Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and Sociology - BA (Hons)

Criminology and Sociology at Keele covers the core, grounding concepts of Sociology whilst exploring the various areas of the criminal justice system including policing, prisons, and rehabilitation. Keele was at the forefront of offering a named Bachelor's degree in Criminology in the UK and has many years experience of teaching Criminology to undergraduate students. In Criminology and Sociology we are committed to innovative, imaginative, and problem-solving approaches, you will be encouraged to become an independent and critical thinker.

Year of entry

2023

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

Social, Political and Global Studies

UCAS code

LMH9

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

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Why study Criminology and Sociology at Keele University?

Global Top 300 for Social Sciences (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2022)

Keele pioneered the teaching of undergraduate Criminology in the UK

Option to study abroad to experience a different culture and society at a partner university

Sociology is taught by specialists in areas such as migration, cultural studies, consumer culture, family, anthropological perspectives, and environmental sociology

Criminology explores specialisms such as policing, prisons, drugs and alcohol dependency, youth justice, probation and transnational crime

Course overview

This combined honours degree allows you to consider major global challenges through both a sociological and criminological lens.

Within the Sociology element of the programme, you will gain insight into various aspects of the social world and how these areas influence the social challenges faced by individuals. You will explore topics such as ethnicity, class, migration, and feminism, and consider the historical explanations and developments for these areas in the contemporary world. You will investigate how these topics promote inclusion in society or create social divisions based on different opinions and experiences. This will encourage you to have an analytical approach to different theories and explanations and develop fair arguments based on data and your individual critical viewpoint.

You will develop your imaginative thinking and awareness around social inequalities and a range of important sociological issues.

Within Criminology you will explore what crime is and how it is defined by the law and public opinion. You will build your awareness of a range of different perspectives and explore why it is important to think about crime, its impacts and how it could be prevented in future.

You will research the theoretical explanations to understand the motivations for criminal behaviour and the subsequent investigation process. You will consider the many factors that may influence a person to commit crime such as socio demographic issues, peer groups and culture. You will evaluate how these influencing factors may differ internationally, for example, what is perceived to be a crime and the way it is controlled and dealt with by authorities across the globe.

Throughout the course you will explore the different methods used to collect and analyse criminological data and develop a robust understanding of the consequences associated with crime. You will also be encouraged to question whether outcomes are reasonable and effective to control crime within society.

Work Placement Opportunities

Working for Justice

Our second year Criminology optional module ‘Working for Justice’ gives you the opportunity to explore careers in criminal justice or related fields. You will explore the work of professionals in the police force, prison service or youth service and related professions. You will also have the chance to network with visitors and guest speakers, providing insight into their career.

You will learn how to craft a compelling CV, cover letter and job application which will form the basis of your assessment for the module which focuses on employability beyond your studies. This will enable you to demonstrate your expertise for a particular area.

Work Placement Year

On this course, you will have the opportunity to opt for a Work Placement Year in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies between Year 2 and 3. This will allow you to apply your knowledge and practical skills in a workplace environment enabling you to build key skills in communication, teamwork and project management. You will be able to demonstrate your abilities and creative thinking, working with fellow professionals as well as independently.

You will be supported by staff in your preparation to apply for a work placement that suits your interests and career prospects. This opportunity will allow you to develop both personally and professionally during your studies which will assist you in your employment after university.

Study Abroad

International Year

Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising this opportunity between your second and third year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe.

On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title ‘Criminology and Sociology with International Year’. This can be highly beneficial for your career prospects and through experiencing different cultures; you will not only grow as an individual, but you will also strengthen your knowledge and interests within society. You can find more information here.

Alternatively, you may choose to study abroad for just a semester in your second year which will count towards your second-year grades. Our Global Opportunities team will support you through the process, ensuring you are able to get the most out of your international experience.

USA week visit

You may wish to study abroad for a short period and this opportunity allows you to spend a week in the United States. You will engage with various activities during your visit to gain an understanding of the function and role of criminal justice agencies in the USA.

Your time in the US will also involve talks from law enforcement agencies where you will gain insight into various careers and hear from professionals in the field. This is a useful experience to learn how the law operates in a different country and explore different cultures across the globe.

During this time, a group of students from the US also come to visit Keele University.

Student Support

We offer a multi layered student support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. You will benefit from an academic mentor based within the School and the support of the Student Experience and Support team - who offer advice and guidance about your studies or life outside of them.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles.

Related courses

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year Study abroad GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC

GCSE requirements

English at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM

International Baccalaureate

29 points

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

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Your future career

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)

Enhance your employability

A degree in Criminology and Sociology will equip you with a suite of transferable skills that will prepare you for your chosen career or further study and training. You will become a critical thinker with the ability to problem-solve, share ideas and demonstrate your expertise through written and verbal work. These skills are valuable in the workplace and encourage you to think independently as well as contribute to the wider team to benefit the organisation and society.

Job roles and areas that a graduate of our Criminology and Sociology BA could explore include:

Police Officer
Social Worker
Solicitor
Community Development Worker
Probation Officer
Prison Officer
Local Government Officer
Youth Worker
Civil Service
Government
Social Care
Teaching
Health sector
Youth services
Government
Advertising and marketing
Charity

Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching in Criminology

Criminology at Keele is taught by research active staff through diverse teaching methods and different modes of learning and assessments. You will be supported by an academic mentor who will help to guide you throughout your studies and enable you to think independently about your career aspirations.

You will be taught through a range of modules that not only provide a foundation of knowledge but also encourage you to think critically and apply your learning further.

Your teaching sessions will include lectures, seminars and workshops which will enhance your learning experience, engaging with discussions with academics and peers. This will demonstrate your analytical approach to the subject area and how you present your opinions and findings, with consideration of other perspectives.

Assessments in Criminology

You will be assessed through methods such as:

Essays
Case studies
Reports/reviews
Examinations
Presentations
Portfolios

Teaching in Sociology

Sociology is taught by research active staff with expertise in diverse areas, using various teaching methods that will help to equip you with key skills throughout your degree programme. You will be encouraged to have discussions with academics and peers that will enable you to communicate effectively through written and verbal forms. You will build confidence in sharing your opinions as well as evidencing different perspectives, throughout your learning, across a range of modules.

Your teaching sessions will include lectures, seminars, and workshops providing the opportunity to collaborate with others as well as prepare you for independent assessments. You will learn how to become an independent researcher and gain knowledge about key theories of sociology, exploring cultures across the globe and consider how society is changing over time.

Assessment in Sociology

You will engage with a range of assessment types including:

Essays
Presentations
Examinations
Posters
Projects
Reflective reports/reviews
Portfolio
Dissertation

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information within this section is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

The Keele Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology degree. For example, the Foundations of Social Sciences 1 module introduces you to the ‘backbone’ of social sciences, the concept of social inclusion, the factors that lead to exclusion and the impact this may have on individuals, families and communities. In addition, the Advancing Social Sciences module aims to take the Social Sciences out of the classroom and into the real world to investigate the impacts of industrialisation, de-industrialisation and gentrification on Stoke-on-Trent. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester one modules

In addition to the modules listed, students will study a further 15 credits in semester one. The optional modules available for students to choose from is dependent on the degree programme and timetabling restraints.

FYO-00247	Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing	15 credits
FYO-00263	Foundations of Social Sciences 1	15 credits
FYO-00265	Foundations of Social Sciences 2	15 credits

Semester two modules

FYO-00269	Advancing Social Sciences	30 credits
FYO-00271	University Research Portfolio	30 credits

Entry requirements

Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

How to apply

Applicants will need to apply for BA (Hons) Criminology with Foundation Year (UCAS code ML93) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct entry students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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