Criminology (with integrated foundation year) BSc (Hons)

BSc Criminology with integrated Foundation Year, at Aberystwyth University, will enable you to develop an understanding of the causes of crime and the impact it has on individuals, communities and society. You will also study the current challenges facing the criminal justice system.

Criminology is multidisciplinary in nature and therefore when studying Crime Causation and Crime Reduction you will draw information from a diverse range of disciplines, including Psychology, Sociology and Law. Modules in criminology research methods will also provide you with cutting-edge technical and analytical skills necessary to engage in contemporary debates surrounding policies and practices designed to prevent crime.

The integrated foundation year - designed for prospective students who do not have a sufficient or relevant academic background - is the perfect option to access this highly-sort scheme. In the Foundation Year, you will be brought up to speed on the fundamentals of Criminology, providing a solid base for you to go on and enjoy the full undergraduate degree.

On completion of your degree, you will possess a repertoire of skills essential for pursuing a professional career in areas such as Policing, Prisons and Youth Justice.

Overview

Why study Criminology at Aberystwyth University?

• The degree provides a balanced coverage of theory, policy and practice issues in criminology and criminal justice studies;
• The current teaching team comprises staff with expertise in the main disciplines that inform the criminological study, such as psychology, sociology and law;
• Our modules are continually revised and updated to reflect recent changes in patterns of criminal behaviour and crime policy responses;
• You will be taught by criminologists who are actively engaged in research;
• There are opportunities to undertake a criminal justice placement;
• Students can undertake supervised independent criminological research;
• We have an excellent working relationship with local criminal justice agencies.

Employability

The degree will not only help you to develop a range of key transferable skills that are important for employment in general but will also provide specialist skills and knowledge relevant to a professional career in a criminal justice setting (e.g. police, probation or prison service).

Your future is important to us and our degrees will equip you with the following:

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and oral forms;
• Enhance your problem-solving and creative thinking skills;
• Ability to work independently and as a team member;
• Time management and organisation skills;
• Encourage self-motivation and self-reliance;
• Transferable skills, such as computer literacy and key research skills relating to both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis.