Criminology with Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Bucks New University

This module introduces you to the core concepts of ‘crime’, ‘harm’ and ‘justice’, and debates around these that form the foundation of understanding in criminology. You’ll explore key criminological approaches/theories to understanding ‘crime’, ‘harm’ and ‘justice’ and the impact of the historical and social contexts within which they have emerged.

This module has two strands, the first introduces you to issues in contemporary British (and other) societies. You’ll explore debates relating to society, identity and diverse social groups. The second strand is the ‘Academic Skills’ programme which introduces you to the use of academic evidence and integrity as well as other key academic skills.

On this module, you’ll examine the scope of policy and the policy-making process. You’ll discuss what is meant by a ‘social problem’ by examining political ideologies and the shifting relationship between state and citizen. We’ll explore policy issues and how research is used to produce evidence to influence governments and other agencies.

This module introduces you to the key debates, issues and relevance of the character, role and impact of all forms of media in contemporary societies. You’ll explore the many ways in which media infiltrates and shapes our social worlds, giving you a working understanding of the social science of the many-sided facets of media.As most workplaces need to develop a media presence, alongside the academic and theoretical content, this module will introduce you to the evaluation and production of relevant media content through practical tasks on a variety of media platforms. This will help you develop a working knowledge of using media to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes.Throughout the module, you’ll analyse real-world examples and cases of relevant media products. You’ll investigate the value of theory in understanding the most contemporary of media issues. You’ll also be required to reflect on your own media use, using the new tools of analysis you have gained.

This module covers the core concepts of ‘punishment’, ‘justice’ and ‘victimisation’ and debates around these that form the basis of understanding in criminology and criminal justice. A history of punishment and penology will focus in particular on the question of how and why punishment has changed over time including the ways in which punishment for crime is linked with wider social processes.The key justifications, models and types of punishment in contemporary societies will be explored and discussed, including in terms of their effects and effectiveness in controlling or preventing crime and providing justice for victims and how these fit into society and the Criminal Justice System as a whole. The social processes of criminalisation and victimisation are key to understanding ‘justice’ and ‘punishment’. These core concepts will be explored and discussed in relation to 21st Century societies, in particular the UK.The module will enable you to explore processes of victimisation, the experience of victims of crime, the management of victims of crime within criminal justice processes, the relationship between methods of punishment and victims experience of justice. We’ll introduce you to the key approaches within penology and victimology, exploring recently emerging themes in research and theory into victimisation and punishment.

This module will explore the concept of justice and theorise what makes a just society. We will explore the idea of justice as "fairness" and what is meant by a free and equal citizen. Domains of injustice will be explored, for example, injustice within social institutions, injustice in opportunities and injustice in private, family lives. We will also explore contending conceptions of social justice, and the concrete efforts of political parties, charities, social movements and ordinary people to oppose and transform unfair and harmful social arrangements, so as to achieve more just outcomes.Distinctively, we will adopt a ‘hands-on’ approach to addressing these issues, whereby we examine how best to embed our understanding of justice in active, practical strategies to oppose the injustices we encounter and help transform the social world.

This module covers ‘forms of crime’ in contemporary late modern societies. Taking a critical approach to the notion of ‘crime’, we’ll explore role of power in processes of criminalisation, crime, social harm and responses to ‘crime’. You’ll analyse ways criminal justice and societal processes are implicated in hierarchies of crime and criminality.

On this module, we’ll support your work-related learning activities and encourage you to reflect on your development as future graduate employees. You’ll apply learning from your degree to practice and set goals for your development as future professionals. You’ll be supported in setting goals and developing plans for your work-related activities.

This module builds your knowledge of research methods. You’ll examine key concepts from social research and discuss the important contribution of research to your discipline area. You’ll be introduced to research issues and gain a foundation for the understanding of research methods required for your dissertation and career development.

Building on your understanding of theoretical perspectives in criminology, on this module you’ll apply the analytic and investigative skills developed in the first year. We emphasises lecturer-learner interaction, introducing cross fertilization of contemporary theoretical perspectives in the mainstream and on the maverick fringes of criminology.

This module explores the concepts, significance and lived realities of social diversity in contemporary societies. It draws on everyday experiences of social diversity. The module makes sense of these by critically engaging with academic work on discrimination, late modernity, feminisms, social harm, and multi-culturalism/integration and identity.

The module deepens your understanding of criminal justice and penal systems through the analysis of policy issues in criminal justice systems, in particular parts of the UK, Europe, the USA and east Asia. You’ll consider the usefulness of studying cross-national issues, understanding different ways that justice is operationalised around the world.

This module provides a supportive framework for undertaking an independent extended research study. You’ll choose which type and methodology of research to follow in this project, such as a literature-based project; an empirical project using various methods; or an applied dissertation. The bulk of teaching involves individual supervision sessions.