Criminology (including a Foundation Year)

UCAS code: M904

Here's what University of Chester says about its Criminology (including a Foundation Year) course.

Criminology at Chester prepares you for a career in one of the largest growing areas of employment as you explore the relationship between society, the individual, crime, harm, punishment, victimisation, rights, and justice.

We explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. On this dynamic and diverse transdisciplinary course, you will gain an understanding of a range of Psychological and Sociological perspectives on society's current key challenges, such as social inequality, and crime, harm and justice case studies that occur nationally and internationally.

Through our wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise, and in ensuring a rich interdisciplinary approach, we work to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. You can tailor your study to reflect your interests and develop areas of specialism. We encourage you to engage in independent learning and thought, and we equip you with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analyse an array of materials such as expert-led research, public and voluntary sector reports, personal testimonies, and documentaries.

Tutors are experienced and dedicated researchers and educators with sector experience and developed links with criminal justice agencies including youth justice service and local constabularies, local authorities and community and voluntary sector groups, ensuring that your learning is underpinned by real world knowledge and experience. Our knowledge, experience and networks ensure that your learning is underpinned by real-world developments and links with agencies provide opportunities for you to experience guest lectures by experts, and gain specialist placements and voluntary experience.

This course promotes the strengths and best interests of students to prepare you to enter into the real world of criminology and criminal justice. This course develops socially aware students who learn criminology from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. You will explore theoretical and practical understandings of crime, harm and victimisation applying knowledge and building understanding of the criminal justice system and journey. There is a clear social justice focus throughout which critically reviews media landscapes and their impacts to society. We critically reflect upon marginalised communities including how stereotypes and representations can lead to disproportionately that exists within criminal justice settings. There is an exploration of experiences of punishments and injustices which are considered in a context of promoting social change. You will develop an active voice as a reflective academic and researcher with cultural awareness and sensitivity in responding to real world problems relevant to criminology and criminal justice. By the end of their course, they can articulate their varying attributes relevant to a range of employment roles and opportunities.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term you will study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered through a mix of in person and online learning. You can expect to take part in lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars.

You should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. Teaching will be delivered by experience academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so you are exposed to the different types of tasks that you might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of essays (long and short form), portfolios and presentations. Assessment support is provided throughout the modules. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.