BSc (Hons) Criminology and Sociology offers the exciting opportunity to combine the study of two cutting-edge disciplines.

The course is aimed at students who are interested in both disciplines and want to study crime and its causes, patterns, consequences, and responses by situating them in the wider context of society.

The first year introduces students to the building blocks of criminology and sociology: key sociological and criminological theories, social divisions and problems, the criminal justice system, crime policy and practice, and key social transformations such as digital culture. Students will receive training in a wide range of research methods during the first two years, to become equipped to undertake their own independent research project in the final year.

Our large, multi-disciplinary department believes in offering extensive optionality to study specific areas of criminology and sociology in-depth.

Throughout the degree, there is an emphasis on developing skills and experiences that are relevant to professional careers, including work experience, study-abroad schemes, and independent project work.

In your final year of study, you will have the opportunity remain on BSc (Hons) Criminology and Sociology or to specialise by choosing a pathway and graduating with an exit award in one of these areas:

Justice Studies

Quantitative Methods

Global Youth Justice

Career prospects

Opportunities may exist in the established agencies of the criminal justice system (for example, the police, prisons and probation services or in the private sector companies that have undertaken the provision of criminal justice services). There is also the potential to work in areas such as probation work, housing, family care and other roles in social services. Other graduates have gone into administrative and managerial jobs in local or national government or have secured roles within the voluntary sector.

There is also the opportunity to engage in further study and professional training, for example some of our graduates go on to study at postgraduate level with our range of Masters programmes. Our courses are informed by experts in their field, from MA Applied Criminology, taught by former justice practitioners and research experts to the masters in public administration and MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis, which are both led by academics from the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU). You can also study MSc Digital Society (with specialisms in Digital Sociology and Digital Politics).