Criminology and Psychology BA (Hons) with foundation year

This module is designed to introduce students to basic investigative concepts, issues and approaches. The focus is on the nature of formal investigation, what investigation focuses upon, investigative mindset, the methods, processes, management, and accountability that govern investigators and investigations. The module aims to equip students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the development of investigative practices and how investigations are administered.

Compulsory

This module explores criminal behaviour in the context of a range of criminal activities and events drawing on key criminological and psychological theoretical perspectives. You will examine different concepts and how individuals can impact their criminal behaviour, these concepts can include social identity, cognitive development, self-regulation and free will. You will be expected to develop a critical awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of the different theories and perspectives in terms of their power to explain criminal behaviour.

Compulsory

This module introduces and evaluates criminal justice systems and the roles of legal personnel. It will provide you with an insight into the sources, institutions, and structures of the English legal system by comparing it to similar cases. You should be able to develop a critical awareness of the wider political and social context in which the law operates, and the principles and values underpinning legal systems. Concepts of truth, justice and jurisdiction will be discussed. This module also highlights increasing challenges to national and international criminal justice systems in defining, preventing, and prosecuting criminal acts that increasingly occur at a transnational level.

Compulsory

This module aims to equip you with a grounded knowledge of different types of criminal activity, with a particular focus on the relationship between types of crimes, criminals, and representations in the media. It will examine patterns and trends of violence, acquisitive crimes, public order offences, and organised crime and consider the impact of globalisation and technological development on the nature of these types of offences. It will also encourage you to think critically regarding methods of measuring crime.

Compulsory

This module offers a critical and theoretical exploration of the intersection between mental health, crime, and justice. The module draws on theory from across disciplinary boundaries including criminology, psychology, sociology, and forensic psychiatry to analyse the relationship between serious mental illness, violence, victimisation, and (in)justice.

Compulsory

This module introduces you to the practice of researching and formulating structured ideas about criminal law cases. It focuses on legal investigation research in terms of methods, processes, and skills for finding information about crimes, particularly the retrieval and use of primary and secondary legal sources. Emphasis will be placed on the links between theory, policy, and practice and preparing you for assessing their impact on criminal law issues. You will be encouraged to develop a critical and evaluative approach to the issues raised.

Compulsory

The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice involved in researching crime. You will be provided with the tools to develop your own thoughts and ideas about criminological matters, review criminological literature, plan and conduct research, and present research outcomes to diverse audiences. In addition, you will acquire digital literacy and transferable skills that will be benefit you in other learning and employment environments.

Compulsory

This module focuses on political, social, cultural, and popular constructions of victims of crime and wider social harms. The module places particular critical focus on the victimisation experiences of marginalised social groups, demonstrating that certain individuals and groups are more readily ascribed victim status than others. You will consider the international context, with technology and global insecurity that can affect the way people experience being victims of crime today.

Compulsory

This module aims to provide you with a core understanding of biological psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. This module adopts a thematic approach. Several themes will be considered across the module delivery that will be contemporary and of global significance (e.g. mental health) and may change in any given year. You will be required to examine individual and group responses to the issues presented by drawing on knowledge and understanding of key topics within each of the core domains and demonstrating how these relate to the criminal context.

Compulsory

Following on from the previous module, Perspectives in Forensic Psychology, this module will continue developing your understanding of the core aspects of psychology and should extend this to consider how this knowledge could contribute to solving a community relevant issue. You will continue to look further into biological psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and individual differences by adopting a thematic approach. You will be tasked with researching an issue relevant to external community-based organisations. You will be required to examine individual and group responses to the issues presented by drawing on knowledge and understanding of key topics within each of the core domains. 

Compulsory

This module introduces you to key issues relating to policing democratic societies. This will include a critical evaluation of the relationships between the police, the state, and the citizen. The independence of the police and their interdependence within the wider criminal justice system will be assessed, and concepts such as consensus, legitimacy and accountability in relation to policing practice will be explored. Topics to be debated range from policing protests and disorder to the role of the media in representing the police.

Compulsory

This module focuses on historical developments and contemporary issues surrounding the use of criminal sanctions. It covers the theoretical underpinning of punishments and risk management whilst aiming to equip you with a critical understanding of the effectiveness of custodial and community sentences. You will explore key issues relating to punishment and control, such as the complexities of managing a diverse prison population, privatisation, and reintegration, and will demonstrate your understanding through group exercises in an assessment centre environment.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary global organised crime. It will examine organised crime as a transnational phenomenon and the need for major organised criminal activities, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, to cross borders. A broader analysis will explore how the expansion of global trade and lowering of barriers to free movement that have enabled the world economy to grow have also provided parallel opportunities for illegal trade. A detailed comparative analysis will also be made of traditional criminal organisations, such as the American and Sicilian mafia, Japanese Yakuza, and Chinese Triads, and new organised criminal groups in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, and the United Kingdom as well as terrorist groups. Particular attention will be given to international and domestic organisations involved in fighting organised crime and the impact of globalisation on organised criminal groups.

Compulsory

This module examines Rehabilitation in the Criminal Justice System and responses to the criminogenic factors impacting offenders from diverse backgrounds. It will critically explore, applying crime desistance research, the role of preventive rehabilitation with people at risk of becoming offenders and factors that reduce criminal behaviour which include ties to family and community, meaningful occupation and employment, hope, self-efficacy, recognition, and self-worth. The module further examines legislation such as the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, courts and rehabilitation activity and treatment requirements in sentencing and the role of multi-agency professionals in probation, prison, and allied services.

This module aims to equip you with graduate attributes that enable you to work effectively when undertaking roles in the process of preventative and restorative rehabilitation, related to the criminal justice system such as jobs with prison and probation services, charities, and private providers of recognised treatment and activity programmes.

Compulsory

Choose one from the following three modules:

• Criminal Behaviour and its Contexts - 20 credits
  This module aims to explore the contribution psychology can make to our understanding of criminal behaviour across different contexts in society. It will look into how people explain why crime happens in various situations in society. Applying psychological theories, three types of crimes, which include violent, sexual and economic crimes, will be examined in specific contexts, which can include the family, workplace and sports. At an applied level, it will demonstrate the impact psychology has made in specific areas of the criminal process, for example, the development of treatment programmes, and the prevention of crimes related to the contexts examined.
• Addictive Behaviours - 20 credits
  This module aims to further your knowledge of key topic areas in the domain of psychopharmacology. It aims to develop your understanding of the interrelationship between drugs, psychology and behaviour, and draws on several areas of psychology (particularly cognitive and biological approaches) in developing models of, for example, addictive processes. Relevant findings from several branches of science, including psychophysics, psychopharmacology and molecular biology will be considered.
• Child and Educational Psychology - 20 credits
  This module aims to develop your knowledge of key theories and research that relate to the psychology of development, teaching and learning and the application of those theories to applied contexts. You will be introduced to areas of special educational needs experienced by children and adults and how these difficulties impact on their experience of school and growing up. Issues of assessment, labelling, intervention, and remediation will be examined.

Optional

Choose one from the following three modules:

• Clinical Neuroscience - 20 credits
  This module builds on the biological and cognitive approaches to Psychology introduced in your second year. It introduces contemporary and complex neural mechanisms of human behaviour in typical and clinical populations. The module seeks to develop your ability to critically evaluate published scientific reports of current research in Clinical Neuroscience, with a particular focus on criminal behaviour. The module aims to develop an appreciation of neurological mechanisms underlying human thinking and behaviour and the clinical pictures that arise when the mechanisms are disrupted. You will engage with emerging critical issues within Clinical Neuroscience and recognise a range of factors that influence human behaviour, particularly considering criminal behaviour. This will be encapsulated within the assessment, which requires you to present an in-depth understanding of a selected neuropsychological function and submit a written project demonstrating a firm command of classical Neuroscience concepts and how they relate to known clinical disorders and criminal behaviour.
• Counselling Psychology - 20 credits
  The module aims to introduce you to the broader concepts within Counselling Psychology and specifically you should gain an understanding of the key theoretical explanations and how to implement these in practice with diverse clients (e.g. cross-cultural counselling, sports performers, former athletes, victims and ex-offenders). This will be focused within three main approaches in Counselling Psychology: humanistic (person-centred), cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic and across different treatment modalities (e.g., individual, group, couples and/or family therapy). You will also have the opportunity to develop counselling skills by engaging in co-counselling skills sessions for each of the key approaches involving a variety of different group-based activities (e.g., scenario-based behavioural rehearsal, inter-personal strategies). You will engage in critical reflection on your experience of using counselling skills within your chosen approach.
• Aggression and Violent Behaviour - 20 credits
  This module will introduce key theoretical explanations of aggression and violence within different contexts (e.g., mental health hospitals; prisons; intimate relationships). You will integrate mainstream psychological theories across the core areas of psychology (i.e., developmental, social, biological, cognitive) to build an understanding of how aggression and violence can explain deviant/criminal behaviours and interpersonal conflict within different situations and professional relationships. There will be a focus on thinking critically, developing interventions, and analysing existing models/frameworks linked to different forms and explanations of aggression and violence. For example, Triggered Displaced Aggression may be explored within various contexts, drawing on the different perspectives. You will have the opportunity to critically evaluate contemporary literature across the domains of aggression and violence, with an applied focus.

Optional

This module aims to help you build and use the skills needed to thoroughly study a crime-related topic while also concentrating on a particular aspect of criminology. Throughout this module you will conduct independent learning, communicate effectively and appropriately retrieve, and use information from a variety of sources, and develop time management skills.

Compulsory