Criminology BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Criminology is a broad discipline that covers a wide range of criminalities, as has been said many times before, the spectrum of crime runs ‘from graffiti to genocide’. The range of Criminology allows people to explore different areas and investigate crime using a variety of perspectives. The focus of Criminology at UON is multi-disciplinary allowing our graduates to seek employment in fields that suit their knowledge, talents and interests.

  Crime is a social construct. This is a lesson that our students learn early on. Therefore, crime is about conventions and perceptions which makes Criminology a theoretical discipline with real life effects. It is those that we consider and measure. Crime is harm, and the way we view it and discuss it, allows us to look our society widely and provide some critical views and interventions. The ability to critically evaluate and to understand theories on crime gives us the ability to look at the same picture from a different angle. Where others see an object, we see an opportunity for social interaction. When we hear of a crime story, we explore it beyond the media representations. If one asks for an explanation, we provide a perspective of how things are and what could be.

  For over quarter of a century now, the University of Northampton has been offering Criminology utilising innovative curricula and developing learning approaches that open doors for the future. We see our students as our future colleagues and our passion and dedication is transferred to them. Our graduates work across the sector; from working in the courts, the probation service, the police, council services, the civil service, the prison service, fraud detection and many other areas. The knowledge and skills they acquire whilst studying Criminology gives them an extra boost and confidence.

  This BA Criminology course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: SDG10 of Reduced Inequalities.

  Studying Criminology with us gives you a distinctive approach to learning, drawing on the disciplines of sociology, psychology, history and law. This provides you with a comprehensive introduction to key theoretical and methodological issues at the heart of the discipline.

  Work Experience Opportunities

  As well as the research placement available in year two, there are a variety of opportunities for you to volunteer and gain work experience within a wide range of institutions and organisations of criminological interest. At various points during our criminology degree course we invite visitors and guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to talk to you about their organisations and the voluntary and paid opportunities with them.

  List of modules

  • Stage 1

    Stage 1

    • CRI1002 Crime and Society (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI1011 Research Methods for Criminologists (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI1007 The Science of Crime and Criminals (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI1008 Becoming a Criminologist (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI1009 Imagining Crime (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI1010 From Delinquency to Criminal Careers (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
  • Stage 2

    Stage 2

    • CRI2001 Crime and Justice (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI2009 Advanced Criminological Theory (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI2010 Criminology, Ethics and Professional Practice (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI2014 Advanced Criminological Methodologies (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI2011 International Policing (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI2012 Outsiders: Journeys in Deviance (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI2013 Criminologists in Society (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI2015 Criminality Across the Life-course (20 Credits) (Designated)
  • Stage 3

    Stage 3

    • CRI4003 Criminology Dissertation (40 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI3001 Crime and Punishment (20 Credits) (Compulsory)
    • CRI3003 Violence (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3006 Beyond Justice (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3007 Critiquing Criminalistics (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3008 Intersections in Criminology (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3009 Activism in Criminology (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3011 Global Perspectives of Crime (20 Credits) (Designated)
    • CRI3012 Social Injustices (20 Credits) (Designated)

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

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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 Criminology 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.

  As a Criminology student you will have the added perk of being a member of the British Society of Criminology for the duration of your degree. Benefits of the membership include access to e-bulletins and newsletters, access to free BSC seminars and events, discounted rates to attend BSC events and many more. Check out the full Member Benefits list.

  *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 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 Criminology we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Criminology 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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• FAQs

  What makes Criminology at the University of Northampton special?

  The Criminology programme offered at the University of Northampton has been established for over 20 years. From the outset, the programme has incorporated a research placement whereby second year students undertake a piece of empirical research in a criminal justice agency. We are one of the few, if only, programmes which offers student membership of the British Society of Criminology, which enables students to engage with some of the important criminological thinkers across a range of different opportunities.

  What is the British Society of Criminology?

  Every Criminology student receives an undergraduate membership to the British Society of Criminology (BSC) for the entirety of their degree. Benefits of the membership include access to e-bulletins and newsletters, access to free BSC seminars and events, discounted rates to attend BSC events and many more. Check out the full Member Benefits list.

  What is a criminologist?

  A criminologist is a social scientist who studies crime, criminal behaviour, and the criminal justice system. They analyse crime statistics, conduct research to determine the causes of crime, and develop theories about criminal behaviour. They also study the responses of the criminal justice system to crime, including law enforcement, courts, and prisons.

  How will I be assessed?

  There are a variety of assessments used on the BA Criminology degree including essays, case studies, posters and end of year examinations. The assessments allow you to engage with the subject to nurture your talent and cultivate your success.

  Are there any special features on this course?

  • Multi-disciplinary approach to criminology
  • Opportunity for real life research
  • Holistic view of crime and criminal justice
  • Issues in gender, age, race and victimisation
  • Criminal justice and human rights

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