Criminology

study criminology and graduate with a university degree

www.dass.stir.ac.uk

Why and how do people break the law? How can the criminal justice system define this and how do we police, prosecute and punish people?

This programme looks at the motivations and careers of law-breakers and also broader questions of process and policy in criminal justice.

It provides you with a strong training in criminology and the theory and methods of applied social science. If you’re considering a career in the police, prison service or human rights agencies, it’s a strong academic base.

We’re a small friendly Department within Sociology, where the teaching is rated as ‘excellent’.

BA Crime and Society

Three-Year Degree

UCAS Code L390

Entrance Requirements

Year 1
Highers BBBC.

A-levels CCC or a combination of A2 and AS levels, VCE and VDA.

IB Diploma with a total of 28 points.

HNC or HND with Bs in Graded Units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Examinations taken over two sittings are acceptable but if there are repeats/upgrades asking grades may be raised by one grade.

Year 2
A-levels or Advanced Highers BBB to include Sociology.

Scottish HND in Social Sciences to include four units in Sociology with Bs in Graded Units.

General Entrance Requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme.

Required Subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Students with no Maths may be considered although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Modes of Study

Full-time (3 modules per semester).
Part-time (1 or 2 modules per semester).

Rating

Teaching provision in Sociology has been assessed by the Scottish Funding Council and rated as ‘excellent’.

	contact us > > >
	William Munro University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland UK
	Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467982
	Email: w.g.munro@stir.ac.uk
	Web: www.dass.stir.ac.uk

Degree Programme

You will take Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology modules plus two other modules in the first year.

Semesters 1 - 4

You are required to take the following core modules:

Social Differentiation: The effects that differences in gender, age, ethnicity, status and disability have on the way in which people are valued and treated in different societies
Social Problems: Contemporary social issues and policy responses
Understanding Social Policy: Historical and theoretical perspectives on welfare; comparative social policy analysis
The Development of Social Theory: An introduction to classical and contemporary social theory

You will also take Crime and Criminal Justice; Scottish Society and two additional modules in any subject.

Semesters 5 - 8

Research Process I: Introduction to a range of research methods and a number of issues relating to the exploration of the social world
Research Process II: You will continue the third year core programme on the research process and gain a deeper practical and theoretical understanding of research methods in sociology and social policy

You will also select four advanced option modules.

Criminology options currently include:

Crime, Risk and Modernity
Global Markets and Crime
Punishment and Society
Criminological Theories in Context

Sociology and Social Policy options currently include:

Drugs, Crime and Society
Poverty, Income and Wealth
Work, Class and Society
Urban Society

Honours Seminar: Doing Social Research: This module develops your ability to synthesise theoretical, methodological and empirical work in Criminology and centres on the process of research. Honours students are required to produce a 10,000 word dissertation in Criminology and take two further advanced modules.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching is conducted in a wide variety of contexts, from the large lecture through to small group work. Assessment is carried out via examinations, essay writing, workshop reports and other forms, such as the final-year dissertation. Final Honours classification is based on work done in third and fourth years.

Career Opportunities

Criminology provides a good academic base if you are considering careers in the police, the prison service, probation, social work, community care and law, regulatory fields such as the factory and tax inspectorates, human rights agencies, charitable foundations and lobby groups.

As well as specific subject-based knowledge, you will graduate with a wide range of experience and skills; in particular, communication skills, self management skills and interpersonal skills. These give graduates a competitive edge with employers across the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Combined Honours Degrees

**Criminology can be studied with:**
Programme	UCAS Code
Law	MM91
Philosophy	MV95
Politics	ML92
Sociology	LM39

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)