The course encompasses the national curriculum for professional policing developed by the College of Policing.
You explore evidence-based policing; decision making and discretion; criminology and crime prevention; pro-active approaches to vulnerability, risk and public protection, and digital policing.
Course structure
Foundation year core modules
Academic Study Skills Toolkit
This module will assist you in developing the personal and academic skills that you will need for undergraduate study. It focusses on developing skills such as information retrieval, evaluation, critical thinking, note taking, presentation skills and group work.
Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences
This module will introduce you to the historical and contemporary development of social science disciplines and will provide examples of theoretical challenges and the ways in which research is applied in society. You will gain an understanding of the critical differences between disciplines and how interdisciplinary research is fostered through collaboration. You will also be introduced to academic standards, ethical guidelines and research protocols, personal development planning and to a range of study and transferable skills relevant to your degree course and beyond.
Fake News: Propaganda and Polemics, Past and Present
This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your skills in thinking critically about the information and analysis presented in an array of media in today’s digital world, drawing on the methodologies of a range of disciplines within the social sciences, humanities and law. You will explore examples of the debates over fake news in both the past and present, and look at how fake news can be used to both support and undermine the status quo, enabling you in the process to become more savvy and engaged citizens.
Historical and Popular Crime, Justice, Law and Psychology
This module introduces you to the history of crime and justice, using media representations and crime fiction as a way of exploring crime over time, including aspects such as changes in society, law and education in this context.
Project
This module allows students to identify an area of interest related to their undergraduate degree and to explore this through a small scale research project where students will be required to produce an analysis of an area of focus.
Teesside: History, Literature, Culture, and Society
This module provides you with an opportunity to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the Teesside region. You will learn about Teesside’s history, culture and society through the examination of various topics which will give you a deeper understanding of the region, both past and present.
Year 1 core modules
Foundations of Law
This module is the foundation of the programme. It introduces the English legal system and equips you with the methods and skills you need to study law at undergraduate level. You cover legal research and writing - essential skills for success throughout the degree. You also develop your key skills and begin to critically reflect on your own performance. In this module you are introduced to the University’s replica courtroom where you begin to develop law-specific and general presentation skills.
Introduction to Digital Investigation
You explore digital data, devices in modern society, and digital investigation principles and guidelines.
Introduction to Professional Policing
This module examines collaborative partnership working and a range of contemporary issues in policing. In addition you will be introduced to a range of underpinning legal and practical occupational skills.
Policing and the Community
Explores the role of the police within the community and the diverse nature of community issues, and partnership working.
Thinking about Crime
Introduces criminology and criminological theory, including crime trends, causes of crime and responses to crime.
Understanding the Policing Environment
Examines the historical development of policing developing understanding of specialist units and external organisations and agencies.
Year 2 core modules
Counter-Terrorism in Context
Explores the use of the roads network for criminal activities, using counter-terrorism as a framework for exploration. Includes the principles of joint-agency working in terms of major incidents.
Investigation in Practice
Explores the investigation of an offence, the gathering of other forms of evidence and develops knowledge of victim and witness care and support. Introduces use of the PEACE interviewing process in relation to victims of crime.
Law and Procedure
In this module you are provided with an opportunity to develop a critical knowledge and understanding of the nature and purpose of the criminal law, the basic elements of a crime, and a variety of specific criminal offences and defences. You will also develop a detailed and critical understanding of the rules and regulations which impact on the modern investigation of crime, with a particular focus on human rights.
Physical Evidence and Investigation
Provides understanding of the role of the investigator arriving at a scene of crime and how to locate, record, recover and assess the value of evidence to an investigation.
Professional Policing in Practice
On this module you further develop understanding of vulnerability and victimisation and fair use of police powers, and intelligence-gathering.
Research Skills for Police Practitioners
Prepares you for the final year research project by introducing research methodologies, in particular, evidence-based policing.
Final-year core modules
Defendants and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System
This module focuses on the law concerned with the obtaining and admissibility of evidence at trial. It challenges you to explore the relevance of evidence in the investigatory process and during the criminal trial. Whilst the module is suited for those who wish to continue their studies and join various legal or investigative professions, it is an academic module and examines the law of evidence from an academic viewpoint.
Ethics, Integrity and Contemporary Issues
Expands knowledge of ethical issues, use of integrity, investigation and record-making.
From Report to Court
Consolidates learning gained across the course and gives opportunity to demonstrate understanding.
Policing Research Project
Enables the demonstration of research skills, group working, leadership skills, and presentation skills, within a group research project based on the principles of evidence-based policing.
Themes in Professional Policing
Examines motivation for offending, analysis of vulnerability, legislation and public protection together with other specialist areas
