Qualification aims and objectives

What is the course about? Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology. Students of Criminology gain the chance to understand why a person becomes a criminal and the legal aspects of the criminal justice system. During the course you will gain an insight into deviancy and crime which you will apply to a wide range of contexts and examples. As an area of social science, it encourages students to develop the important skills of advocacy and critical thinking.

Course outline

Units covered:

Unit One: Changing awareness of crime – Internally Assessed

In this unit students will look at crime and deviance. They will be expected to write a report about the different types of crimes, the complexity of crime and then design a campaign for change. 

Unit two: Criminological Theories -Externally Assessed

In this unit students will be looking at the wide range of theories which can be used to explain crime and deviance. They will be looking at biological, environmental, sociological and psychological explanations for crime.

Unit three: Crime scene to courtroom-Internally Assessed

During this unit students will learn about crime scenes and court cases. In the unit we look at evidence collection and the processes that exist to prevent contamination. In addition, we look at the core processes involved in the court room, CPS and other legal agencies for criminal cases. 

Unit four: Crime and Punishment-Externally Assessed

In this unit students will be looking at the wide range of explanations surrounding crime and punishment. This will focus on how laws are made and why they have been selected as core processes.

Future careers

Criminology can open the door to an array of career paths that require understanding of the criminal justice sector. These may include careers in the police force or in police support roles, the field of forensic psychology, social and probation work, or the prison services.