Criminology, BSc (Hons)

This criminology course delves into the reasons behind criminal behavior and the workings of the criminal justice system, emphasizing practical applications to drive change. As a pioneering program, it offers immersive experiences like virtual reality crime scenes and suspect interviews, alongside hands-on opportunities with agencies such as Devon and Cornwall Police. Innovative teaching incorporates AI, VR, and forensic techniques, while research-led modules foster critical skills for addressing contemporary issues like online scams and rehabilitation.The curriculum begins with foundational theories of crime and justice in the first year, progressing in the second to global perspectives and research methods. An optional placement year provides real-world experience, and the final year focuses on a dissertation and emerging topics such as green criminology and state crime. The course does not award qualified teacher status, and assessment details are available via the institution's website.

In your first year you’ll explore various criminological perspectives examining theories on the causes of crime and deviance. You will develop an understanding of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and examine crime in the context of economic, political and social frameworks. You’ll look at policy and practice to develop your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the criminal justice processes, gaining a grounding in criminal justice research. You’ll explore how key concepts and theories shed light on topics including poverty and social exclusion, community, media, education, globalisation, and consumer culture and their relationship to crime, deviance and criminal justice. In your second year you’ll advance your awareness of criminological theory to enhance your analytical skills to understand contemporary and global issues connected to harm, crime, justice and the social world. You’ll also extend your critical reasoning skills as you examine processes of social change and explore consumer culture, ethnicity, globalisation, politics and the State, within a historical and contemporary perspective. Your training in research methods will provide you with an insight into research preparing you early for your final year dissertation project. You will also have the opportunity to apply for place on the 'Inside Knowledge' module that partners students with learners at Exeter prison in a rewarding environment of collaborative learning. Gain valuable on-the-job experience through our optional placement year. We will support you in your second year in deciding whether to take this opportunity, and assist you in finding a placement and being prepared for it. The placement could be in any appropriate external setting. Alternatively, you can gain this experience by selecting our Work-Based Learning module in your final year. In your final year, you’ll design and implement your own research project to produce your dissertation, working independently with the support of a member of the academic team. You will also study modules that reflect new, emerging trends in criminology that utilise current local, national and world issues. This includes green criminology, leisure and deviancy, violence and harm, justice in practice, social change and global issues such as state crime, war and terrorism. The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website