Applied Criminology Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

You will explore the true nature, extent and causes of crime, along with the methods used to manage crime and criminal behaviour. The experienced teaching staff will take you through key criminological theories, applying them to your understanding of crime, the experiences of offenders and victims in the criminal justice system, and the ways in which society constructs crime problems and responds to criminal behaviour.

The varied expertise of the teaching staff allows you to explore these themes from a range of perspectives. You will also be supported by a range of criminal justice professionals and agencies, who teach on the course and provide volunteering and networking opportunities to help prepare you for your career.

What you'll study

The Applied Criminology degree from Canterbury Christ Church University provides a thorough grounding in core criminological themes, concepts, debates and perspectives through a range of compulsory modules and applies these theories to a range of crime problems, allowing you to see their relation to real life problems or scenarios. 

A range of optional modules are then offered in specialised topics related to criminology, such as mental health, media, prisons, policing and transnational and organised crime, allowing you to specialise in specific areas of interest. Sessions that focus on study skills and employability are also included as a core part of the programme, to ensure your success in study and gaining a career after graduation.

Criminology works well studied in combination with other degree programmes, as it is a rendezvous subject in which ideas from a range of disciplines are applied to the problem of crime. Students can combine Applied Criminology with a number of other subjects, including Psychology, Sociology or Business Management. Students who combine with another subject study will study 60 credits in both subjects in the 1st year and then in the 2nd and 3rd year can choose to keep this split or study 80 credits in one subject and 40 in the other to gain more flexibility. Combined Honours students will complete all core Criminology modules.

Where possible, trips or visits are offered to provide additional insight into the workings of the justice system and you will be guided in attaining relevant volunteering activities and part time work within the university and externally to improve your employability, including in prisons, the probation service, the police, victim support, and in a variety of charities. Employability is also enhanced through exposure to guest lecturers, who are experts and professionals in the field who contribute to the applied nature of the course and offer advice in gaining employment.

Your future career

Through this course, you'll have the opportunity to gain the core knowledge and skills required for many criminal justice careers, and transferable to other related careers. Graduates of the course typically secure posts within the police, the prison service, the probation service, youth work, private companies working in security, and third sector organisations working in crime control and victim support.

Further postgraduate study is also an option and you'll be encouraged to make the most of the volunteering and networking opportunities available throughout your course in order to enhance your employability.