If you were to be totally honest with yourself, you’d probably have to admit that you’re checking this degree option out because of television shows such as CSI, Dexter, Criminal Minds, Bones, The Mentalist and what have you - intriguing serials that have left you with a fascination for crime and justice and the seemingly glamorous intrigue that a job in criminology would present.

That’s where the record (nope, not of the police kind) has to be set straight. Criminology is a more complex, rigorous and sometimes tedious a field to have a job in than what you see on the telly, and a degree programme in Criminology reflects that very nature of the discipline.

So let’s get right down to analysing the academic profile of criminology.

A subset of the social sciences, Criminology is basically the scientific study of criminal behaviour - the causes, nature, degree and control of it - and a degree programme in Criminology will help to familiarise undergraduates with criminal justice systems and society.

Expect to examine subjects ranging from political science, public policy and legal administration to victimology, behavioural and forensic analysis and criminal rehabilitation.

Additionally, it is crucial for undergraduates to develop and hone their ability to analyse information, think independently and be able to sift through and interpret large quantities of data.

Job-wise, there are a few typical options to choose from, namely criminal behaviourist/profiler, forensic lab researcher (which might require specialisation or a Masters degree), crime scene analyst, criminal probation and rehabilitation officer and positions in law enforcement.

If you’re still interested in the programme and prospects, do the field of Criminology justice by pursuing a degree in it.

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