Criminology

HOW DO WE DECIDE WHAT BEHAVIOUR IS CRIMINAL?

Are you interested in what different types of crime take place in our society and what kinds of crime exist? What are the roles of personnel involved when a crime is detected? Want a career in the police force, legal profession or forensic sciences? Perhaps you are interested to know more about the new exciting subject of Criminology? This course explores contemporary theoretical and policy debates on domestic violence as a social problem and crime. It will enable learners to demonstrate a depth of knowledge of the criminal justice sector that shows thorough understanding of criminal behaviour and the functions of the criminal justice sector including forensic sciences, Police and other personnel.

This is a growing subject nationally and the first Criminology course offered at Level 3. It covers an exciting range of topics, covering the Changing Awareness of Crime, Criminological Theories, Crime Scene to Courtroom and Crime and Punishment. The qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the Criminal Justice System, Law or police force eg. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service.

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs Grades 4 – 9. Preferably including English Language Grade 5 or above.

What students will learn:

Students will examine the nature of different types of crime and problems concerning its measurement and distribution. This course examines some of the popular images of crime in the media and elsewhere, the creation and utility of official and unofficial crime statistics, and theories about the causes of crime. The course provides an analysis of different criminological perspectives and is an introduction to methodological issues in criminology. The emphasis is on critical evaluation and application of the basic instruments of inquiry. As you progress through the course the focus develops towards criminological theory from 1930 to the present. The course is historical in nature and addresses such fundamental problems as why certain behaviour is defined as criminal, the causes of crime, and the consequences for the individual of being labelled as a criminal.