Start date:September
Institutional code:O10
UCAS code:LL33
Duration:1 year
Course type: Full Time
Fees per year:£7500/ Part time - please contact HE Admissions Team
Additional costs per year:Trips may incur some cost
Delivery Method:Face-to-face via Lectures, Seminars and Tutorials
BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice validated by University of Central Lancashire
Recently completed an FdA or equivalent in criminology or uniformed public services? Are you looking to take your learning to the next step?
Students on the FdA progress to the BA (hons) top up in criminology and criminal justice. Focus here is on application of critically informed knowledge and understanding: alongside helping students to find their role and purpose within the criminological world.
Modules at the cutting edge of criminology: alongside your chosen dissertation project, you will also study 2 core modules; diversity crime and justice and crimes of the powerful. You will be able to select 2 optional modules* from; crime at the movies, human trafficking, new perspectives in cybercrime, gender, crime and justice and prison and society.
*depending on the number of students it is not always possible to deliver all the optional modules
At the end of the course, if successful, you will achieve a BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice Top Up, awarded by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Compulsory module
Dissertation (40 credits): The dissertation will provide an opportunity for students to undertake independent study in an area of their choice relating to criminology and criminal justice. Detailed guidance will be provided by your allocated dissertation supervisor
Optional Modules
Sex, violence and Strategies (20 credit): The module explores a variety of legislative and non-legislative approaches to violence against women in contemporary discourses. A thorough analysis of recent and planned government policy initiatives in the violence against women field is undertaken alongside engaging with existing feminist critiques. The module is taught from a variety of critical perspectives underpinned most consistently by critical race feminism.
Crime and New Technologies (20 credit): In the early part of the module, students will examine cybercrime in addition to the global phenomenon of serious organised crime and terrorism. As the module progresses, students examine crime, criminal behaviour and the new genetics, and in particular, the impact of the Human Genome Project and theoretical links between the biological and social sciences. In the latter part of the module, students examine biosocial explanations for crime and criminal behaviour and post-postmodern attempts to conceptualise crime in relation to the ‘new’ technologies.
Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery (20 credit): The indicative module content divides into three distinct parts with interconnecting elements:
Part 1: Understanding the historical, legal and theoretical framework.
Part 2: Human exploitation in context.
Part 3: Unauthorised and Unwanted: addresses the role played by the war on human trafficking/smuggling in the exclusion and criminalisation of unauthorised migrants.
Crime at the Movies (20 credit): The module provides an in-depth investigation into the portrayal of crime in mainstream Hollywood cinema. It provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake theoretically informed critical appraisals of mainstream cinematic representations of crime and criminality.
Humanity, Values and the Environment (20 Credit): This module covers a range of central ethical concepts and distinctions that are at play in the study of environmental ethics; economic decision making methods and their limitations; the main approaches to animal ethics; the main approaches to life based ethics; the main approaches to ecological integrity (or holistic) ethics; deep ecology; ecofeminisim and corporate and governmental responses to and responsibility for environmental change.
Diversity, Crime and Justice (20 Credit): The indicative module content divides into 3 distinct parts with interconnecting elements.
Part 1: Conceptualising diference and diversity.
Part 2: Diverse identities, experiences and [in]justice in context.
Part 3: Diversity and Reimaging Justice for all.
*Please note it may not be possible to offer the full range of options every year. UCO will try to ensure that students are able to undertake their preferred option.
The course will include trips and employer engagement and guest lectures, voluntary work will be encouraged and voluntary opportunities provided with the likes of the probation service, rehabilitation charities, victim support organisations and positive steps.
Graduates can pursue careers in areas such as the police, the probation service, prisons and branches of the Home Office such as the Border Agency and the Criminal Justice Social Work. Students might also consider community development work, youth offending teams, educational institutions and adult guidance work with ex-offenders. Paid employment in the voluntary sector is an increasingly important area with positions in victim support and women’s refuges etc.
Past students have gone on to postgraduate study as well careers in probation, border agency, the police, transport police and within the criminal justice system.
The course is delivered using a range of contemporary methods including traditional lectures, interactive lectures, workshops, seminars, debates, virtual learning and self-directed study.
The course is assessed using a range of methods; Essays, examinations, presentations, reflections and an 8,000 word dissertation.
The course is delivered at the UCO campus, benefits from small class sizes. Students will have access to the mock court room at UCLan. Students will also have access to the UCO research hub in the academic success centre that which has all the equipment and space needed to undertake their dissertation research.
Applicants interested in applying to the BA (Hons) criminology and criminal justice must have competed the appropriate or equivalent course
Foundation Degree or
Diploma in Higher Education or a
Higher National Diploma at pass level in an appropriate subject Non-standard applications, industry professional qualifications, relevant work or life experience and who can demonstrable the ability to cope with and benefit from degree-level studies are considered on an individual basis and applicants may be interviewed.