BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology Bachelor's degree at Keele University

How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to make sense of the social divisions and inequalities that persist across time and are reproduced in different cultures and societies? This module introduces the theoretical foundations of sociological thinking, tracing its origins as a 'science of society' to its contemporary applications in understanding inequality. You will learn to recognise how classical theories illuminate social divisions around race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability,

This module aims to lay the foundations for your criminological studies and to ignite your 'criminological imagination'. The module introduces you to criminology as a subject, to where our understanding of 'crime' comes from, and to the ways in which criminological theories and ideas can help us to understand contemporary crime problems. You will also be introduced to theories of criminal justice and the work of, and relationships between, the main institutions of the criminal justice system.

This module transitions you to university scholarship and introduces the employability and professional skills that a social science degree provides through a range of action-focused activities. You will learn vital academic and professional skills and competencies that will allow you to thrive in the first year of your undergraduate studies and throughout your degree.

This module introduces you to the ways in which criminologists and criminal justice professionals attempt to theorise, contextualise and respond to the most serious forms of criminal and harmful behaviour in society (including murder, homicide, 'public' and 'hidden' forms of violence and abuse, state violence, and environmental crimes). You will be applying theory to current real-world incidents and engaging with issues such as age, gender, ethnicity, social exclusion and inequality, media repre

Exploring the ways in which individuals interact with others to shape meaning about identities, the purpose of this module is to understand power in social relations. You will learn how to identify the relationship between institutions, groups and individuals in forming knowledge and regulating behaviour. Crucially, we consider resistance to dominant forms of meaning through an examination of deviance and subculture, culminating with a reflection of the construction of self in digital societies.

Imagining Social Order and Deviance explores societal norms, values, and the construction of deviance through a series of real-life case studies. You are invited to engage with diverse perspectives on what constitutes social order and deviant behaviour and consider the complexities of social control mechanisms, the stigmatisation of marginalised groups, and the dynamics of power in shaping perceptions of deviance. By fostering a deep understanding of the intricacies of social order and deviance,

This module introduces you to the core social science of designing, implementing, and analysing social phenomenon. You will learn to identify and analyse data sources that might be used by social scientists in real world situations. From quantitative surveys to qualitative interviews and ethnographic studies, you will explore a diverse range of methodological approaches to understanding society and develop practical researcher skills that prepare you to carry out a significant piece of original

This module begins to introduce you to possible careers for social scientists and links to the work you are doing in your subject core and option modules asking the question 'how can we mobilise academic study into the real world?' You will also be encouraged to prepare for placement work that you may pursue and reflect on your social media footprint; developing your personal/professional brand and digital networking platforms.

This module introduces cross-border crime and the impacts of globalisation and technological innovation on crime and criminal justice. You will learn how cross-border flows impact upon transnational crimes such as: drug use and distribution; human trafficking; immigration crimes; terrorism; cybercrime; hate crime; state crime; organised crime; and environmental crime. You will explore theories of globalisation, risk and network societies, and delve deeper into perspectives that decentre the nati

How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to understand the complexities and challenges of the modern world and our place within it? This module rethinks classic sociological theories for the global digital world, considering poststructural, intersectional and non-Western perspectives. You will gain a critical appreciation of how competing sociologies have emerged as our understanding of positionality and difference has developed, and look to the ways in which the sociological project has

What is it like to live in or work in prison? Why do many people return to prison repeatedly? Are prisons doing more harm than good? This module explores the continuum of custodial sentences, from the time a person may spend in prison, to their release into supervision in the community and transition to life 'on the outside'. The module is underpinned by theories of punishment, rehabilitation and integration; in/equality and intersectionality; penal reformist perspectives, abolition and alternat

In this module we explore how socio-cultural narratives and practices around the intersections of race, class and belief influence notions of selfhood, belonging, and social cohesion. You will investigate the role of ritual in shaping individual and collective identities and explore faith, spirituality and the occult in diverse historical and cultural contexts. You will develop critical skills to understand these debates through an analysis of the influence of multiculturalism, secularism and co

How do we express love, friendship, and community in increasingly diverse social and cultural contexts? Have changes to work and gender roles altered the way we think about the division of labour? This module explores these questions and more against theories and debates about the transformations to personal life. Considering a broad range of examples from love in a digital age to the role of community in health and wellbeing, you will develop skills in analysing what 'family' means today and co

Social Design is an interdisciplinary module exploring the interplay between societal structures, human behaviour, and crime, that equips you with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse, design, and implement interventions that foster safer and more inclusive communities. You will explore how social factors influence crime patterns and the efficacy of preventive measures. Depending on your subject interest you may explore the role of social policies in shaping community dynamics or desig

This module gives students studying subjects in the School of Social Sciences the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Science degree can be used and can make a difference. The chosen workplace or volunteering opportunity may be, for example, with a local government agency or third sector organisation, a charity, a community group, a criminal j

How can we know the world and the societies around us? This module introduces the core principles of social science research, exploring how to design, interpret, and analyse social phenomena. You will explore methodological approaches and the different quantitative and qualitative methods used by social scientists to uncover patterns, challenge assumptions, and address ethical dilemmas to advance our understanding of the world.

Moving on from the previous skills modules, you will further consider how your degree can link to a range of life skills and careers through engagement with community groups, activists and people working in public and private sectors. You will be supported in your next steps either through transition to the workplace or postgraduate study.

The dissertation module provides you with the opportunity to undertake independent study on a criminological subject of your choice. Where appropriate, you will be encouraged to design your dissertation in response to regional/localised issues or invited to work alongside staff on professional research projects to inform your dissertation. The module encourages you to develop expertise and specialisms culminating in a coherent and rigorous written dissertation of around 8,000 words. You can unde

The Independent Study Project (or Dissertation) module provides you with the opportunity to undertake independent study on a sociological topic of your choice. You will work with a supervisor to design and produce an original study that allows you to apply your theoretical and methodological understandings of sociology to a research problem in either academic literature or the social field. You can also choose to collaborate with an external organisation, conducting research that provides valuab

This module explores the issue of crime prevention and reduction through the lens of multi-agency partnership working involving a range of partner agencies from across criminal justice, local government, the public sector and beyond. It explores the shift from the rhetoric of 'crime prevention' to 'community safety' in the aftermath of the Morgan Report (1991) and in the context of the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act and subsequent legislation focussing on community safety, anti-social behaviour and

What, and who, is criminology for? Criminology has long debated whether it should support governments, or whether it should seek to challenge unequal power relations and systemic injustices within contemporary societies.