BSc (Hons) Applied Criminology

Crime, Society and the Law provides you with a foundational understanding of the principles and practices that underpin criminology and the legal system. It introduces key concepts relating to crime and the social construction of criminal problems. You’ll consider the legal framework within which society responds to crime, focusing on key concepts, institutions and processes. You’ll also learn core criminological skills, enabling you to critically assess competing claims about crime as a social problem and to locate, evaluate and utilize different sources of knowledge about crime. 

Criminal Justice and Accountability enables you to think creatively about the concepts of justice and accountability, asking critical questions of institutions and questioning taken-for-granted ‘knowledge’. You’ll explore the foundations of criminal justice and processes of crime control, crime prevention and harm reduction both nationally and globally. You’ll learn about core criminal justice policy, but also the limitations of crime control and what happens when things go wrong. There will be opportunities for you to reflect on and experience criminal justice settings while building key practitioner skills, like active listening. 

Becoming a Criminologist offers an in-depth exploration of criminological theories and their practical applications, equipping you with key analytical skills and a comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of crime and criminal justice. You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of criminology, combining insights from disciplines such as sociology, psychology, history, and philosophy to understand crime, criminal behaviour and societal responses. The module introduces you to the major theoretical perspectives in criminology, enabling you to evaluate these and understand how they inform contemporary criminal justice practices. By the end of the module, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to bridge the gap between criminological theories and their real-world application which is a crucial part of becoming a criminologist. 

Crime in Context enables you to move beyond your textbooks to apply criminological ideas to real world problems associated with crime, crime control and social harm. You’ll look beyond media representations, political ideologies and ‘common-sense’ understandings as you work to develop evidence-based solutions to complex social problems. Module content is regularly updated to ensure you can focus on recent trends, policies and events. In doing this, you’ll explore the social, political, economic and cultural issues that underpin pressing, and often controversial, criminological issues, giving you an in-depth understanding of the complexities surrounding crime, harm and justice in the modern world. 

These are bite size modules designed to help you settle in and obtain core skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and sustainability. You’ll engage with contemporary, thought-provoking topics and issues whilst maximising your chance of success right from the start of your studies. Your Journey to Success at CCCU is compulsory and you then choose two more of these modules (from a choice of 8) in your first year.

Violence, Vulnerability and Victims provides a multi-disciplinary approach to understand three central concepts within criminology. You’ll explore the complex cycles of violence which can make groups vulnerable to both victimization and violent offending, while also considering innovative solutions that can move beyond this damaging dynamic. As well as foundational knowledge from theories of victimology and vulnerability, the module will also examine policies and practices that respond to both victims and offenders. To reframe dominant narratives about violence, vulnerability and victimization, you’ll also consider how these concepts are evident within criminal justice processes, examining the challenges associated with issues like suicide and self-harm in prisons, the use of restraint or the death penalty. 

Global Crime and Culture examines the intersection of crime and culture in a global context. You will analyse how cultural factors influence crime and criminal justice, as well as evaluating the impact of globalisation on crime and cultural practices. Working collaboratively with staff, you will reflect on your own cultural identities and the cultures you consume, exploring how these influence your engagement with the world. You will consider the criminalisation of certain forms of culture and the processes by which subcultures can become labelled as ‘criminal’ or deviant. Overall, you will gain the skills and understanding to evaluate the impact of globalisation on crime and culture, giving you a culturally informed perspective on contemporary criminological issues. 

These modules recognise the value of integrating knowledge, methods, and perspectives from other disciplines and use this approach to address a range of opportunities and challenges in contexts of varying complexity. You will study two of these modules.

These modules help broaden your educational experience and allow you to work and collaborate with students studying other subjects.

In your second year you will complete a Client Project or an Innovation Challenge. Each of these modules are worth 30 credits and will give you the opportunity to gain real-world experience as you practise client relations through a collaborative project.

This module provides you with a comprehensive examination of the roles and functions of policing, punishment and rehabilitation within the criminal justice system. Building on your prior learning, it explores the theoretical foundations, historical developments, contemporary practices and challenges associated with law enforcement, penal systems and rehabilitative efforts. You will be encouraged to critically analyse and debate the effectiveness and ethical considerations of these key components of criminal justice. You will also reflect on the lived experiences of participants in criminal justice processes to develop solutions that improve policy and practice. Content is informed by practitioner perspectives as well as current research and is designed to build the skills and understanding to prepare you for your future career. 

Power, Injustice and Human Rights enables you to look more deeply at the complex interplay between these concepts to examine modern society’s most pressing global challenges. Building on your prior learning, you’ll develop a critical understanding of the role of the state and its agents in issues like human rights abuses, historical oppression and environmental harm. You’ll consider how powerful groups can facilitate criminal acts and harmful practices while exploring real world examples and theoretical perspectives that deepen your understanding of injustice and unequal power dynamics at local and global levels. Finally, you’ll examine social movements that resist injustice and state violence and reflect on the challenges and opportunities of advocating for justice and human rights globally. 

This module enables you to draw on the knowledge and skills learned throughout your course and demonstrate your mastery of these. Through workshops and individual supervision, you will be supported to produce an extended piece of work exploring a course-specific topic in depth. The module builds your skills as an independent learner and enhances your ability to critically analyse complex information and apply this to construct well-reasoned arguments. You’ll be able to make choices about both the topic and the form of your dissertation, enabling you to tailor this to reflect your interests and future career aspirations. 

Demystifying ‘True’ Crime explores representations of crime and criminal justice in media and popular culture. You’ll examine the historical roots and cultural impact of the ‘true’ crime genre, learning to challenge misinformation that reinforces problematic public perceptions. You’ll also investigate ethical considerations, exploring the balance between storytelling and responsible journalism and the role of ‘true’ crime narratives in highlighting injustices. Content explores ‘true’ crime in various forms, including literature, television, film and podcasts, enabling you to apply your criminal justice knowledge to ‘demystify’ appeals to ‘truth’ within public narratives and providing a comprehensive understanding of how these shape public perceptions of crime and justice. 

Mental Health and Trauma in Criminal Justice equips you with a nuanced understanding of the critical issues at the intersection of crime, criminal justice, mental health and trauma, preparing you for informed, compassionate and effective engagement with the criminal justice system. You’ll explore the intricate intersections between these concepts to critically examine how mental health issues and traumatic experiences impact individuals involved in criminal behaviour, as well as the implications for justice systems, policy-making and societal responses. Drawing on contemporary theories, research findings and case studies, you’ll learn to understand the complexities of these interactions and their impact on crime and criminal justice practices. Finally, you’ll consider how trauma affects criminal justice practitioners and gain awareness of strategies to support them and build resilience. 

This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore the importance of evidence based practice within your profession and the wider criminal justice system. You will learn about what evidence is, its strengths, as well as limitations, enabling you to gain a clear understanding of the different methodologies and methods used within the context of social and applied sciences, utilising case studies and examples from real contemporary research ongoing within the School. You will be supported in gaining applied transferrable digital and communication skills through navigating data analysis software and developing an ethical research proposal. The module will deepen your knowledge through focusing on specific research methods and methodologies throughout the module as relevant to your course or wider areas of interest. 

This module gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge that you have acquired to practice by combining academic study with a relevant work experience. As part of this module you will be required to secure a work-based learning position aligned to your subject area and professional practice, or a volunteering opportunity in a community setting, with the support of staff and the CCCU employability service. Teaching sessions are provided to support you in developing reflective practice & reflective writing skills, by reflecting on your experience in industry using subject knowledge.