Criminology and Sociology University of Aberdeen

Overview

At a Glance

Criminology is the study of crime, law, and criminal justice. On this programme, you will investigate questions including:

• How crime and criminality are defined and understood.

• How crime and punishment relate to a broad range of social and psychological factors.

• How key aspects of the legal system developed and are applied.

• How technological advances are affecting crime and its detection.

• How social arrangements contribute to social order and disorder.

• How key aspects of social relations and organisation have developed over time.

A diverse range of topics, including social interaction, the construction of self and social interaction, social inequalities, surveillance, face recognition and social control, biological and forensic psychology, policing and criminal justice, and a number of other related topics will be addressed in this exciting new programme.

The Criminology and Sociology programme of the University of Aberdeen is delivered by staff with expertise in criminology, law, psychology and sociology to provide you with a critically informed understanding of crime, including the causes of crime, the impact of crime and the effectiveness of crime prevention measures, including law, policing and prisons.

Our multidisciplinary approach provides you with a broad knowledge base and range of skills to inform your understanding of individuals, social relations and organisation, as well as the psychosocial conditions that contribute to disorder, instability and crime. You will also gain insight into the evolution and operation of the criminal justice system, including policing, prisons, probation and policy.

Finally, this programme also explores public, media and legal perspectives on crime and society, addressing the way in which these relate to different groups based on social class, age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, mental health and citizenship status.

Careers

As governments around the world face increasing constraints on public spending, understanding crime and other social problems is a key concern for policy makers and stakeholders. This degree will develop the key critical thinking, analytical and research skills for a career in social and public policy fields in all sectors (public, voluntary, and private), as well as more specifically within criminal justice organisations.

Criminology is also a pathway to careers including:

• Civil Servant

• Community Development Officer

• Paralegal

• Police Officer

• Policy Advisor / Researcher

• Prison Officer

• Probation Officer

• Social Worker / Youth Worker