Bachelor of Criminology

Description of the Programme

Criminology is the scientific and interdisciplinary field in the social and behavioural sciences that deals with the study of crime, deviance, social control and the legal system. Without criminology, law enforcement would be a blunt instrument, delivered without a true understanding of the motives behind crime, and therefore how to counter it. It tackles both the causes and the effects of crime. The programme focuses on criminology subjects relating to victims, offenders and agents of control, crime prevention, multidisciplinary understandings of crime, safe communities, probation and parole, security, human rights and community justice. The programme is strongly cross-disciplinary and combines knowledge from other disciplines like sociology, policing, law, anthropology, psychology and social policy to give students access to information and knowledge about contemporary criminological theory. Contemporary criminologists investigate a wide range of topics including policing, conflict, justice, security, deviance, drugs and violence. Key issues of concern include how crime is defined, the nature of crime, how society responds to criminal behaviour and why crimes are committed. Students pursuing this degree programme become highly trained in critical thinking, social research methods and learn how to examine crime and its regulation within the context of political, social and economic shifts in contemporary society. Some of the courses covered include Introduction to Criminology; Theories of Crime; Criminal Law; Law Enforcement; Principles of Criminal investigations; Social policy and administration; Courtroom psychology; Criminal Justice System; Security Management; Criminal procedure; Psychology of criminal behavior; Criminology and Penology. Students will learn how to apply social-scientific models of criminology to issues of crime; social control; policing; law; the operation of policing, legal and policy-making institutions; as well as the historical, contemporary and future developments in criminology.

Minimum Entry Requirements

ENG/KIS

MAT or Best in Group II