Criminology and Sociology BSc (Hons)

University of Chester

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies.

Criminology

Prepare yourself for a career in one of the largest growing areas of employment as you explore the relationship between society, the individual, crime, punishment and victimisation.

On this dynamic and diverse course, you will gain an extensive understanding of a range of case studies, and learn how criminology can help us examine the various harms, crimes and injustices that occur domestically and internationally.

Explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. Learn about explanations for crime and antisocial behaviour, and how the police and courts deal with such matters. You will study the role of punishment and the secure estate, and investigate crimes of the powerless and crimes of the powerful. The issue of human rights is integral to our analyses.

Through our wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise, and in ensuring a rich interdisciplinary approach, we work to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. We encourage you to engage in independent learning and thought, and we equip you with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analyse an array of materials, such as expert-led research, personal testimonies and documentaries. Across the Department we have an emphasis on being student-centred.

Sociology

Sociology is the ‘science of society,’ and involves studying how processes of social change affect peoples’ everyday lives.

Through studying Sociology at Chester, you will be given the skills and support you need in order to develop a ‘sociological imagination’ of your own. You will be introduced to cutting-edge research and theoretical perspectives that will help you to challenge dominant understandings of social problems, issues and debates.

Sociology graduates pursue diverse career paths including in the public sector and civil service, politics and government, social work, charity and advocacy work, PR, advertising, market research, journalism, academia and teaching.

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Modules are written in line with staff’s research interests, and include areas such as inequality and the welfare state, race and racism, gender identity and the body, globalisation, sustainability, protest and social change. How is ‘globalisation’ reshaping the world we live in? What are the major social divisions and conflicts affecting society today? How does the mass media influence our perception of these conflicts and divisions? These are just some of the questions you’ll look at.