First year:
You’ll explore core areas of modern psychology and how they can be applied to everyday life. On the criminology side, we will look at the criminal justice system and cover key issues around policing, interviewing and the courtroom.
You will begin to hone your skills as a researcher, learning how to decide on research questions and hypotheses, plan your study, use software to collect and analyse data, and write up your findings in an academic report. Research skills are an important part of working as a psychologist.
You’ll also look at personal development for your future career.
Second year:
You’ll use victimological theory to understand why some people are more likely to become victims of crime. We also explore major psychological contributions towards understanding crime and criminal behaviour.
You can choose from a range of optional modules to suit your interests and career aspirations. These include the opportunity to undertake a research assistantship.
If you study offender management, some of the sessions will be delivered by actual prison staff. You can also practise your skills using role plays in our mock custody suite and cell. Other module topics range from why people behave badly through to understanding the causes of terrorism and different types of organised crime.
Third year:
You will complete an in-depth project, which answers a research question of your choice. You’ll also look at career planning, including developing your CV.
We explore the politics of punishment and the wider role of prison in the criminal system. It will include analysis of issues such as offender rights and civil liberties.
You can choose from a range of optional modules too, covering topics such as child safeguarding, behavioural medicine, cybercrime, and the psychology of oppression. You can also explore community justice, including how probation works, the use of new technology, and how community sentences are playing a role in tackling reoffending.