What you'll study
The course consists of 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits, meaning you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more (e.g. 40 credits). In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.
First year modules
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Compulsory
Individual and Society
This module maps the relationship between the individual and society. It will encourage you to think of yourself as a sociologist and to consider your place in the world.
Sociology of Inequalities
This module will introduce you to the concept and idea of the 'other'. Explore how difference is socially constructed, how it plays out visually and how material includes some and excludes others.
Crime, Deviance and Society
Look back to the origins of criminology by focusing upon the concepts and study of deviance. You'll trace how crime and deviance have been - and continue to be - deeply intertwined.
Social Research in Practice
The module takes an integrative approach to research ethics and design. It's a foundation for skills in understanding research and practical skills for conducting independent research.
Murder: Explorations of an Exceptional Form of Violence
You'll examine the responses to murder from criminal justice systems in an international context, and explore representations of murder in the mass media and popular culture.
Social Theory
Discover how society has been theorised over the last 150 years by studying 'the founding fathers' - Marx, Durkheim and Weber - and later major theorists like Bourdieu.
Second year modules
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Compulsory
Punishment, Dangerousness and Risk
Study how and why we punish offenders and how the penal system deals with them. You'll consider a range of case studies of different types of offenders.
Psychology of Offending and Victimisation
Learn about the decisions offenders make in committing crime - like why burglars choose one house over another - and how such crimes affect victims.
Analysing Social Data
Building on the Collecting Social Data module, here you'll start the next stage of social research: the analysis and interpretation of data, through a range of approaches.
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Optional
Social Rituals and Myths
Learn about the 'otherness' of the non-Western other and how its most misunderstood beliefs and practices - magic, ritual and myth - can be de-colonised and become familiar.
Sociology of Material Cultures
Explore how visual phenomena, such as popular media, and material objects, such as fashion and food, express norms and produce culture.
Sociology of Marginalised Voices
Take your study of social theory beyond the mainstream by examining marginalised voices: post-feminists, 'queers', ex-colonials, post-modernists and post-humans.
Atrocities and Transitional Justice
Switch your focus from 'ordinary' crime to genocide, mass violence, gross human rights violations and political oppression. Explore how best to deal with the legacies of atrocities.
Criminology in Late Modernity
You'll examine how current social theory explains recent developments in crime and crime control, taking in realism, cultural criminology and contemporary feminist perspectives.
Inequalities, Social Divisions and Social Conflict
In austerity Britain, social inequalities are causing political debate and public disquiet. You'll consider social divisions; the 'problem of youth' ; and the consequences of social conflict.
Final year modules
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Compulsory
Dissertation
You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up your own project on a topic you choose, supported by your dissertation supervisor.
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Optional
Advanced Statistics
On this module, you'll learn how to present quantitative results in meaningful and informative ways. And you'll develop skills that allow you to accurately interpret and assess statistical output.
Sociology and Social Media
On this module, you’ll learn how to critically analyse social media for its cultural content and the creation of new knowledge.
Criminal Justice and Community Safety Placements
Experience the nature and range of work carried out by the police and other criminal justice agencies on a work placement. You'll gain a range of skills to enhance your employability.
Sociology at Work
Learn about human development theory and apply this knowledge through the investigation of recent UK employment policy and labour market institutions.
Modern-Day Slavery in the UK
Slavery in the UK has risen exponentially over the past 20 years - now reaching some 136,000 victims. You'll consider definitions of slavery and how its scale is measured.
Surveillance and Social Control
You'll study a range of theoretical perspectives on the emergence of a surveillance society a - and examine the impact this is having on policing, criminal justice and social justice.
Drug Use Today
This module introduces the study of ‘the drug problem’, in Western society. You'll explore the sociological and psychological perspectives used to explain drug-using behaviour.
Cyberterrorism and Extremism
Your work this module will reflect real-world practice as you look closer at what’s happening in the world today, and discuss and debate key terms such as ‘cyber’, 'radicalisation', 'terrorism', ‘extremism’ and 'violent extremism'.
Sex Work, Policy and Crime
Discover the cultural, social and political issues surrounding the commercial sex industry. Through lectures and seminars, you'll consider why people buy and sell sexual services.
Learning Together - Desistance from Crime
On this module, you'll attend weekly lectures at HMP Hull where, alongside prisoners, you'll study how and why people stop offending. It's a unique learning environment and a unique experience.
Restorative Justice and Peacemaking Criminology
Examine the development of restorative justice and peacemaking criminology, analysing their key concepts, values, principles and practices - as well as the controversies surrounding them.
Contemporary Imprisonment
Study the contemporary sociology of imprisonment. You'll examine current controversies in the use of prison sentences and consider the effects of incarceration on offenders.
All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.