Criminal and Corporate Investigation BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  It is essential that all investigations are carried out professionally, so our Corporate Investigators course will ensure that you gain the essential legal knowledge and ability to conduct professional investigations whilst securing admissible evidence. The combination of practical role-play based activities and classroom teaching ensures that you are confident in your skills and knowledge, allowing you to be valuable asset to any organisation upon graduation with a criminal investigation degree.

  If you are interested in a career in professional criminal investigation, or you are an investigator seeking an academic qualification to enhance your skills, then this corporate investigation course will give you the career progression that you seek. The criminal and corporate investigation course provides you with a comprehensive introduction to key theoretical and practical issues, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to confidently undertake professionally conducted investigations.

  Our Criminal and Corporate Investigation course has a wider focus than our BA Policing course, as the course modules are underpinned by national policing practices and initiatives, such as the nationally recognised, ‘Professionalising the Investigation Programme’. Throughout this criminal investigation degree, students look at a variety of investigation methods in great detail, such as interview technique, the law surrounding investigations and Cyber Crime. The real strength of the Criminal and Corporate Investigation course is that it has a strong practical element that allows you to demonstrate your skills in scenario-based investigations.

  List of modules

  • Stage 1

    In Year 1 you will examine the underpinnings of investigative technique, in particular the criminal justice system, evidence and procedures and the theory of investigating a scene of crime.

    • CJS1001 Law and The Criminal Justice System (20 Credits)
    • CJS1015 Introduction to Evidence and Procedure (10 Credits)
    • CJS1018 Crime and Criminality (20 Credits)
    • CJS1004 Legislation for Policing and Investigators (20 Credits)
    • CJS1016 Introduction to Investigate Interviewing (20 Credits)
    • CJS1007 Theoretical Concepts in Crime Scene Investigations (20 Credits)
    • CJS1013 Introduction to Academic Methods and Research (10 Credits)

    All modules are compulsory during Stage 1.

  • Stage 2

    In Year 2 you will be allowed to choose areas of interest such as Covert Investigations and Serious and Organised Crime, as well as developing your skills in criminal investigation.

    • CJS2007 Crime and Criminal Investigation (20 Credits)
    • CJS2020 Investigation and Investigating Interview 2 (20 Credits)
    • CJS2021 The Management of Major Investigations (20 Credits)
    • CJS2026 Investigating Serious and Organised Crime (20 Credits)
    • CJS2023 Covert Investigations (20 Credits)
    • CJS2038 Research Skills for Investigation (10 Credits)
    • CJS2039 Open Source Intelligence for Investigations (10 Credits)

    All modules are compulsory during Stage 2.

  • Stage 3

    In Year 3 you will be able to tackle a subject in greater depth, which may be of particular relevance to a current or future employer. You will also have the opportunity to delve deeper into areas such as internal investigations and the most up-to-date and relevant information surrounding cyber crime and identity theft.

    • CJS4001 Independent Study (40 Credits)
    • CJS3012 Cyber Crime (20 Credits)
    • CJS3009 Advanced Evidence and Procedure (20 Credits)
    • CJS3011 Employment Investigations (20 Credits)
    • CJS3018 Miscarriages of Justice (20 Credits)

    All modules are compulsory during Stage 3.

  Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme

  Our BA Criminal & Corporate Investigation course is part of the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCS). The ELCS is an opportunity for members of the Armed Forces to further or expand on their education. The scheme offers support financially in a maximum of three separate financial years for higher level learning of a nationally recognised qualification at a Level three or above.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time BA Criminal and Corporate Investigation degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• Integrated Foundation Year

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a criminal and corporate investigation degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for Criminal and Corporate Investigation we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Criminal and Corporate Investigation programme which includes a Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.

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• Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning

  Are you a law enforcement officer or detective, a dedicated security professional, or a passionate investigator or working in intelligence and security in the private sector?

  You may be able to earn a BA (Hons) degree in Criminal and Corporate Investigation or Professional Policing, in just one year full-time or two years part-time.

  Why choose our crime and investigation programme?

  • Fast-track to Success: Have the first two years of existing experience and learning approved and move straight into the final year of your degree
  • Tailored for Professionals: We will recognise your expertise and prior learning, allowing you to focus on advanced topics
  • Flexible Learning: Attend classes on your terms, a blend of online and face-to-face, whether full-time or part-time
  • Industry Approved: Our curriculum aligns with the latest industry standards.

  What you’ll gain

  • A BA (Hons) degree: Criminal and Corporate Investigation BA (Hons) or Professional Policing BA (Hons)
  • Advanced Knowledge: Go deeper into criminal investigations, corporate threats, and ethical policing strategies
  • Critical Skills: Enhance your existing analytical, communication and leadership abilities
  • Career Boost: Elevate your professional standing and potential to open doors to new opportunities.

  Join our Community of Investigators:

  Connect with like-minded professionals, learn from experienced tutors and industry leaders with the Criminal Justice department, in the Faculty of Business and Law, and build professional networks.

  For more information and how to apply:

  If you’d like to know more about the APEL opportunities and how to apply please contact:

  • John Fox – Head of Criminal Justice
  • Simon Feist – Deputy Head of Criminal Justice

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• Industry Connections

  In 2024 we worked with so many of our industry contacts to enhance our students experiences on the Criminal investigation

  course. These are the things we got up to in 2024 and we hope to continue them into 2025 for future students!

  Industry Experts & Guest Speakers

  In 2024, we had visits from Zinc Systems Crime Centre and Mitie’s Intelligence Hub, plus experienced investigators from big-name multinational corporations dropping in to share real-world case studies with our students.

  Workplace Visits & Real-World Experience

  Year 3 corporate investigator students got to visit Mitie’s Global Security Operations Centre in Northamptonshire – an incredible insight into how security intelligence works on a global scale.

  Hackathons

  We’ve had not one, but two Hackathons this year! In October, CCI students teamed up with Cyber Security students for an intense problem-solving challenge, judged by industry experts from Barclays and IBM. Then in January, our Year 2 students tackled another challenge set by Zinc Systems, with security industry leaders picking the winning team. These events are a great way to test your skills, network, and add to your CV!

  Graduate Dissertation Conference

  For the second year running, our final-year students got to present their dissertation projects to staff, students, and corporate & criminal

  industry professionals—a great opportunity to showcase their hard work.

  Court Visits & Live Trials

  We arranged trips to Northampton Crown and Magistrates’ Courts, where students could sit in on real trials and even hear talks from the judges. These experiences give a front-row seat to the justice system in action.

  Operation Nexus at Silverstone

  This year, a group of lucky students will take part in Operation Nexus, a simulated security operation at Silverstone Circuit, run by our own Criminal Justice Senior Lecturer Dan Jasinski and the UON Events Management team. It’s going to be an incredible hands-on experience!

  What our industry connections say about us!

  Stuart Drage – Head of CSO Commercial Hub – Barclays, Northampton:

  ‘Here, at Barclays we are excited to be partnering with the University of Northampton, for the last 18 months, within many areas of Cyber Security and Criminal and Corporate Investigation, allowing for an industry perspective to ensure that students have targeted industry input and experience on their modules by means of best practice scenario-based case studies allowing the students the opportunity to learn the skills they require to work in large organisation’s such as Barclays. In addition, by means of delivering innovative interactive Hackathons this has helped talented students by exposing them to valuable learning experiences, helping to develop problem-solving skills required for investigative roles in the future.’

  Stephen Shackell – Director of Intelligence & Risk – Zinc Systems, Northampton:

  “Zinc Systems is a Northampton based SaaS provider of incident management software. We work with security professionals in the retail, government and corporate sectors to help them get best insights into their incident and crime data.

  Zinc is home to the national crime centre for a major UK retailer, who also use our software. The crime centre is operated by a team of crime investigators and data analysts, who manage over 35,000 crime reports from the clients’ retail estate annually. The team investigates prolific offenders and organised crime groups in liaison with other retailers and police, and uses crime data to recommend crime preventative measures.

  The crime centre team is a blend of retired police officers and graduates in crime disciplines. Zinc has worked with the University of Northampton for a number of years to recruit graduates from its criminal and corporate investigation degree programme. The current crime centre team is made up of 25% graduates from UON. The calibre of graduates from the criminal and corporate investigation degree programme is excellent. They join us with a high degree of ability in criminality, investigation techniques, understanding of intelligence and most importantly of all – a high aptitude for learning and confidence in their ability.

  We have recently had the privilege of promoting some of our UON graduates and seen them moved to pastures new to further their career development – which is to be celebrated.”

  Alexandra Baxter: Intelligence Analyst – Zinc Systems, Northampton:

  ‘Studying BA Criminal and Corporate Investigation at the University of Northampton was an excellent experience, and I feel like it taught me so much academically and even supported my own personal growth over three years. I have been able to take so many things I have learned into my professional career in intelligence. The faculty are so supportive and always took the time to guide me if I had any questions, which alongside my interest in the course material (and a bit of hard work!) allowed me to graduate with a First in 2023. The course, its content, and the assignments provided great practice on report writing, and my personal development and engagement with the course provided me with the work ethic, professionalism, and conduct expected of you in the workplace, and I couldn’t have asked for a better head start. The CCI course isn’t just designed for an entry into policing, but for corporate and private sector careers too!’

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• FAQs

  How will I be assessed on the criminal and corporate investigation degree?

  Assessments on the BA Criminal and Corporate Investigation course are varied and consist of the following methods:

  presentations, essays, assignments, skills labs, practical exercises, reports, reflective accounts and video presentations, exams and multiple choice tests, Paper based assignments are submitted electronically and are returned within four weeks.

  Are there are any special features on this criminal and corporate investigation course?

  • There is a strong practical element throughout the course, which enables you to put theory into practice by undertaking scenario-based investigations
  • Close links with our Law and Criminology courses drawing from the experiences of solicitors and barristers, which in turn enhance the role play exercises
  • There is a wide range of modules you can select from in years two and three, allowing you to tailor your degree towards your own areas of interests or existing working environments

  Facilities include a moot room, a custody suite with video monitored interview rooms and a furnished flat to facilitate the scenario based exercises. The Criminal and Corporate Investigation teaching team has considerable experience in the management and investigation of serious and major crimes. We also draw from the experience of the teaching staff of both our Law and Criminology courses to enhance your experience of studying with us.

  What is the schedule for this criminal and corporate investigation course?

  Taught sessions are now under the framework of semesters. Most modules are taught within this framework and are concentrated either between October to January or February to May. Most modules will therefore have two sessions per week, usually  of two hours duration for each session, making four hours for each module.

  You would be studying either three of four modules per semester.

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