BSc (Hons) Applied Criminology

UCAS code: ML93

Start date: September

Course length: full time: three years

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

You can also study Applied Criminology (Joint Honours) as part of a Joint Honours degree.

Here in the School of Law and Criminology, we want to help you become an able and employable graduate and give you an interesting and challenging study experience. On the Applied Criminology programme you'll make strong links between the complex theories and the demands of practice, so you will be able to really understand systems of criminal and community justice.

As well as traditional lecture and tutorial sessions, there's a strong practical element. You'll get the chance to develop your legal, investigative, management and general skills through activities such as interviewing, negotiation, decision making, research and argument so you'll be able to really understand systems of policing, criminal and community justice.

We have two full sized courtrooms so you can train in a realistic environment.  For instance, you'll take part in simulations such as jury decision making. We also have an interview suite, where you can observe interviews in practice.

In the first stage, you'll learn about human behaviour from the perspectives of both criminal justice professionals and wider society, examining the legal system, how we try to stop crime, an introduction to forensics, how to study at university, and examining whether all people are treated fairly in the criminal justice system.

You will look for answers to challenging questions such as 'why do people commit crime?' and 'why are laws created and broken?'. And you'll also examine the way society responds to crime. We'll look at the relationship between crime and social problems, considering how offenders are, and should be, treated. Plus you'll focus on the nature, psychology and effectiveness of sentencing and punishment, as well as the impact of crime on victims, communities and wider society. You'll have the chance to get behind the news headlines, and examine how these issues are researched, and how explanations and policies are generated. You'll also focus on young offenders too!

During your second stage you will also cover psychological profiling of offenders as well as learning about hostage negotiations. You will examine the key challenges facing professionals in the criminal justice system, such as legal professionals, courts, police, youth offending teams, and prison and probation services, as well as victim support groups. This will give you a good understanding of the critical issues confronting professionals who are attempting to prevent and control crime. You'll look at many real life case studies, studying the phenomena of crime and the nature of criminal justice from exciting and contemporary standpoints. You will be thinking creatively, challenging established beliefs, and learning by taking an interest in the world around you. You'll also be discussing and developing your ideas with your colleagues, and understanding the dilemmas facing criminal justice today - issues as human rights, civil liberties, discrimination and diversity.

In your final stage you can choose to follow a general criminology route or specialise by choosing one of our specific pathways:

• Investigations - if you're interested in a career with the police
• Gender Perspectives - where the focus is on examining the impact and psychology of gender in cases and miscarriages of justice
• Offender Management - if you want to work in prisons, probation or with young offenders.

Unlike most other universities, our course is taught within the School of Law and Criminology so by the end of the final stage you'll have a strong grounding in law, placing crime and justice in its wider social context. This understanding of contemporary society will make you aware of the way that contemporary popular cultures, the internet, the media and the nature of consumerism have all impacted on criminal behaviour in the post-modern world.  You will also possess a strong understanding of the challenges confronting leaders in managing criminal justice.

In the final stage you'll also undertake your own research project, which will help you discover even more about crime and justice.

Throughout the course you'll take part in trips to courts, prisons and youth offender training centres, so you'll see for yourself what it takes to meet the day to day challenges of a criminal justice practice. You'll also attend a two day murder hunt residential where you'll find out about the process of solving crimes.

Your fellow students will come from a diverse range of backgrounds, ranging from all sections of community. They could be existing criminal justice professionals as well as traditional full time students.

Stage one

You will study these modules:

• Introduction to Criminology 1
• Applied Research in Criminology
• The States Perspective on Crime
• Introduction to Criminology 2
• Crime and Society
• The Defendants Perspective on Crime

Stage two

You will study these modules:

• Applied Criminal Justice 1
• Applied Victimology
• Criminal Offences, Criminal Justice and Human Rights
• Criminal Psychology
• Applied Criminal Justice 2
• Expert Evidence

Final stage

You can choose to follow a general criminology route or specialise by choosing one of our specific pathways.

Core

Your choice of core module will be determined by your choice of pathway.

• Miscarriages of Justice 
• Independent Studies
• Applied Studies in the Investigation of Crime
• Inside Out Journeys
• Gendered Violence Against Children, Men and Women

Options

The option modules will depend on the pathway you choose, and may include:

• Criminal Justice Law
• Cybercrime 
• Environmental Law
• Hate, Ethnicity and Crime
• Offences Against Children
• Policing and Police Powers 
• Sexual Behaviour and the Criminal Justice System
• Work Placement
• Understanding Desistance
• Youth Crime and Justice

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2013/14

This is a classroom based course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £7,700 (each year)

We'll be announcing our international fees for 2013/14 later in the year.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

There is a mix of lectures, tutorials, group work and independent learning modes delivered by both lecturers and visiting criminal justice professionals.

How you're assessed

Assessment is by a good mix of coursework, portfolios, individual and group projects/presentations and examinations.

Fieldtrips

Amongst the events will be trips to a prison, Youth Offending Institution, magistrate's or Crown court, the Galleries of Justice museum and The Holocaust Centre.

If you are on the Investigations pathway you will get to take part in the annual two day 'murder hunt' in the Peak District. This residential is a unique problem solving opportunity which allows students to apply theory to practice in relation to both criminal investigations and forensic science.

Our graduates have gone on to have successful careers in a range of roles in the crime and justice sector. This includes the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts, the probation and prison services, youth offending teams and other law enforcement agencies.

Some students have also developed successful careers in the voluntary sector working with either offenders or victims whilst others have gone on pursue further successful postgraduate study.

You'll develop a valuable set of skills through this course, including entrepreneurial skills, all of which will be useful for other careers as well, such as policing, probation, social research, criminal justice leadership and other public sector management roles. Alternatively you may wish to pursue your studies at masters level.

"I chose to come to Derby because of the extensive range of modules. I get an in-depth knowledge of the criminal justice system, and have the opportunity to focus on topics that interest me.  The lecturers are passionate and enthusiastic and always available to help."

Kirsty Passfield, who graduated in 2010