Criminology (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

The University of Winchester

• Learn from a teaching team with wide-ranging practitioner experience offering genuine insight into the criminal justice system
• Become involved in real casework on cold cases and case reviews
• Opportunities for field trips to places such as Belfast and Turin
• Benefit from interactive and practical teaching approaches that bring theory and practice to life

There are few subjects more compelling than crime. It is rarely out of the news headlines and dominates our TV schedules with crime boxsets regularly outperforming other genres. We are, as a nation, gripped by crime.

Because it is such a topical, and often hugely divisive, social and political issue, crime makes great material for a lively and engaging degree to equip you with a wide range of inter-disciplinary skills.

We draw in local, national and global considerations of criminology. From policing society to global terrorism and from miscarriage of justice to cybercrime, on our Criminology programme at Winchester you take a forensic look at the key perspectives on crime and the criminal justice system.

This popular course has been designed to bring together the methodological, academic and practical skills essential to enhance your professional development and career opportunities. As such, you engage with crime related professionals, agencies and organisations to develop your understanding of how they work and apply newly-learnt theories.

The Foundation Year (first year of study) gives you the chance to commence your studies with us if you have not quite achieved the degree qualifications required or if you feel you would benefit from the opportunity to develop your study skills and subject knowledge prior to embarking on your degree. Through a range of engaging, small-group lessons and practical placements, you will be equipped with the academic, professional and personal skills to help you succeed at university. Modules will cover broad topics as well as an introduction to your chosen subject area. You will also have the opportunity to study alongside students undertaking a range of degree programmes.

In Year 1, you gain an awareness of the key principles and concepts underpinning the study of crime. You explore the central theories and methodologies encountered within the social sciences and within criminology, and gain an understanding of key ideas underlying social policy and the criminal justice system.

In Year 2, you develop your understanding of criminological and social theory and explore a range of topics addressing significant and current themes from youth to violent crime. You also develop your ability to approach research in criminology.

In Year 3, you broaden your knowledge of topics in the field and put into practice your independent research skills by specialising in a topic of your own choice in completing your final year project.

In the course of three years, you gain an understanding of wide-ranging topics including crime and punishment, crime and the media, policing, crimes against humanity, gender and crime, and organised crime. You also acquire skills of gathering data using quantitative and qualitative methods, synthesising and interpreting evidence and assembling arguments, presenting evidence and formulating findings and conclusions.