Why you should study this course
Our course has been designed by experienced teaching staff, qualified educationalists, former criminal justice practitioners, active researchers and experts in areas such as race, gender, media, sexuality and class. Student support is one of our top priorities and you’ll be joining a lively, welcoming and friendly community. Opportunities that come with this course include the following:
- Choice of optional modules allowing you to tailor your degree to suit your interests in Sociology and Criminology.
- We will encourage you to challenge some of the typical preconceptions about the nature of crime and disorder; about who commits crime, the harm it entails and how it is punished. In doing so, you should develop strong analytical abilities, enabling you to cast a perceptive and critical eye on the world and convey your ideas and views effectively.
- You will develop an appreciation and understanding of areas like social policy through a range of events and conferences, with academics, practitioners and policy makers. (Subject to availability, additional costs may apply). in the past, students have attended the British Sociological Association Annual Conference and the Coventry University ‘Sociology Speaking Seminar Series’ and engaged in debate about issues, policy and laws concerning areas such as social justice, media, immigration and current political affairs.
- You may also have the opportunity to participate in exciting field trips. Students have previously visited Berlin to explore Post War Germany Memorialisation, Sicily to examine Anti-Mafia Organisations, and Gothenburg to research migration, urban development, music and food culture.
What you'll study
If you have a curious, analytical mind and are interested in crime and its effects on individuals and society at large, this course engages you in challenging and often emotive debates about human behaviour and the societies we live in.
Underpinned by core sociological and criminological theories and research methods, our degree focuses on crime and criminal justice in a broad, social and global context, including its effect on individuals, families, communities and workplaces. We will draw on case studies from around the world, rather than exclusively from Britain, as social and political changes such as migration, employment, war and conflict have an impact on patterns in crime and social relations.
Year one
You will explore a range of key contemporary social issues, including: globalisation and development, race and ethnicity, media and culture, family and gender relations. In the Criminology component of the course, you will be introduced to concepts and issues in crime, control and punishment. This is to develop your understanding of the workings of criminal justice institutions such as the police, courts, prisons and probation.
Modules
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Understanding Society - 30 credits
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Race and Racism - 20 credits
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Gender and Society - 20 credits
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Crime and Criminality - 20 credits
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Policing and Criminal Justice - 20 credits
Year two
In the second year, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of social theory and undertake practical training in social research methods. You will explore the links between crime, inequality, marginality and power, with the option to study specialist modules of your choice.
Modules
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Tradition and Controversy in Social Theory - 20 credits
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Contemporary and Critical Issues in Crime and Justice - 20 credits
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Researching Social Life - 30 credits
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History of International Crime - 20 credits
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Sex, Sexuality, Power and Oppression - 20 credits
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Global Perspectives on Inequality - 20 credits
Final year
The final year of the programme provides a wide choice of optional modules so you can pick a specialism of your interest. You will also undertake one (or more depending on your modules) supervised research projects, applying the skills and techniques you acquired in your second year research training. In the past, students have explored issues such as media representations of deviancy, the racialisation of crime, and violence and gender.
Modules
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Punishment and Penology - 20 credits
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Portfolio Project - 10 credits
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Final Project in Sociology or Criminology - 40 credits
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Digital Worlds - 20 credits
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Youth, Politics and Society - 20 credits
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Study Trip - 20 credits
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Deviance and Desire - 20 credits
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Global Organised Crime
