This is a foundational 40 credit module designed to introduce Criminology as a discipline in the 21st century and support you in an inclusive learning environment as you transition to higher education. You will learn about the practical and theoretical foundations you need to reach your potential for the years ahead. You will have the opportunity to use our Crime Scene Room to bring theory and practice together. Students are also supported in their academic and study skills, digital literacy, and teamwork to inform future studies.

Study the procedures of criminal justice – and the role of institutions such as the Police, CPS, courts and prisons, responsible for investigation, prosecution, conviction and punishment. 

Examine how current criminological theory explains recent developments in crime and crime control, drawing from postmodern criminology, cultural criminology and masculinities. 

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.

Explore social-psychological theories and gain insight into how psychologists have identified patterns of behaviour, emotion and ability across time and situations. 

Explore current insecurities and examine how private troubles and public issues are linked. You'll develop your ability to link academic theory and findings to real-world situations like modernity, globalisation and its (broken) promise; colonial legacies and neo-colonial realities; and migration and dislocation.

Why do burglars choose some houses and not others? Does alcohol make people violent? How do offenders think about their chances of getting caught? How does being a victim affect mental health and how does childhood adversity affect crime as an adult? This module focuses on the individual, as a victim, an offender, or both. It explores how people make decisions to commit crime and how being a victim of crime affects behaviour.

Want to truly understand policing? Then this module is for you.

You'll explore policing theories and key functions, like crime control and order maintenance.

You'll examine contemporary policing in England and Wales, comparing practices from other societies.

You'll practice your skills on hands-on assessments, including crime scene simulations and real-world datasets. So you can see first-hand the practical and political challenges the police face.

Along the way, you'll gain insights and engage with real-world issues that will set you apart in the field.

This module prepares you for your final year and your dissertation research project. You will have the opportunity to engage with agencies and the challenges they are facing. You will discover the diversity of potential research topics and methodological approaches.