BA (Hons) Criminology

Delve into the social study of crime, deviance and the criminal justice system. Understand crime and investigate the ways that it relates to areas such as social inequality, as well as different sections of society.

UCAS Code:
L611
Institution:
B50

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Why study BA (Hons) Criminology at BU?

Gain a wider view of the world of crime, including terrorism, global human trafficking and organised crime
Understand the impact of crime on society and the complexities of criminal and deviant behaviour
Learn from research-active social scientists in fields including society and social formation, social anthropology, criminology, cultural diversity and social welfare
Choose from either a 30-week ‘sandwich’ placement, or a shorter four-week placement to provide you with important work experience
Develop your own piece of research based on a topic that interests you, or aligns itself with your future career or study plans, in your final year dissertation.

Find out more about the content of this course.

What can you achieve with a criminology degree?

This course will help to develop your critical and focused mind, providing you with debating, communication and analytical skills which can be applied to various topics and job roles. The BA (Hons) Criminology degree will provide the ideal platform for further specialisation in many careers, such as policing and probation services, that require the expertise and skills that this course will give you.

Image description — The Bournemouth Gateway Building, the new home of the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, lit up blue on a #clapforcarers evening in support of the NHS

Next start date:

September 2021, September 2022

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus

Duration:

3 years, or 4 years with a minimum 30-week work placement, full time

Entry requirements:

For September 2021 entry: 104 – 120 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2021 entry: if English is not your first language, you will need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components or equivalent. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 263kb)

Year 1

Core units

Introduction to Criminological Theory: An introduction to key sociological, psychological and criminological theory that has informed classical and contemporary criminology, engaging with key criminological thinkers and perspectives. You’ll evaluate theories within historical and contemporary social constructs and will consider the role of structure and agency with regards to criminality and deviance.
Understanding Communities: This unit provides a broad overview of the development of urban and rural communities where you’ll explore recent social and cultural issues, changes and conflicts in rural and urban Britain and elsewhere. You’ll consider the ways in which ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ are represented in contemporary society, and how this impacts upon both individual and community identity and participation.
Key Themes & Perspectives in Criminology: You’ll be introduced to the field of criminology and will be familiarised with the core concepts and leading terminology. From lectures coupled with insightful seminar discussions, you’ll address the key topics and concepts in a broader social ecological context. The unit will define the discipline of criminology as well as delving into the various social (e.g. poverty, neighbourhood, and peer/family influences), personal (e.g. intelligence, mental illness), and demographic (e.g. age, race, gender, and immigration) realities that cause, misperceive, and soften criminal behaviour.
Introduction to Social Research: Offering a broad introduction to the conceptual and theoretical framework of social scientific approaches to research, this unit will provide the opportunity for you to consider ethical, practical and methodological issues. You’ll explore the parameters and scope of social scientific enquiry, focusing on the relationship of individuals to society, and will gain the skills to develop your own social scientific research plan.
Crime & the Criminal Justice System: You’ll explore the concepts of crime, the discipline and study of criminology and the structure and responsibilities of the key agencies within the criminal justice system, especially in the United Kingdom (UK), but with scope for international comparison of approaches to crime, policing, criminal justice and penology in developed and less developed societies. Considering specific case studies will allow you to reflect on differing approaches to addressing these fields of crime through policing and punishment.
Social Inequality & Exclusion: Discover the nature, lived experience, impact and possible causes of discrimination, inequality and social exclusion, using sociological, criminological and anthropological approaches. You’ll apply relevant sociological, criminological and anthropological enquiry to explore social exclusion, community cohesion, inequality, discrimination, marginalisation and oppression, together with an understanding of how this might be addressed and tackled.

Year 2

Students are required to complete all 4 core units and also 2 option units of your choice. Option units will run if selected by a minimum of 10 students. Some combinations of optional units may not be available depending on the semester of delivery and timetable configurations.

Core units

Qualitative Research Skills: The unit will equip you with the knowledge and skills to be able to carry out and analyse qualitative research. You’ll gain the knowledge of the skills necessary for effective design, implementation, and data analysis in qualitative research.
The Impact of Crime: Examine the various forms of crime, particularly criminal acts within relationships, as well as sex offending and sex work. Alongside the established ‘legal’ definitions of crime, you’ll also explore the broader concept of social harm and related theoretical frameworks such as zemiology, environmental criminology and risk society. Consider the obvious and less obvious ‘costs’ and impact of crime and harm on individuals, on communities and on society at large, as well as the role and impact of the media on social attitudes and stereotypes, which might determine how we perceive crime and harm.
Quantitative Skills: Develop your understanding and evaluation of a range of quantitative methods and the underlying philosophical and ethical principles of their application within social science research. This unit will assist you in your preparation for your final year dissertation.
Human Trafficking and Criminality: You’ll consider the relationship between human trafficking, migration and criminality by looking at the different forms of trafficking across a number of countries. You’ll also explore human rights’ issues and develop critical skills in understanding migration, human trafficking, organised crime, as well as a series of emotions around trauma, violence and loss from criminological, sociological and anthropological perspectives.

Option units (choose two)

Ethnographies of Crime & policing: This unit introduces you to ethnographies of crime and policing. You’ll explore critically how crime and ‘policing’ may be understood and approached within society, and will read, critique and review ethnographies in these areas. You’ll also have the opportunity of studying neighbourhoods in Bournemouth through interactive observations and will make recommendations to reduce levels of crime.
Growing Up & Growing Old: This unit studies sociological and anthropological perspectives and theories of childhood, youth and aging.
Crime, Health and Society: Discover the rich and complex findings of social science in the sphere of health and how it relates to crime. You’ll also investigate the sophisticated inter-relation between these fundamental concepts, and how their relationship continues to change.
Understanding Globalisation: Globalisation is a concept that refers to economic, political and technological forms of global interdependence and alignment in today’s world. In this unit you’ll explore the debates about globalisation within sociology and associated social science disciplines.
Doing Ethnographic Research: Gain experience of designing and undertaking an ethnographic research project in the Bournemouth area. You’ll investigate sociological and anthropological research questions and will critically reflect on the benefits and challenges of qualitative research. The skills and experience developed from this unit will assist you in your preparation for the research you may wish to carry out as part of your final year dissertation. You’ll also have the opportunity to present your research findings at BU’s annual Student Undergraduate Research Conference.
Contemporary Social Theory: Introducing social theory that informs contemporary sociology, criminology and anthropology, you’ll explore theories embedded in the contemporary and philosophical context of Western society and its social forms.
Understanding Cultures: This unit considers classic and contemporary debates about how culture should be understood, theorised and studied; and what theoretical concepts lend themselves to a critical and sensitive approach to understanding cultures and cultural practices considered different from our own. You’ll also explore cultures which are considered controversial or ‘deviant’ such as gang culture.
20-day Placement: You’ll have the opportunity to study an area of academic and professional interest in criminology and its relationship to wider society through participation in placement based learning.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester-by-semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Placement year

Final year

Core units

Dissertation: The dissertation provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your intellectual, analytic and creative abilities through sustained independent work. Specifically, it aims to provide an opportunity for critical in-depth review of the research literature within the broad parameters of sociology and/or anthropology, and to enable students to apply this knowledge in the development of a research proposal.
Criminology of Organisations: This unit will introduce you to organisational crime and how this type of crime is currently being policed and regulated through means of law and social control. You’ll explore critically, the reasons why only a small percentage of this type of crime is prosecuted and adjudicated by the criminal justice system.
Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century: Build on your understanding of how crime is defined, its possible causes, and how crime and criminal acts can impact on individuals, communities and societies.

Option units (choose two):

Anthropology of International Intervention: Following crises, conflict, war or regime change, many populations and states become subject to large-scale military or humanitarian interventions, global knowledge transfer and development projects, which has led to a recognition of the importance of understanding local knowledge and involving local stakeholders in order to ensure the success of projects intending peace and state-building. During this unit, you’ll be familiarised with critical anthropological and multi-disciplinary debates and insights on international intervention policies and practices in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and you’ll also develop your critical and creative thinking for improving such projects.
Seekers, Believers and Iconoclasts: Explore belief systems as a sociological phenomenon contextualised within a cultural and social analysis, as well as a philosophical and historical one. You’ll also consider belief systems as phenomena subjects to social change and transformation in terms of influencing social structures, interactions and shared or diverse social understandings, shaping changing societies.
Terrorism, Protection and Society: You’ll be introduced to many of the complex issues involved in conceptualising and responding to terrorism and protection in contemporary societies. You’ll explore protection and counter-terrorism as a form of social regulation and will consider ways in which society is ordered in an age of terrorist threat, and how this impacts on social life.
Intersectional Criminology: This unit will introduce you to the overlapping relations of crime between different social groups. You’ll critically explore crime by looking at the media and the creation and construction of images, identities and attitudes towards different social groups, social policies and laws relating to crime and victimisation, as well as considering the representation of marginalised communities within the criminal justice system.
Politics & Ideology: To improve, change and transform the situations and lives of individuals and communities, it may be necessary to influence government and decision makers in order to seek positive change. Therefore, this unit will provide you with an understanding of politics, political processes and the ideologies that may be key drivers in the development of policy and governance at the local, societal and global level.
‘Troubling’ Gender: This unit will explore gender as socially constructed and historically variable aspect of societies, past and present. It will examine the ways in which gender informs social structures, inequalities, and analyse the interrelationships between gender and other social categories (e.g., class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality).

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

How you will be assessed

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Placement opportunities

At BU, we recognise that placements are extremely valuable and can give you a head start when it comes to your future career. That’s why we offer every new student the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their course.

The programme offers two opportunities for you to undertake a placement, an optional Placement Learning Unit (20 days or 150 hours) in Year 2 and the Practice Placement (Sandwich option), a 30-week placement taken over the course of a full academic year between Year 2 and your Final Year.

You could even choose to undertake your placement abroad in locations such as Kosovo where the Department has established links with partners, giving you the opportunity to develop yourself personally, academically and professionally, and gain skills to help you stand out in the job market.

Find out about BU students’ experiences on placements All you need to know about placements

How long is my placement?

Help and support

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Coordinator.

They’ll help you plan your placement so you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing.

Your application

We are looking for applicants who:

Have an interest in the subject as well as the motivation and commitment to undertake the course
Can demonstrate personal skills and qualities relevant to the course
Have an ability to read, digest and analyse information
Can work independently as well as in groups.

IT skills

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Entry requirements

We use the UCAS Tariff in our entry requirements and will accept a combination of grades and qualifications to meet the overall tariff requirement. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

We have outlined our entry requirements below using the most common qualifications that we consider for this course. If your qualification is not on the UCAS tariff or listed below, please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team who can advise accordingly. You can also find out more about how we consider your application in our offer-making process section.

For September 2021 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all the equivalencies.

A-level and AS levels: 104 – 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.

Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Access to HE Diploma: 102 – 118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

BTEC National:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Foundation Diploma/ 90-credit Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Extended Certificate/ Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification as part of the overall UCAS tariff.

Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.

Cambridge Technical:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Extended Project Qualification: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

International Baccalaureate Certificates: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.

International Baccalaureate (Diploma): An overall score of 28 - 31 points.

Scottish Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.

Other useful information

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, you can request a deferral by contacting our Admissions Team.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2021 entry:

Диплома за средно образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Education) or Диплома за средно специално образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Specialised Education). Minimum score of 4.5
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma with required scores (4,3,3 to 4,5,5. Minimum 4 in English required)
Italian Esame di Stato[AB1] with minimum 60%+
Spanish Curso de Orientaciòn Universitaria (COU) prior to 2009 or if you hold a Titulo De Bachillerato awarded from 2009 onwards with a minimum of 6/10+
USA High School Diploma with minimum GPA 3.0 plus SAT Reasoning (1200) or ACT (24-26).

We offer a number of preparatory programmes through Bournemouth University International College. These courses offer you progression from High School in your home country to a Bachelor’s degree at BU.

Options include:

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2021 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Careers

The course will provide you with the ideal platform for further specialisation in many careers, such as policing and probation services that require the expertise that this course will give you. You’ll develop a range of analytical and communication skills during this course that will serve you well when you enter the workplace.

Potential sectors and opportunities

Social services
Criminal justice
Community work
Police
Prisons
Probation services
Education
Government and civil service
Counselling charities and the voluntary sector
International development and aid
Marketing and policy research
Corporate management
Journalism and media
Further postgraduate study opportunities including various Master’s degree options or a MRes research Master’s.

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section. That’s also where you’ll find information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer – including unlimited Academic Excellence Scholarships for UK, EU and International students.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be.

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity.
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and/or fieldwork and non-financial support whilst on placement.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme.
Disability and additional learning support.
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices.
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable).
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation
You may have the opportunity to study abroad as part of your programme, and there may be some additional costs attached to this.
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website
SportBU membership.

Repeat units

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by expert staff who have an in-depth knowledge of criminology. As well as being skilled educationalists, members of our team are actively engaged in research and professional practice, which are integrated into the teaching of this course. In addition to our criminology team, you will also have the benefit of the input of others with particular areas of expertise, including senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students. Please note that staff can change.

Dr Patrick Van Calster – Course Leader & Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Richard Heslop – Lecturer in Criminology

Before joining Bournemouth University, Richard was a Police Sergeant in West Yorkshire Police, where he served for 28 years.

He is a Fulbright Scholar (University of Cincinnati, 2012) and in 2014 he was Visiting Bramshill Scholar at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, where he taught courses on international criminal justice and policing.

Richard holds degrees in Sociology, Politics and Education and, as such, he brings a multi-disciplinary approach to his research and teaching. Dr Heslop is the Editor for Practitioner Liaison at Police Practice & Research: An International Journal.

View Dr Richard Heslop’s staff profile

Dr Jane Healy – Lecturer in Sociology and Crime and Deviance

Dr Jane Healy joined BU in 2017 as a Lecturer in Sociology and Crime & Deviance. Prior to this, Jane completed a PhD in disability hate crimes at Middlesex University, as well as Masters degrees in Social Science Research Methods and Criminology with Forensic Psychology. Jane also has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and worked as a Researcher at Middlesex University on a number of different projects within psychology, sociology and criminology.

Jane is currently co-investigator on the Respect at BU Hate Crime Project, which has engaged in forum theatre events for undergraduate and postgraduate students in hate crime awareness. She is also supporting a group of Anti-Slavery Student Ambassadors, who work in the local Bournemouth community to promote awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking. Jane is Chair of the CPS Wessex Modern Slavery Scrutiny Panel, and is an independent Panel member of the CPS Wessex Hate Crime Panel and the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner's Stop and Search Panel.

Dr Healy teaches across sociology programmes, as well as representing Criminology programmes on the department's Placement Committee.

View Dr Jane Healy's staff profile

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

BA (Hons) Criminology

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Why study BA (Hons) Criminology at BU?

What can you achieve with a criminology degree?

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Scholarships

Related courses

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Course details

Year 1

Year 2

Placement year

Final year

How you will be assessed

Programme specification

Placement opportunities

How long is my placement?

Help and support

Your application

IT skills

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

International entry requirements

Careers

Potential sectors and opportunities

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Our staff

Dr Patrick Van Calster – Course Leader & Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Richard Heslop – Lecturer in Criminology

Dr Jane Healy – Lecturer in Sociology and Crime and Deviance