BA or BSc single honours or in combination with another subject Applied Criminology 2019/20

The Forensic Investigation modules enable you to develop a solid foundation in Crime Scene Investigation and general forensic facts and procedures (the proportion of each depending on the overall degree title).  The criminology modules engage you in key criminological themes, concepts and debates, and a range of optional modules which explore crime topics in more depth and breadth.  This allows considerable flexibility in the topics you can study and emphasises the multidisciplinary nature of the degree.  The course was designed using the QAA Benchmarks for Criminology and the QAA Benchmarks for Forensic degree courses, therefore providing you with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that are valued by forensic and related employers.

Work experience

We promote volunteering to our students and provide support and advice in identifying and applying for volunteering posts and work experience. We also provide some opportunities for students to work in the university as peer mentors, student ambassadors and practical demonstrators and often invite our graduates back to deliver sessions on the course. These activities can be recorded with the university and lead to an extracurricular award.

When an opportunity for a visit arises, we make it available for students. For example, students have attended mock crime scene exercises within police forces, postmortem examinations, shooting range trip, prison trip, media and crime trip, fire ground trip and court trips in the past.

One member of the teaching team is a trained coach and mentor and has injected this influence into the degree course structure, to enable students to develop as people and professionals, in addition to learning the subject. It is often personal qualities such as confidence that prevents us from reaching our potential, and this approach is actively helping students to overcome issues that might impact their success.

Other information

As access to forensic and policing facilities is very restricted due to security issues, we hire a range of guest lecturers to come to the university and provide lectures or practical sessions on their area of expertise. These lecturers are professionals who are currently working in the field and these professionals often go beyond their lecturing remit to support students in accessing information, gaining work experience or giving careers advice.

Core modules

Year 1

Introduction to Forensic Investigation (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module examines the key forensic concepts that underpin the entire degree programme, such as the principle of evidence (what constitutes forensic evidence?), Locard’s exchange principle (‘every contact leaves a trace’) and individualisation (linking evidence to particular sources).  You will also be introduced to key investigative concepts, such as logic, reasoning and building arguments, so that you develop an ability to assess the value of forensic evidence within the context of a specific investigation.

Forensic Practice and Law (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

The module develops the concepts you study in ‘Introduction to Forensic Investigation’ further and explores the multi-agency approach to criminal investigations in more detail.  Particular focus is placed on the relationship between law and forensic investigation and the significance of  the chain of evidence from crime scene to court and you will gain a thorough understanding of the multi-agency approach used in forensic investigations and the roles of key personnel involved in forensic investigations. 

Crime in Context (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module develops your ability to analyse and comment upon various issues relevant to an understanding of crime and crime control. The module includes exploration of how crime is experienced through a number of social factors, such as gender, ethnicity, social class and age, together with wider structural issues. The extent to which crime is socially constructed is explored through analysis of crime statistics and the influence of the media.

Introduction to Criminological Thinking (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module introduces you to the ways in which notions of crime and criminality are constructed, explained and understood. You will be introduced to the historical, social and cultural contexts of the development of criminology and the key shifts in criminological thinking about crime and the justice system. The approach is to break down theories into manageable units but also to recognise that theories overlap, develop over time and contradict one another. The focus is on a critical approach to the application of theories which have an impact on criminal justice policy and practice.

Year 2

Crime Scene Investigation (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This is the fundamental module that explores crime scene investigation theories, procedures and methods and it includes topics such as contamination, search methods, recovery and packaging of evidence. There is a significant practical component and this provides you with valuable experience in the examination of volume and major crime scenes. You will also learn how to follow standardised forensic procedures and complete forensic documentation and the module also aims to dispel the myths around crime scene investigation.

Recovery & Identification of Human Remains (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module focuses on the methods and procedures involved in locating, recovering and identifying human remains.  It aims to provide an understanding of the key profession, such as pathology (post mortem examinations), odontology (use of teeth in identifying humans), anthropology (use of bones in forensic investigations), archaeology (locating and recovering human remains) and ecology (use of environmental materials in forensic investigations and focuses on mass disasters (e.g. tsunamis, bombings etc.) and mass graves, as specialist cases.

Crime and Social Control (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module builds on the theoretical knowledge of the year one module, Introduction to Criminological Thinking. The primary aim of this module is to provide a comprehensive understanding of formal and informal means of control in the historical and social context of crime and responses to crime. An important component of this is studying how the main institutions of the criminal justice system – the police service, the prison service, and the probation service – emerged and have developed over time.

Crime Offenders and Society (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module builds on the issues introduced in Crime in Context in year one, and aims to develop your critical understanding of the nature of crime and the characteristics of specific types of crime. The complexity of crime as a problem is a central theme including addressing relatively under-researched issues such as the criminalisation of certain groups, crimes committed by the state, organised crime and white collar crime.

Year 3

Fire and Explosion Investigation (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This module builds on the Crime Scene Investigation module studied in year 2 by applying the knowledge gained to the investigation of fire and explosion scenes, and where possible, the module is taught by current fire investigators and includes a trip to a fire facility where demonstrations of fire dynamics are provided. The practical component of the module allows you to gain valuable experience in fire and explosion scenes, and the assessments further develops your practical scene skills.

Expert and Professional Witnesses (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours students)

This modules familiarises you with the English legal system in order to develop an understanding of the law, structure and processes that an investigator/scientist is required to adhere to when presenting their evidence in court. The roles, responsibilities and scope of both professional witnesses and expert witnesses are explored in detail, and the module culminates in moot court exercises that will build your confidence and practical experience.

Applications of Criminology (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours)

This module draws together knowledge and conceptual understanding from years one and two. It consists of a series of research-informed lectures designed to demonstrate the application of theory and research to our understanding of contemporary crime issues. It aims to enable you to apply a range of criminological theories, methods and perspectives to in-depth examples of crime and criminal activity. It also explores the strengths and limitations of criminological research. An employability component is being built into this module, including in the assessment, which will be ready for 2018-19.

Youth Crime and Justice (20 Credits)

(Core for Combined Honours)

Explores the changing concepts and discourses used to address the notion of youth, youth crime and justice. You will investigate contrasting media representations of youth crime and deviance, and explore research into the area of youth offending. You will also explore the link between youth justice policy and legislation and the tension between different ideas about how youth crime should be approached and dealt with.

Likely optional modules

Your optional modules will depend on your specific programme, but as a programme the following modules are available as optional modules within the Forensic Investigation programme.

Year 1

Crime Science (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single & Combined Honours)

This module allows you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts and principles of existing scientific approaches and broader techniques in the prevention, investigation and detection of crime. The module explores ways in which the nature of crime can be informed by science and police investigative approaches and investigates how science can support detection, crime prevention and crime reduction.

Cybercrime (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single & Combined Honours)

This module focuses on the technological advances that have occurred over recent years and considers how this has influenced crime and deviance and considers the challenges presented by ongoing developments in communication technologies and legislation.  The module also explores how these changes influence the methods used to investigate cybercrime, while also developing your awareness of the limitations and issues arising from these methods.

An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Combined Honours)

This module provides you with an overview of the entire criminal justice system and aims to develop your understanding of the people, companies and agencies involved in criminal justice and how the key players interact at all stages of the criminal process, from initial reporting of an offence to the reintegration of offenders into society after they have served their custodial sentence. Case studies are used throughout the module to demonstrate the key theories.

Law and Criminal Justice (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single & Combined Honours)

This module aims to introduce students to the criminal law and the criminal justice system in the UK. It will explore some of the basic legal principles necessary for understanding how the criminal law and criminal justice system operate. This module also aims to enable students to think critically about laws and legal processes. This will be achieved by exploring how social and political factors can influence the interpretation and enforcement of law.

Psychology and Crime (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single & Combined Honours)

The module aims to introduce you to the discipline of psychology and its applications to the study of crime and offending behaviour. It explores a range of psychological theories and explores how these theories can be used to explain various types of crime and antisocial behaviour. The module also encourages students to critically evaluate the literature they read, by examining the strengths and limitations of relevant research and literature.

Crimes, Punishments and Societies (20 Credits)

(Core for Single Honours and optional for Combined Honours)

This module is an opportunity for you to explore some of the contextual issues that arise when exploring academic areas of criminology, criminal justice and policing. In particular, this module is concerned with the different societal, historical, cultural, geographical and political contexts in which crime and justice occur.

Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (20 Credits)

(Core for Single Honours and optional for Combined Honours)

This module is designed to provide you with a grounding in the wider role and function of the Criminal Justice System in the UK. This will act as a foundation for your further undergraduate study, providing context and background knowledge to their subject areas. The main aim of the module is to introduce you to the various stages of the justice process and the agencies that manage them. You will also develop an understanding of the interactions of the various professionals at all stages of the criminal process, from initial reporting to the reintegration of offenders. Through the use of case studies and alternative theories the student will develop a critical understanding that the way things are is not the way they necessarily need to be and that change (both future and historic changes) can be beneficial as well as damaging to the functioning of the CJS.

Year 2

Crime and Popular Culture (20 Credits)

The module aims to give you the opportunity to examine theories and issues in criminology through the lens of popular culture. The module will explore the key role of popular culture in reflecting and shaping public views on crime and criminal justice. Through their close engagement with a wide range of crime-related popular culture products (films, TV shows, music, novels, comic books, video games etc.), you will acquire an in-depth understanding of the cultural processes through which crime is constructed as a social problem

Hate Crime (20 Credits)

This module introduces you to the concept of hate crime in its various forms, including race, religious, homophobic and disability hate crimes. The module examines the issues involved in hate crime and aims to develop your ability to identify relevant academic literature and to engage with the core issues in the area. There is particular reference to hate crime victimisation, legislation, and the policing of hate crimes.

Media and Crime (20 Credits)

This module explores the relationship between media, crime and criminal justice. You will explore criminological theories related to media and develop an understanding of the significance of pop cultural representations of crime and criminal justice within the public, political and cultural spheres.

Mental Health and Violence (20 Credits)

This module gives you the opportunity to explore the relationship between mental health and violent crime, and how this is responded to by the criminal justice system and other institutions. You will learn about criminological and psychiatric research into the relationship between mental disorder and violent offending and the ideologies and practices that are central to the management and treatment of mentally disordered and violent offenders.

Psychology and the Criminal Justice System (20 Credits)

This is an optional module only available to students who passed the module Psychology and Crime in Year One, or who are Applied Criminology/Psychology Combined Honours students. This module aims to give students an introductory understanding of forensic psychology and its impact on the criminal justice system. It will explore how psychology has changed criminal justice procedures, impacted on police practice and given a better understanding of people involved in the criminal justice system such as: perpetrators, victims and witnesses. Special attention will be paid o vulnerable people with lectures on addiction and mental health. Additionally, this module will explore the psychology of the court process and the prison system utilising psychology to understand trial proceedings, the impact of psychological processes on sentencing and the application of psychology to the treatment of offenders.

Investigating Cybercrime (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single Honours & Combined Honours)

This module builds on the themes encountered in Cybercrime, building your understanding of the challenges presented by new communication technologies and introducing you to a range of data recovery techniques that are used to support forensic investigations are explored.  You will also consider the validity, usefulness and reliability of these methods and increase your awareness of limitations and issues associated with cybercrime investigations.

Reconstructing Crime Events (20 Credits)

(Optional For Single Honours & Combined Honours)

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the processes used to reconstruct events such as road traffic collisions and accidents/disasters in order to determine how they occurred and the actions of those who were involved. The module explores modelling methods and applies them to mock and real life examples and includes inputs from/on a range of professionals that reconstruct/model events.

Year 3

Crime Scene Management (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single And Combined Honours)

This module extends the knowledge and understanding you obtained in the Crime Scene Investigation module by teaching the students about crime scene management and the role of the crime scene manager. This module continues the theme that crime scenes and people are sources of forensic evidence and provides more in-depth teaching on the roles and procedures of modern crime scene investigators and, in particular, develops your practical skills relating to crime scene investigations and the management of personnel and evidential resources in support of enquiries. This will include your ability to recognise, record, recover and contextualise fingerprints, shoe marks, tool marks, DNA evidence and other forms of material relevant to volume and major crime scenes.

Fire and Explosion Investigation (20 Credits)

(Optional for Some Combined Honour)

This module builds on the Crime Scene Investigation module studied in year 2 by applying the knowledge gained to the investigation of fire and explosion scenes, and where possible, the module is taught by current fire investigators and includes a trip to a fire facility where demonstrations of fire dynamics are provided. The practical component of the module allows you to gain valuable experience in fire and explosion scenes, and the assessments further develops your practical scene skills.

Forensic Criminalistics (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

This module investigates the collection, analysis and interpretation of a range of physical evidence types, with particular focus on marks and impressions, ballistics and documents. Critical scrutiny of these techniques will be a key aspect of the module, using case studies to illustrate key points and the concepts will be applied practically through compulsory practical sessions based on mock exhibits. This module includes extensive practical work, developing competency in laboratory work and completion of forensic documentation.

Forensic Individual Study (40 Credits)

(Optional for Combined Honours)

This is an independent research project module, where you carry out research on a topic that you chose according to your own interests and career aspirations. You can select whether to do a literature based project or a practical project depending on the subject, and you will work alongside an academic supervisor who will guide you through the process. Forensic employers consider an independent research project to be a desirable experience for potential employees, as successful completion of such a project indicates independent thinking, problem solving, research abilities, resilience, and communication skills. Hence, this is a substantial piece of work and you work on this throughout the entire academic year.

Modelling Crime Events (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the potential of intelligence systems within the forensic investigation process, and the application of modelling techniques for crime scene reconstruction. The intelligence systems are not just employed by investigators in a ‘reactive’ manner (for example, in the use of DNA databases) but increasingly more proactively. Modelling is used to derive testable hypotheses for events before, during and after a crime and is often based upon principles from the physical sciences.

Psychology of Serious and Prolific Offending (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

The module aims to explore specialist areas of research and application within criminal and forensic psychology, particularly in relation to serious and prolific offending behaviours and ways to address them. The module will critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of the featured research and literature and in doing so facilitate students’ development of both subject specific and transferable skills appropriate to the level of study.

Prisons and Penology (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

This module examines the nature of prisons and their role in society. It focuses on the aims and objectives of the prison service set within a historical context. It looks at current debates about security, justice and control as well as the privatisation of prisons and prison performance. Central to these issues are questions about what prison is for and whether prison works. Victims and Victimology (20 Credits) This module examines sources of information about victims such as national and local victim surveys, and also important issues within victimology, such as repeat victimisation and vulnerability. It covers theoretical perspectives including positivist, radical, critical and feminist approaches. It also looks at the place of the victim within the criminal justice system and how this has changed over time. It considers victim support initiatives and alternative forms of justice for victims, such as Restorative Justice. Police Cultures and Societies (20 Credits) This module explores the challenging notion of police culture and its effectiveness as a means of examining what police officers believe and how they act. It will look at how police culture has evolved through a number of stages and seek to explain the types of behaviour seen within the police, the politicised dimensions of research into this area of study, and the effectiveness of strategies used to transform occupational cultures within law enforcement agencies.

Victims and Victimology (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

 This module examines sources of information about victims such as national and local victim surveys, and also important issues within victimology, such as repeat victimisation and vulnerability. It covers theoretical perspectives including positivist, radical, critical and feminist approaches. It also looks at the place of the victim within the criminal justice system and how this has changed over time. It considers victim support initiatives and alternative forms of justice for victims, such as Restorative Justice.

Police Cultures and Societies (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

This module explores the challenging notion of police culture and its effectiveness as a means of examining what police officers believe and how they act. It will look at how police culture has evolved through a number of stages and seek to explain the types of behaviour seen within the police, the politicised dimensions of research into this area of study, and the effectiveness of strategies used to transform occupational cultures within law enforcement agencies.

Police Cultures and Societies (20 Credits)

(Optional For Combined Honours)

This module explores the challenging notion of police culture and its effectiveness as a means of examining what police officers believe and how they act. It will look at how police culture has evolved through a number of stages and seek to explain the types of behaviour seen within the police, the politicised dimensions of research into this area of study, and the effectiveness of strategies used to transform occupational cultures within law enforcement agencies.

Crime in a Global Context (20 Credits)

(Optional For All Single And Combined Honours)

The aim of this module is to provide the opportunity to explore global criminological issues. You will be encouraged to consider the implications of globalisation on changing crime patterns. Topics covered in this module include terrorism, war crimes, state crime, organised crime and human trafficking. Psychology of Serious and Prolific Offending (20 Credits) The module is open to students who successfully passed Psychology and Crime, or the first year of their Applied Criminology and Psychology programme. It aims to explore specialist areas of research and application within criminal and forensic psychology, particularly in relation to serious and prolific offending behaviours and ways to address them. 

This course provides an excellent grounding for any career that involves the collection, analysis and interpretation of information or evidence, as these skills are taught in core modules and transferable to many careers. The graduate (or key) skills that are routinely required by employers are embedded into the Forensic Investigation curriculum and therefore, graduates are normally able to evidence these skills, preparing them for a range of careers and this is evidenced by ex­ students who have secured positions in forensic organisations, police forces, prisons, medical laboratories, schools, universities and many went on to do higher degree study.

One of our students volunteered for Kent Police for one year and was placed within the CID office during that time, thereby liaising with detectives and gaining firsthand experience of criminal investigation.

Several of our students have become special constables and are therefore operational police officers while doing their degree course, which provides invaluable experience and also provides them with the opportunity to network and apply for jobs advertised internally within the police.

Several of our students have secured work with emergency services, such as policing, paramedic and within the fire service, as these services value the investigation nature of the programme and the resilience of the graduates produced.

Many of our students progress to postgraduate study to study Masters degrees and PhDs.

Fees

Tuition Fees for 2019/20 have not yet been finalised. Course webpages will be updated with Tuition Fee information once these have been agreed.

• Read advice about funding your degree
• See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
• If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact finance@canterbury.ac.uk
• For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk

Additional course costs

Although we aim to minimise any additional costs to students over and above the course tuition fee, there will be some additional costs which students are expected to meet.

Costs applicable to all students

General principle policy

The University’s general principles policy for additional course fees are set out here

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and practical sessions and you will typically have around 14 class contact hours per week, supported by additional online materials. Your actual contact hours depend on the optional modules you select.

Lectures are used to provide information and these are supported by small group seminars to enable discussion, practical sessions to allow you to apply your theory to a practical situation and workshops to support you with key skills development.  Tutorials are available to provide one to one support. The team is dedicated to developing the whole person and therefore provide many sessions to help you develop your personal skills, as well as your academic skills.

The teaching sessions are interactive, allowing you to engage with the material on a deeper level and all practical sessions are designed to enable you to apply theory to context. You will have the opportunity to use a range of specialist methods and equipment relevant to the modules you study and we have a dedicated forensic suite, including a workshop and a range of crime scenes.

You will have the opportunity to gain extensive practical experience and the practical sessions are designed according to real life scenarios. You will also have lectures from professionals working in the field, allowing you to have regular contact with people working in the forensic industry. We support you in getting work experience and where possible we arrange field trips that are designed to consolidate your knowledge (i.e. fire dynamics demonstrations, ballistics / shooting trip etc.)

All programmes are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2020.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will continue learning through self-study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, and preparing for coursework assignments/examinations, workshops and seminars.  Your lecturers will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities where appropriate to complete before / after class.

We recommend that you set up student study groups and support each other with your university work, as research shows that we learn much better in communities. 

Each assignment and in particular the Dissertation in year three will require you to undertake independent research. The dissertation will be carried out under the supervision of a member of the course team, who you will meet regularly.

Overall workload

Each 20 credit module requires approximately 200 hours of student, and approximately 50 hours of this is taught class contact time. You will study 6 modules per year and this is 1200 hours of study per year, which works out as 37.5 hours per week, or approx. 12.5 hours study per module per week. Many students choose to use holiday periods as intensive study periods, which decreases the amount of work you would do in a week. There is some flexibility in deciding how to study.

Academic input

The core teaching team consists of highly qualified and highly experienced ex forensic practitioners and academic criminology researchers, who have a range of expertise and experiences. This experience is injected into every teaching session, and every assessment to make your experience as realistic as possible.  Some members are also qualified coaches / mentors, who aim to help you to overcome barriers to success and learning, which is an innovative and revered approach.

The core team is supported by other teams in the university, such as the law, policing and criminology teams and a range of professionals who are currently working in the field who attend the university to provide guest lectures.

Assessments

The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or 'formative' assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some

extent on the optional modules you choose. The value provided below are based on core modules.

Year 1*

• 75 per cent coursework & 25 per cent written exams

Year 2

• 50 per cent coursework 25 per cent written exams 25 per cent practical exams

Year 3

• 55 per cent coursework 25 per cent written exams 20 per cent practical exams 

Feedback

The programme is designed so that each assessment informs a later assessment and the team is dedicated to providing high quality feedback on all assessments to enable you to understand what action you need to take to improve your work / marks and tutorials are also common to enable you to discuss your work. We aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of hand-in  for all assessments

*You must achieve a pass mark of 40 or above to pass a module and you need to pass all modules to be allowed to progress to the next academic year. 

The Applied Criminology course adheres to and is guided by the Criminology Benchmark Statements, which define expectations as part of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.