Criminology with Environmental JusticeBSc Hons

'Green' crimes – such as environmental pollution, deforestation, wildlife crime and the trade in endangered species – have a significant negative impact on our natural world. On this BSc (Hons) Criminology with Environmental Justice degree, you'll prepare to join the fight for environmental protection, social justice, ethical responsibility and climate action.

You'll discover how the dynamics between perpetrators (such as global corporations) and victims (such as small communities) shape environmental justice. You'll also develop an extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system and a strong technical and legal understanding of contemporary green crime. Learn to analyse the causes of environmental harms so you can help develop and apply legal frameworks that protect the planet. 

Graduate with the skills, knowledge and experience for a career in environmental protection in areas such as conservation, environmental harm research, policy and law enforcement.

Ideal skills and qualities for this course

To get the most out of this course, you should be:

• An effective oral and written communicator
• Able to critically engage with criminological issues, such as environmental crime and matters impacting environmental justice
• Able to develop a global perspective that acknowledges the impact and response differences between the Global North and Global South
• Mindful of human and animal rights

Ecological crime has become the fourth largest criminal activity in the world. It's on the rise in Africa, Asia and Latin America, threatening local biospheres and human health. In 2016 the cost of green crime was estimated at £190 billion – a 26% increase in two years (UN Environmental Programme, 2018). 

The UN is helping international communities devise preventative legal frameworks to tackle these crimes and UNESCO is proposing many 'green' programmes and initiatives. This means environmental justice graduates are becoming more in demand in societies the world over – opening up novel, exciting career opportunities when you complete this course.

What areas can you work in with a criminology and environmental justice degree?

You could work for many organisations and agencies, including:

• Law enforcement and investigation
• Inter-governmental organisations (IGOs)
• National and international environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Government environmental agencies
• Local authority environmental health departments
• Environmental advocacy/policy
• Environmental protection research/monitoring

Graduate schemes in the criminal justice sector

If you want a more advanced role in the criminal justice sector, you can consider the following graduate schemes:

• PoliceNow
• Countryside Ranger
• Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme

After the course you could also continue your studies to a PhD or other postgraduate qualification, following in the footsteps of your lecturers.

Placement year or study abroad

After your second year, you can do an optional placement year or study year abroad to develop valuable lasting experience in the field. There are many conservation-related internship and volunteer programmes to choose from, with some allowing you to gain extra certified skills, including diving.

In the UK, you can find opportunities with organisations including:

• Greenpeace UK Internships 
• National Geographic Society Summer Internships 
• RSPCA Volunteerships
• Royal Parks Volunteer Ranger Scheme
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• Zoological Society of London

Outside the UK, you may find a place in schemes such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Internships.

You'll be guided throughout your placement year by course staff and placement advisors within the University's Global team or Faculty Placement and Internship Centre.

Internships and work experience

To give you the best chance of getting your ideal job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you identify relevant placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and build your portfolio.

Our Placements and Internship Centre (PIC) in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences can help you find further placement and internship positions and guide you through applying for them. 

If you want to work in law enforcement, you can do a three-week online course by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) centred on combating environmental crime using cross-border cooperation and financial investigative techniques.

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed.  This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Group discussions
• Workshops

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a web connection.

Your teaching staff

You'll be taught by experienced lecturers with expertise and specialisms in areas including: 

• Environmental crimes and harms
• Environmental justice and wildlife crime
• International law
• Research methods
• Policy development

Listen to Dr Nick Pamment, coordinator of the Wildlife Crime: Threats and Responses module, Jac Reed and Dr Paul Smith discussing how applying traditional forensics to wildlife crimes could help tackle poaching and trafficking for some of the world’s most endangered species.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

• Essays
• Reports
• Presentations
• Group projects and portfolios
• Seminar participation and engagement
• Dissertation

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before doing assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can also get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars and workshops for about 10 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Tuition fees (2023 start)

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU residents – £9,250 (including Transition Scholarship)
• International students – £17,200 (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.