Criminology - BA (Hons)

Durham University

What is crime? Why does it occur? And what are the best ways to address it? Study the answers to these kinds of questions with a degree in Criminology.,Criminology aims to understand crime and deviance from a social perspective, exploring how crime and society are connected. We seek to answer questions like: why are some people more likely to commit crimes than others why are some people more likely to be victimised how can crime be effectively prevented or controlled and so on. From a more critical perspective we also consider why some activities are defined as ‘criminal’ in the first place and what this tells us about the workings of power and authority in society. As a Criminology student, you will join a dynamic learning and research community, which includes internationally recognised experts actively engaged in shaping criminal justice policy. You will also learn how to design and carry out criminological research through research projects carried out in the second and final year of study. We offer the option to undertake a placement with a local community organisation to deploy your knowledge in an applied setting. You can find out more about this course by watching our film.Our degree will challenge your opinions and develop your critical understanding, both about crime as well as the social and politics contexts within which it occurs. You will study theories of criminality and criminal justice, the roles and operation of criminal justice institutions, and explore specific topics such as gender-based violence, cybercrime and sex work.Course structureYear 1 modulesCore modules:Introduction to Criminological Theory will help you develop a sociological perspective on issues of crime, criminality and deviance. It introduces a range of key criminological theories and concepts through examination of four classic criminological studies, followed by an overview of theoretical development in Criminology over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries.Social Research Methods will introduce you to the concept of social research and practice-based inquiry. You will learn how to produce and analyse different kinds of data and develop some basic practical skills in designing and carrying out social research yourself.The Criminal Justice Landscape outlines current debates within the field of criminal justice studies. You will learn about the key agencies of criminal justice including the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, prisons and the police. This module also introduces you to volunteering opportunities within the criminal justice system and actively encourages you to get involved in your local community.Critical Scholarship in the Social Sciences aims to support the transition to university-level study by helping you develop the foundational academic skills that are needed throughout the rest of your degree. Through it you will learn key academic conventions and skills, for example: reading and evaluation writing and argument presentation and discussion and so on.Year 2 modulesCore modules:Contemporary Criminological Theory demonstrates how traditional theoretical models and concepts in Criminology have informed contemporary criminological thought. You will also learn how these recent developments are situated within recent social and political contexts, covering for example radical, realist, gender, control, cultural and postmodernist perspectives.Research Methods in Action supports your development of applied research skills. At the core of the module is a group-based research project you design and carry out on a topic of your choosing. In addition, you will learn a range of methods and techniques for analysing both quantitative (statistics) and qualitative (textual / verbal / visual) data.