About this course
Combined degrees provide an opportunity to study two subjects as part of the same course and develop your interests in multiple areas. You’ll also enhance your employability and career options by gaining a wide variety of skills and expertise.
On this combined degree, you'll study 50% Criminology and 50% Sociology.
See the Single Honours course page for each subject for more information on course content. Please note, the exact module choice available to you may differ from the Single Honours course.
Criminology
During your second year, you will study understanding crime, justice and punishment to provide you with a broader and deeper coverage of criminological perspectives and criminal justice controversies.
You can then choose 30 credits from the following options: punishment, penalty and prisons; policing; crime and social control; crime, deviance and culture; domestic and international drug policy; understanding non-profit organisations and social exclusion. If you wish to study a dissertation in year three, you can opt to take research methods modules in preparation.
By year three, you will be able to study from a range of areas that include: crimes of the powerful; community and public involvement in crime and criminal justice; the risk society; criminal victimisation; youth crime, youth justice and social control. In year three you may wish to study for your dissertation if you have completed the research methods modules. Alternatively, you can take the applied social research module and carry out a piece of research commissioned by a local agency. This offers both a great opportunity for you to study in the ‘real world’ as well as an experience that will appeal to prospective employers.
See the full Criminology course page.
Sociology
Studying Sociology as 50% of your degree gives you a thorough understanding of the way in which society works. Core modules in year one provide you with a firm foundation for future study.
Sociological theory embraces the classic work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim and a range of 20th century social theorists. A further 30 credits are available within Sociology and you may choose from the following modules. Social change and social policy investigates contemporary controversies around issues such as the family, social class, gender and ‘race’. Studying society looks at the basics of social scientific work, including research methods, and an introduction to IT – ensuring you are fully conversant with utilising online resources. Both introduction to crime and society, and controlling crime explore key concepts in the criminology and criminal justice process.
Year two compulsory modules include thinking sociologically: approaches to social inquiry, and social research methods.
In year three, you will have the choice to study specialist subjects in-depth and develop your independent learning. You may opt for a dissertation and pursue a topic of your choice.
Alternatively, you can gain valuable employability skills and opt for our Applied social research module or Social policy project and combine work experience with your studies, by carrying out a piece of research commissioned by a local agency.
See the full Sociology course page.