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Criminology & Criminal Justice FdA

Criminology & Criminal Justice FdA

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Key Information

Start date:September

Institutional code: O10

UCAS code:LL31

Duration:2 years full time / 3 years part time

Course type:Full Time / Part Time

Fees per year full time:£7500 Full-time/ £5000 Part-time

Additional costs per year:Trips may incur some cost

Delivery Method:Face-to-face via Lectures, Seminars and Tutorials

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FdA Criminology and Criminal Justice validated by University of Central Lancashire

Course Regulations
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Criminology is the study of crime. Here at UCO we give you the tools to understand what constitutes crime and offer ways of addressing crime in our society.

Studying the FdA in criminology and criminal justice is a great way to start a journey towards employment in the criminal justice system, social work or relevant charitable organisations. It will enable you to develop your critical, analytical and interpretive skills in order to forge a deeper criminological understanding of the world around you. This course can be followed by the all-new FdA to new modules designed around more contemporary criminological concepts including Comparative Criminology and Zemiology, as well as undertaking and developing a dissertation project of your choosing.

Studying this course, you will gain knowledge and understanding of a complex range of sociological, psychological and biological perspectives which influence people to commit crime. Critically analyse and challenge these perspectives in order to better understand the influences and harms within society.

Course Content - Year 1

Mandatory Modules

Beyond Crime and Criminology (20 Credits)
This module begins by exploring the realities of crime in our society, looking at how crime is defined, measured and represented. We then move on to explore alternative conceptions of ‘crime’ through the social harm approach, investigating how the idea of ‘social harm’, affects our perceptions of crime, the criminal, and criminalisation and with what effect.

Skills, Research, and Employability (20 Credits)
This module supports students to develop a range of transferrable skills which will underpin future research and assessments, alongside facilitating independent learning and reflective practice.

History of Criminal Justice (20 Credits)
This module outlines the history of punishment and criminal justice in the UK and shows how systems of criminal justice are, and have been, influenced by the social, political, religious, cultural, and theoretical trends and themes. Within this module we explore the importance of these contexts to the development of criminal justice and acknowledge that such development cannot be understood outside that context.

Crime and Morality (20 Credits)
This module is designed to introduce students to the wider and often controversial issues in criminology alongside exploration of the theoretical context in which enquiry about crime is located. The module examines a number of political, moral and legal concepts such as obligation to obey the law, disobedience, criminalisation, policing, human rights and justifications of punishment.

Key Approaches in Criminology (20 Credits)
The module is designed to stimulate, challenge and provoke thought and debate and to introduce students to the key theorists and ideas within criminology, so they can engage critically with the framework ideas, theories and practices that inform their respective approaches.

Criminal Justice in Action (20 Credits)
This module introduces the major stages, processes, procedures and personnel comprising the Criminal Justice system in England and Wales. The module includes guest lectures from practioners within the CJS and a visit to the Crown Court.

Course Content - Year 2

Mandatory Modules

Research Methods and Theory 1 (20 Credits)
This module supports student’s development and understanding of methodological topics and theories within criminology. Students will learn how to utilise this to inform a historical understanding of the development of criminology as a colonial enterprise, and current debates around decolonising research at universities.

Research Methods and Theory 2 (20 Credits)
This module will develop and extend students understanding of current debates in theory and research. This module will also support the application of strategies and decisions in relation to research practice and planning.

Understanding Policing and Security (20 Credits)
Students will explore developments in policing history and security. Explanations and frameworks will be critically applied to current issues in policing and security.

Youth Justice (20 Credits)
Students will explore critical explanations of how the state responds to young people breaking, or at risk of breaking, the law or acting in an anti-social way.
Punishment and the Penal System (20 Credits)
This module aims to introduce students to key issues and debates relating to the justification and use of punishment following conviction for a criminal offence.

Optional Modules

Violence Against Women and Girls (20 Credits)
A critical and expansive exploration into domestic and international policy, and theoretical debates, relating to oppressive practices, and ‘violence against women and girls’ (VAWG).

Drugs, Crime and Society (20 Credits)
This module explores the use of recreational drugs within an historical context to reflect on the construction of the distinction legal/illegal drugs use. There will also be evaluation of the effectiveness of policies designed to control drug use from a comparative perspective.

Work Placement (20 Credits)
A chance to develop informed insights into career progression and translate this knowledge into practice, whilst increasing understanding of how policy is operationalised in workplace settings.

*depending on the number of students it is not always possible to deliver all the optional modules

Placements and Work Experience

The course will include trips, 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.

What careers can the course lead to?

Graduates may wish to progress to the BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice -Top up.

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.

Teaching and Assessment methods

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 including essays, examinations, presentations, reports, reflections, research projects.

Facilities particular to the course

The course is delivered at the UCO campus and benefits from small class sizes. Students will have access to the mock court room at UCLAN.

Entry Requirements

Applicants interested in applying to the FdA Criminology and Criminal Justice must have:

80 UCAS points.

BTEC National Diploma at pass level in an appropriate subject. Non-standard applications, industry professional qualifications, relevant work or life experience and who can demonstrate the ability to cope with and benefit from degree-level studies are considered on an individual basis and applicants may be interviewed.

Students where English is not the first language need to demonstrate their ability in the English language through obtaining an IELTS score of 6.0 or above or equivalent.

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