Sociology and Criminology

Description

Our BA Sociology and Criminology is taught by our criminologists within our leading Department of Sociology. We allow you to combine the specialist study of criminology with the broad study of sociological questions around power, nation-states, identity and social change as well as to study crime, criminals and criminal justice within wider social contexts. You engage with some of the most pressing issues, decisions and dilemmas facing societies today like: how should we prevent crime? How and why should we punish? How does criminal justice connect with social justice?

You take Introduction to Crime, Law and Society as a foundation to the subject, Sociology and the Modern World, which explores how social scientists have theorised major social changes, and Researching Social Life, which introduces different research methods. There are a range of optional modules available. In your second and third years, you take a combination of criminology and sociology modules.
We teach through large-group lectures and smaller-group seminars and classes. You contribute in many ways, for example, by analysing set readings, giving presentations or completing research tasks. Some modules have their own websites where you can download powerpoints and podcasts, and contribute to online discussions. One module - Crime, Policy and Social Justice requires you to undertake consultancy-style evaluations of real-world criminal justice practice.

Criminologists engage with some of the most pressing issues, decisions and dilemmas facing societies today like: how should we prevent crime? How and why should we punish? How does criminal justice connect with social justice? Our course is taught by criminologists within the UKs leading Department of Sociology, who are experts in youth crime, prison, terrorism, policing, drugs, gender and crime, crime and the media, trafficking and human rights. A criminology-linked qualification can lead to a career in the criminal justice system or in other areas such as project management, policy evaluation or lobbying.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

In all three years you will have 90 credits of compulsory modules and 30 credits of optional modules. For BA Criminology your optional modules can be chosen from across the faculty in first year and from within our Department of Sociology in your second and third year. There is a great deal of choice for these optional modules due to the extensive range of modules offered by our departments. In your final year, as part of your compulsory 90 credits you must take a dissertation, a research project on something which is of interest to you.
With a small number of exceptions, if you successfully complete the first year of your BA, then you are qualified to enter the second year of that course and a range of other courses: for example, if you take economics, politics, philosophy and sociology, then you have a choice of at least nine possible single or joint honours courses at the end of your first year. This means you can change your course, providing you have taken the appropriate pre-requisites and places are available.
We operate a credit framework for our awards, which is based on principles widely used across the UK university sector. Each module has a credit rating attached and our standard three-year course consists of 360 credits (120 credits in your first year, and 240 credits across your second and final years).
Please note that module information on our course finder provides a guide to course content and may be subject to review on an annual basis.

Year 1

Crime, Law and Society;
Sociology and the Modern World;
Researching Social Life 1; and
one social science option

Year 2

Sociology of Crime and Control;
Punishment, Justice and Modernity;
Crime, Media and Culture;
Researching Social Life 2; and
one sociology option

Year 3

Globalisation and Crime;
Current Disputes in Social Justice;
Research Project; and
one sociology option

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• A-levels: ABB-BBB
• GCSE English: C
• IB: 32-30 points (we consider IB certificates at the Higher Level on a case-by-case basis).
• BTEC qualifications, in relevant disciplines, will be considered on an individual basis, depending on the units studied. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
• Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 6 level three credits at distinction and the remainder at merit (or above) or achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 level three credits at merit (or above).

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Essex.

Funding

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at Essex, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance.