race and gender and links are made to a theory where appropriate.

Critical Thinking about Psychology

This module provides students with many of the skills needed to critically evaluate psychological theories and studies. It uses examples from psychology to highlight the common errors that people make when assessing arguments and evaluating evidence.

The module provides step-by-step guidance on how to overcome widespread mistakes and how to construct logical, balanced and coherent arguments. The module also requires students to assess the validity of a number of extraordinary claims, such as parapsychology, alternative medicine, astrology and mediumship. Students will be encouraged to be open-minded, yet require appropriate standards of proof when evaluating such claims.

Human Development and Social Psychology

You gain an understanding of two of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): developmental psychology and social psychology. You consider theoretical and empirical work within human development and social psychology and are introduced to ethics in psychology, psychological research skills and report writing.

Principles of Criminology

The module seeks to provide an introduction to criminological theories and the way in which we understand crime and deviance in contemporary society. The module is designed to serve as a foundation to further criminological theory modules in levels 5 and 6. The intention is to provide a sound basis on which to explore debates about who commits a crime, why crime is committed and why crime is seen as a social problem. Students will be introduced to a range of classic and traditional theoretical perspectives which will provide the foundations for more complex and contemporary theoretical perspectives later in the programme.

Psychobiological, Cognition and Individual Differences

You gain an understanding of three of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): biological psychology, cognitive psychology and individual differences. You consider theoretical and empirical work within biological and developmental psychology and individual differences and also develop psychological research skills and report writing in more depth to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, conduct and report psychological research.

Psychological Research Design and Analysis 1

Providing a foundation in psychological research methods and analysis, this module covers a range of experimental and non-experimental methodological approaches.

You are introduced to the Windows SPSS package for statistical analysis and graph drawing, and you learn about simple qualitative research and data collection methods.

The module covers ethics in research, qualitative and quantitative methods, survey design, simple non-experimental and experimental designs, reliability and validity, probability, hypothesis testing, descriptive data analysis, simple non-parametric and parametric statistical analysis and research report writing.

By the end of the module, you’ll be able to identify the appropriate method for a range of research questions, analyse the resulting data and draw appropriate conclusions.

How you learn

Teaching is delivered using a range of lectures, seminars and laboratory classes. We emphasise study skills so you learn how to use all our extensive facilities such as electronic journals, virtual learning environments and computer programs. You also have access to our computer suites and specialist laboratories where you develop practical skills in the investigation of human behaviour.

How you are assessed

Our varied assessments develop the skills most valued by employers. Our range of assessments includes essays, research reports, exams, group and individual projects and presentations, poster presentations, portfolios and a dissertation.

Career opportunities

Although this is an academic course rather than a professional training course, on successful completion, with a 2.2 or above, you will be eligible to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status with the British Psychological Society (www.bps.org.uk). As with all our psychology degrees, upon graduation you can proceed to further study in any area of psychology. However, the unique skills and knowledge developed on this course are particularly suited to careers in health and social welfare, the probation service, the prison service, the police and voluntary organisations.

All programmes are designed to incorporate employability skills development alongside your degree course. Our staff utilise their extensive connections to provide many and varied opportunities to engage with potential employers through fairs, guest lecture sessions, live projects and site visits. In addition we offer a series of workshops and events in the first, second and third year that ensure all students are equipped with both degree level subject knowledge PLUS the practical skills that employers are looking for in new graduate recruits.

You are encouraged to develop your employability through volunteering which can help you develop new skills, improve networking and enhance your CV. Teesside University has a dedicated service, Volun-tees, which aims to engage students in relevant volunteering activities both within the local community and on University-led programmes. Projects can include working with offenders, supporting victims and witnesses of crime, facilitating activities for clients with mental health issues, working with children and more.

Our award-winning careers service works with regional and national employers to advertise graduate positions, in addition to providing post-graduation support for all Teesside University alumni.