Criminology with Psychology

Criminology has never been concerned solely with crime. Criminologists have always wanted to define the nature of crime and understand the criminal mind. Although you learn a lot about both criminology and psychology on our joint honours programme, the unique value of its interdisciplinary approach is that it provides deeper insights into criminal behaviour.

Our hugely rewarding and highly useful Criminology with Psychology programme explores a wide range of criminal justice and penological concepts and issues faced by contemporary society.

The programme has been designed to include the methodological, academic and practical skills essential to enhance your professional development and career opportunities. As such, you engage with crime related professionals, agencies and organisations to develop your understanding of how they work and apply newly-learnt theories.

In Year 1, you gain an awareness of the key principles and concepts underpinning the study of crime. You also study modules on Crime Through Time, Police and Police Work, Victimology and Foundations in Psychology.

In Year 2, you develop your understanding of contemporary criminological theory and study modules on Penology, and Society and the Individual. Optional modules may include Comparative Criminal Justice, Writings on Crime, Morality and Deviance, and Violent Crime. You also develop your ability to approach research in criminology.

In Year 3, you broaden your knowledge of topics in the field and put into practice your independent research skills by specialising in a topic of your own choice for your final year project. You can choose from a wide range of special interests from both fields, including Forensic Criminology, Crime and Humanity, Media Psychology and Eyewitness Psychology.

During the course you also acquire skills of gathering data using quantitative and qualitative methods, synthesising and interpreting evidence and assembling arguments, presenting evidence and formulating findings and conclusions.

You have the opportunity, too, to become a member of The British Society of Criminology, which has been in existence for 50 years, and is the society for criminologists, both academic and professional, within the United Kingdom.

Graduates are equipped for a wide range of criminal justice careers including the police service, youth and probation work, and the prison service. The Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs and other relevant support roles in crime-related work are also potential employment routes.

Roles such as psychological wellbeing practitioner and assistant psychologist are open to graduates and are an excellent way to gain experience before taking the next step towards a career as a psychologist.