BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology (Full Time)
For this degree you will study two complementary fields that will equip you with advanced knowledge of the psychology of crime.
UCAS codes
2013 Entry
- Three years Standard EntryMC98
2012 Entry
- Three years Standard EntryMC98
In my view
Matt Elliott and Chris Simmons
“Criminology at Solent is hugely interesting with extremely high student satisfaction rates. It teaches the causes and control of crime, but also, social and governmental reactions. It also gives you a wider perspective on what to expect in the many areas of professional criminology and allows you to explore what you previously might not have been aware of.”
Career opportunities
Criminology and Psychology are both established subjects within the University and graduates in both disciplines have good employment prospects.
Graduates gain an understanding of psychology in the context of criminal activity and of the criminal justice system. This supports entry to a range of public sector careers such as the police, prison service, probation, social work, community development, immigration and customs and excise. Further training will be required for some of these. In the private sector there are opportunities in security, investigation and crime prevention.
The more generic skills gained on this course can be used to enter graduate level roles not necessarily directly related to criminology and psychology such as youth work, public and commercial administration and charity work.
Career paths include:
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the police
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prison service
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probation
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immigration
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customs and excise
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Crown Prosecution Service
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private security sector
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youth work
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public and commercial administration
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charity work
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postgraduate study.
For facts, figures and further details of graduate employability, view the career destinations PDF| for this course.
Course overview
Criminology is concerned with crime and control, the social dimensions of crime and justice, forms of crime and criminality and criminal justice structures and processes.
These academic fields relate closely to psychology, and its concern with how people think, how they act, and how they interact with one another. Psychologists seek to understand our behaviour and how our thoughts and feelings motivate our actions, while criminologists aim to understand criminal behaviour.
This course enables students to explore criminology and psychology in equal measure. Our interdisciplinary approach gives you the opportunity to focus on different aspects of these fascinating subjects, and gain an advanced understanding of crime, control and justice. This knowledge will help you to consider the psychology of crime in relation to the criminal justice process.
Industrial focus
Students receive guest lectures from a wide range of criminal justice professionals who give a detailed insight into the practical aspects of criminal justice and into potential careers in the field.
Course content
Year 1
Six core units:
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Introduction to Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology
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Introduction to Abnormal, Biological and Personality Psychology
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Criminological Research Methods and Skills
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Criminal Process and Responsibility
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Psychological Investigations 1
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Introduction to Criminology.
Year 2
Six core units:
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Social Psychology
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Criminological Research Methods and Skills 2
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Cognitive Psychology
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Developmental Psychology
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Criminal Law in Context
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Critical Issues in Criminal Justice and Penology.
Year 3
Three core units and two option units:
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Project Design and Dissertation
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Personality and Individual Differences
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Comparative Criminal Justice.
Options:
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Crime, Risk and Community Safety
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Dangerous Offenders
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Landmark Cases in Criminal Justice
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Security, Policing and the State
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The Psychology of Crime
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Visual Perception
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Work and Occupational Psychology
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Curriculum Plus (L2 and 3).
Why choose this course?
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Field trips to a variety of relevant locations depending on the chosen study pathway. Recent excursions have included Washington DC with visits to the Department of Justice, the Pentagon, and The British Embassy, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Old Bailey, England’s Central Criminal Court.
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Guest lectures from a wide range of criminal justice professionals including serving and former police detectives, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the National Offender Management Service, and the Crown Prosecution Service.
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Extra-curricular activities including a Criminology Society and a Crime Film Programme to explore criminological issues in an informal context.
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A supportive staff team with wide-ranging experience in the field of criminology.
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Options range from alcohol, drugs and crime to political violence in Northern Ireland.
Assessment
A wide and innovative variety of methods are used, ranging from conventional essays and exams to group and individual projects and presentations.
Key career skills
Research methods, critical analysis and interpretation of information, communication, teamworking and leadership.
Projects/work experience
The department has many strong partnerships with organisations in the criminal justice sector. Our students are encouraged to gain voluntary positions and work experience and a dedicated member of staff is available to help them access placements.
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Every year a number of our students are given the opportunity to complete an internship at the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office (ACRO). Having gained practical experience within the policing environment, all of the students are now employed by ACRO.
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Many of our students gain valuable experience as Special Constables, and others act on various criminal justice panels, such as the Youth Offenders panel.
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Future volunteering opportunities will include placements in Witness and Victim Services.