Criminology

Ever wondered why different people commit crimes? Or what happens during a criminal investifgation? Who decides which laws to make and how does the media influence or perception of crime? Are you interested in a career in the police force, legal professions or forensic sciences? Maybe you want to know more about the new exciting subject of Criminology? If any of these apply, then maybe Criminology is the course for you. Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals and combines elements of psychology, law and sociology.

Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime Knowing about the wide range of different crimes and the reasons people have for not reporting such crimes will provide an understanding of the complexity of behaviours and social implications of crimes and criminality. You will also practise creating a crime-focused media campaign of your own. Unit 2: Criminological Theories - How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? How do we explain why people commit crime? Criminologists have produced theoretical explanations of why people commit crime and in this unit you will explore them and assess which are the most useful. Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom - In this unit you will discover the investigative techniques available to investigators to help identify the culprit in a crime. You will examine the many stages of the criminal trial process and learn about the roles of people involved. You will develop a clear insight into what happens from when a crime is detected to a guilty or non-guilty verdict being delivered. Unit 4: Crime and Punishment - For this unit you will explore how and why societies punish people. You will learn about the criminal hustice system in England and Wales and how it operates to achieve social control.

Units 2 and 4 are assessed through exams.

No specific grades

If you have aspirations to work in the Police Force, legal profession or forensic sciences, or have a keen interest in crime and criminal behaviour, then this course could be perfect for you.