Research Project (Psychology)
Carry out your own psychological research grounded in empirical approaches. You'll develop your research skills working alongside a supervisor and engaging in independent empirical work.
Surveillance and Social Control
You'll study a range of theoretical perspectives on the emergence of a surveillance society - and examine the impact this is having on policing, criminal justice and social justice. You will also explore some of the wider social, political, economic, and cultural drivers behind the emergence of ‘new surveillance’ technologies.
Terrorism and Cybersecurity
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'.
Histories of Punishment
Study the history of punishment and penal policy between the mid-eighteenth and the early twentieth century. You'll examine public punishments, notably execution, transportation overseas, the birth of the prison, the operation of the Victorian penal system and the ways in which different offenders have been punished. You'll explore how these things have changed over time - for example, in the case of female offenders and juvenile offenders.
Doin’ Time: American Prison Culture of the 20th and 21st Centuries
On this module, you'll analyse a range of cultural texts to understand and explain the complexity of the American prison system in the 20th /21st centuries. We explore the American “Prison Industrial Complex” in terms of race, gender, class, economics and politics. The prison system – as represented in texts varying from The Shawshank Redemption to Poems from Guantanamo – is used to better comprehend the broader sociology of the US.
What Works?
Everyone has ideas about how to reduce crime, make police more effective or improve victim satisfaction. But how do we know what works? This module introduces you to the methods that explore what works in Criminology and equips you with the necessary critical and methodological skills.
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.
Modern 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. You will adopt a social harm perspective, maintaining a victim/survivor focus whilst formulating proactive strategies for more effective preventative approaches to modern slavery.
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.
Criminal Psychology
Understand why some people commit crime, how we can improve criminal investigations and trials, and the role of the forensic psychologist within the criminal justice system. You'll explore questions like: what is a psychopath, what effect does solitary confinement have on a prisoner’s mental health, can offenders be rehabilitated, and what can a crime scene tell us about the criminal.
Multi-Agency Working to Manage Risk
Multi-agency working and risk management are central to the working of the criminal justice system in the UK. They impact on sentencing, punishment, treatment, rehabilitation, release, community management and reintegration. This module provides you with insight into the current performance and risk management procedures in the UK and how they impact the management of offenders.
Sex Work, Policy and Crime
Critically examine the historical, legal, social and cultural dimensions of the sex industry by using the major theories of crime and deviance. You'll explore why there is a market for sex in the first place, and the economic, cultural and social factors which impact upon the realities of the work. You will look beyond media stereotypes at what working in the industry can be like.
Criminal Investigation
Learn specialist investigatory techniques and consider how this produces evidence in the courtroom. You'll explore topics like offender profiling and forensic investigation, through the medium of miscarriages of justice that focus on key issues around race, gender, religion and other social characteristics. You'll also get practical experience by taking part in crime scene room simulations.
Environmental Crimes and Green Criminology
Explore different types, causes and actors of eco-crimes perpetrated against the environment and non-human species through the critical lens of green criminology. Through practical examples and contemporary issues, you will analyse important topics such as wildlife crimes, food crimes, environmental activism and the involvement of organised and corporate crime.
Radicalisation, Activism and Religion
Why do people become radicalised? Together, we will focus on specific case studies to critically analyse the complex and complicated relationship between radicalisation, gender, religion, power, and activism on an international level.
Advanced GIS
Get a practical overview of the principles and applications of current surveying, monitoring and spatial analysis methodologies. You'll gain a practical understanding of how to use environmental and social science digital data sources and learn how to build a digital database, including methodologies enabling the processing of disparate datasets, and advanced spatial analysis and modelling techniques.