BSc (Hons) Sociology and Criminology
- UCAS code: LM39
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 3 years
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points from 3 A levels or equivalent.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8299
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Course overview
Criminology is a subject that links very well with Sociology - the problem of crime and its costs to society being very much an issue of our times. The course begins with core studies in each area before developing more specialised aspects of both.
The sociology strand focuses on classical and more recent social theories as well as concepts like social inequality and change, research design and analysis. Options vary from year to year but include, urban sociology, food and society, animals, work and employment, war and violence, risk society and consumer society.
The criminology strand embraces criminology and criminal justice, with the chance to look at more specific topics such as penology, policing and the politics of criminal justice, crime profiles, victims, criminal investigations, dangerous offenders, prisons, police, and crime and the media.
Placements
This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work / research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies. The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.
Course content
This honours degree course in Sociology and Criminology is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the theory and methodology of the disciplines and its application to the analysis of social phenomena. The course facilitates the development of both students' independent study and collaborative work. It offers students the chance to make real choices in the balance of their studies through the option programme and the dissertation.
This joint honours degree incorporates at each year of study an equal balance of compulsory course units from the two subject areas. Beyond Year 1 there is a choice of options from a wide range of course units. There is a dissertation in the final year.
Year 1
This year is a foundation year, in which you’ll follow a core programme of study focused on introductory units in both fields of study, for example units on theories of social life and society as well as criminology and criminal justice. Units on research design and analysis will also be taken at this stage.
Additionally, an important element of the year for all students is the development of study and employability skills. These will help you get the most you can from your time with us and fulfil your academic potential. Students meet in small groups throughout the year with their personal/seminar tutor who will ensure that they acquire the basic study skills to succeed at University. If they do not have them already, students acquire IT skills and practice note-taking, essay writing, presentation and group work skills as well as beginning to develop transferable skills
Year 2
During this year, you’ll continue to study an equal combination of core units from each academic field. There is a wide choice of options from which students choose including deviance and social problems, urban sociology and emotions and social lifeand the opportunity to study a foreign language
Students also begin to plan an appropriate topic for their dissertation and acquire the necessary research skills.
Study abroad
It is possible to take part in an exchange programme during stage 2 at Moorhead State University in the USA.
Year 3
As a final year student, you’ll spend much of your study time working on your dissertation. This is a major piece of individual work where you have the opportunity to examine in detail part of the course that has interested you most. You will also be able to choose optional units from both sociology and criminology including for example sociology of culture, food culture and society, violence and war, animals and society and young people state and society and critical issues in criminology.
Teaching and assessment
Our teaching approach involves lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. Students will be expected to participate fully in group discussions and group projects. They will also have hands on experience in Computing.
The learning experience for undergraduates is different from pre-degree study and we address this issue by teaching the skills necessary for degree level work through study skills tutorials in Year One . Tutorial support continues in Years Two and Three focusing on further developing study skills careers and employability and the production of a dissertation.
A wide range of assessment methods are employed, including seminar participation, essays, in-class tests, projects (both individual and group), academic poster presentations, examinations and a 10,000 word dissertation. The final degree award is determined by the overall performance of students in units in Years 2 and 3.
Career prospects
Throughout the Sociology and Criminology degree the student develops key transferable skills that can enhance employability. Graduates from this degree programme pursue careers in a wide variety of professions including: teaching and lecturing; advertising and marketing; the media; banking and financial services; local government; business administration; personnel management, criminal justice, education, social services, human resources and social research.
The course provides a sound academic basis for careers in commerce, industry and the service sector. Honours degrees also enable students to undertake postgraduate research or to complete specialised professional training. Sociology and Criminology students have the opportunity to develop both various skills relevant for future employment and also transferable social and life skills.
Facilities and features
Over the last four years, the University has invested substantially in its teaching facilities. Our teaching rooms at Milldam are equipped with multimedia and audio-visual facilities. In addition, we provide quiet rooms, a dedicated IT teaching room and IT facilities.
The School has a large archive of documentary films in its multimedia resources area and the University library is currently undergoing significant investment and expansion to further enhance the range of resources available to you there.