BA (Hons) Criminology (Placement Year) Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

Explore the dynamic field of Criminology where you will encounter a range of theoretical perspectives and debates that inform the discipline. Do you think that criminals are born bad? Or do they learn this behaviour from their families or as a product of where they grow up? We’ll debate it all! You will study both positivistic and social analyses of crime and criminalisation and learn to evaluate criminological theory in relation to a range of intellectual movements. You’ll evaluate these theories in relation to academic scholarship, empirical evidence, popularity and application in crime policy and practice, and in relation to their geographical, social, cultural and historical locations.

Criminology and Law are two of the disciplines that underpin our criminal justice system (CJS). You will explore the interplay between these subjects by learning about the concepts, principles and processes of the CJS in England and Wales. You will gain an understanding of the structure and organisation of the CJS then find out about the different roles, functions and working practices of the main agencies that operate within it. The notions of ‘justice’ and ‘injustice’ will feature heavily in this module. As a student of Criminology, you will have an opportunity to think critically about the powers and decision-making processes of the CJS, as well as those that are subject to them, as poten

Explore the intersection of crime, deviance, and popular culture in this module. You will focus on how crime is represented in entertainment and can be consumed for pleasure. Through critical analysis of films, television shows, literature, podcasts, and social media, you will examine how the portrayal of criminal acts, law enforcement, and justice shape societal understandings of these issues. You will consider the role entertainment plays in reinforcing or challenging dominant narratives surrounding crime, examining how popular culture serves as both a mirror to societal anxieties and a mechanism for cultural influence. Critically engaging with the concept of deviance, you'll question how

To understand crime, criminal justice and criminology in the 21st Century, we need some understanding of how these have evolved through history. You’ll encounter a brief history of crime and responses to crime, from the 19th Century to the present day. You will then be introduced to a cross-section of punishment practices in history, from the Bloody Code onwards. The module takes advantage of Lancaster as a historical city of crime and (in)justice. From the witch trials to our history of slavery; from the castle as a local prison to its current home of Lancaster Crown Courts, you will gain an introduction to the history of crime, punishment, and criminal justice policy in Britain.

How do we learn about crime and criminals? Discover the methods criminologists use to study crime and the criminal justice system, moving beyond everyday assumptions and media portrayals. Using a range of topics within criminology as exemplars, you will learn to: formulate research questions conduct literature reviews design studies analyse findings You’ll develop the skills to think like a criminologist and be prepared for deeper engagement with the research field as you progress with your study of criminology.

How are your personal experiences connected to broader social forces? This module introduces you to the ‘sociological imagination’, a way of thinking that helps you make sense of the relationship between individual lives and society. Drawing on classic and contemporary sociological debates, you’ll explore key questions about individualism, institutions and social change. You'll learn to critically analyse how biography and history intersect, engaging with foundational ideas in the discipline. By developing your own sociological take on these themes, you’ll gain essential skills in critical thinking, argumentation and analysis, preparing you for further study and enabling you to see the world i

How do sociologists decide what to study and how to study it? This module introduces you to key debates in sociological research, exploring how different perspectives shape the questions we ask and the methods we use. You'll examine objective vs subjective positions, as well as feminist and decolonial critiques that have challenged traditional research approaches to sociological research. Through discussions and exercises, you'll begin to develop your own research interests and approach, reflecting on what it means to conduct sociological enquiry. By the end of the module, you’ll have a solid foundation in the principles of sociological research and a clearer sense of how to turn your questi

We begin your historical training with the cornerstone of historical research: evidence. What counts as evidence? It comes in many forms: Chronicles and law codes Letters and diaries written by people in the past Visual records, from paintings to photographs, film and maps Aural records such as music and oral histories The physical remnants of past worlds, from coins to castles and burial places Each source has a context we need to uncover. Who produced the source and why? Who would have seen or heard it and what was their reaction? From here we can learn what questions to ask of our evidence. How can it illuminate past worlds? Our expert historians guide you through hands-on training, build

The medieval and early modern periods witnessed immense change. This module will introduce you to the key themes, sources, and methods you need to understand the patterns of change and continuity around the world over a period of more than a thousand years. The shift from a warm climate in the medieval period to a colder one in the early modern period may help us explain patterns of life in a world where most people depended on subsistence agriculture. Huge transformations were also wrought by the movement of people, diseases, animals, and goods, with events such as the Black Death in Europe and smallpox epidemics in the Americas decisively changing how people lived, and how they related to

Discover the core concepts, theories and historical contexts that shape the field of International Relations. You will gain an understanding of the state system, sovereignty, power, anarchy and other key concepts that underpin the discipline. You’ll also explore the history of international relations, from the emergence of the Westphalian system to contemporary global challenges. Examining the major theoretical traditions, including Realism, Liberalism and Constructivism, you’ll critically assesses their strengths and weaknesses in explaining current international dynamics. Through the analysis of historical and contemporary case studies, you will develop the essential analytical tools to un

Gain a nuanced understanding of the forces driving change in the international system and their implications for global order and human security. You will acquire the tools to navigate and contribute to a complex and interconnected world. The module moves beyond traditional state-centric perspectives to explore the complex interplay of actors, structures and processes shaping our world. You will delve into global governance and address the emergence of new security threats, while tackling shifting power-dynamics at both the national and international level. Throughout the module, you will engage with a variety of case studies that illustrate the complexities of these global issues. Through d

In order to ask questions about the way language works in society, how it connects with the mind/brain or how it is acquired by computers, you first need to know something about the foundational elements of language. This module will introduce you to the building blocks of human language. You will learn about sounds in language, how they are pronounced and how they can be combined to form words. We will teach you about the way words themselves are structured. You’ll also explore how language puts words together to build sentences of different types and how sentences express meaning, in isolation and in context. By the end of the module, you will be familiar with the essentials of phonetics,

The English language is not set in stone. It has changed over time and it differs depending on who is speaking it and where it is spoken. These facts are often ignored in the many myths surrounding its ‘proper’ form and use. This module will give you the knowledge to challenge those misconceptions by examining the history and varieties of English and attitudes toward it. You will gain an insight into the way English became standardised and into the complex role that prescriptivism has played in shaping it. You will come to appreciate that English is ever-changing as its grammar and vocabulary continue to evolve in new directions. You will also explore how and why the places where English is

What does it mean to study media today? In this module, you’ll be introduced to major debates, theories and thinkers in studying media and culture. You will encounter a diverse range of material from different media, including: television, film, news, advertisements, social media, video games and more. You will explore the intersections between our cultural environment and our identities, aspirations, beliefs and value systems, to develop essential skills in critical thinking and analysis.

Digital media both displaces and complements ‘traditional’ media, in ways that complicate the current media landscape and challenge some of our most fundamental media concepts.?This module explores how this happens through the integration of “old” and “new” media and ongoing transformations in the media industries. We examine how relations between consumers and producers are changing as the boundaries of media cultures are shifting, producing intercultural exchange but also fragmentation and radicalisation.?This module invites students to investigate their everyday digital media use and reflect on the expansion of digital media, its potentials and its pitfalls.

What is real, how can we know, and how can we check our reasoning? In this module you will study philosophical tools for reasoning and arguing (critical thinking) and discover fundamental philosophical questions about knowledge (epistemology) and the nature of reality (metaphysics). In studying critical thinking, you will learn methods of constructing and analysing arguments and acquire basic logical terminology. In exploring epistemology, you’ll discuss questions such as: what exactly is it to ‘know’ something? Can we know anything at all? Are there alternative knowledges? In metaphysics, you will consider questions such as: what is the fundamental nature of reality? How are we to understan

From questions about truth, justice, and knowledge to debates over freedom, power, and human purpose - how has philosophical inquiry shaped cultural, political, and scientific life across centuries? In this module you will explore the major ideas and traditions that have guided the development of Western thought. Specific thinkers examined will vary from year to year, but they will include philosophers whose ideas have helped shape philosophical viewpoints, categories and boundaries in the western philosophical tradition. You will be encouraged to think about the problems and limitations of different thinkers’ approaches, and their impact on the way we practice and understand the boundaries

Learn how to analyse highly contemporary political events and trends, and develop the vital critical skills required to be able to put them into context. You will also discover how to relate these issues to core empirical questions and debates within academic research on politics. Taking a problem-based learning approach, you’ll use evidence to evaluate competing explanations for recent political developments. These may include: Democracy and elections Political leadership The state and globalisation Structural inequalities Political institutions Public opinion and protest. Lancaster’s politics experts have extensive expertise across different regions of the globe and we are quick to respond

Your first theory module will introduce you to two key areas of study in psychology, developmental psychology and neuropsychology, plus the underpinning concept of individual differences. Developmental Psychology looks at change over time, using theories of learning (such as those from Piaget and Vygotsky) as a focus for discussion. Neuropsychology takes us into the realms of the brain and mind, where you will begin to understand the complex interplay between the brain and behaviour in real-world contexts. You will learn to use primary sources of knowledge - peer-reviewed journal articles presenting scientific theory and evidence - to enrich your thinking and talking about psychology and dev

How can the world we live in be understood and why does it often feel unequal? This module introduces ways of looking beneath the surface of everyday life to understand how power, inequality and social norms shape what comes to be seen as normal, fair or just. You will explore how ideas about success, poverty, gender, race and belonging are formed, challenged and changed over time. Rather than focusing on abstract theory, you will connect key ideas directly to contemporary life, from media narratives and political debates to everyday experiences. You will be encouraged to question taken for granted assumptions, recognise less visible forms of power, and understand how social problems come to

This module introduces you to the scholarship in criminological theory and the sociology of deviance from the nineteenth century to the present. A unifying theme is the relationship between the problem of social order and strategies of social control as this has been conceived since the late nineteenth century. You will learn about the social and political context from which these various theories have emerged as well as their place within the intellectual development of Criminology.

This module will explore questions such as: How can we know about the true extent of crime? Are official data sources valid and reliable in informing crime-related policy? Can we predict future offending behaviour? How should we evaluate crime reduction programmes? By the end of the module, you will have some of these answers. You will be learning and working with different data sources related to crime and criminal justice, exploring data from police-recorded crime, the Crime Survey for England and Wales and criminal justice statistics from the courts. You will develop highly valuable skills in data-handling and analysis during the computer workshops. You do not require any previous knowled

Research provides an important means of producing knowledge and evidence within Criminology. It also contributes to the planning and evaluation of policies and provisions operating within the criminal justice system (CJS); an area of interest for criminologists. Focusing on real-world research in the ‘field,’ you will study the theoretical foundations of how knowledge and evidence is understood and produced and how this underpins the methods adopted by researchers. You will explore the methods commonly used in criminological research such as: Quantitative questionnaires Evaluation and randomized control trials (RCTs) Qualitative interviews Ethnography New innovative creative methods Particip

In this module you will focus on the criminal justice response to children in conflict with the law. The prevalence and nature of youth crime has been a persistent concern for society and is regularly subject to media and political debate. You will examine trends in youth justice policy as well as various possible responses to offending behaviour. You’ll focus particularly on the tension between conceptualising individuals as 'children in trouble' or 'children in need' and an explore how this shapes youth justice policy and practice. Whilst the current focus on ‘child-first’ youth justice highlights the need to remove the label of ‘offender’, you will examine how far a ‘child-first’ approach

Many commentators claim that organised crime is one of the greatest problems facing contemporary societies. Law enforcement officials around the world have reported a significant increase in the range and scope of international criminal activity since the early 1990s. Worldwide shifts in social, political and economic arrangements- often described as ‘globalisation’ - have opened up opportunities for organised crime groups. The extent of groups involved in transnational organised crime (TOC) and the profits made means TOC has become a priority area for governments around the world.

This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of: The range, extent and nature of cybercrime in the 21st Century. The role of the Internet and other ICT in criminal networking, planning and communication for both cyber (online) and 'traditional' (offline) crime. The challenges inherent in responding to cybercrime and online aspects of traditional crime and criminality. Criminal justice and other (e.g. personal and private security) responses to cybercrime and criminality. The application of established criminological theories to cybercrime and online criminality.

The landscape of financial crime has dramatically shifted in recent decades, becoming a pervasive threat to economies worldwide and legal systems are constantly challenged to adapt. In this module you will delve into the core aspects of this complex field, specifically: fraud, money laundering, terrorism financing and the increasingly intertwined relationship between financial crime and cybercrime, where technological advancements often outstrip regulatory capabilities. You will analyse how these crimes operate, including where appropriate, the implications of technology - cryptocurrencies, ransomware, dark web on these crimes - emphasising the inherent difficulties in effective legal enforc

Explore a range of topics and perspectives related to Contemporary Issues in Policing. This module will cover three key core areas: The role of the police in a contemporary and historical context Key policing concepts Contemporary issues related to policing in the UK You will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in policing in the UK and critically consider the role of police officers within the criminal justice system. You’ll gain a critical understanding of key policing concepts such as police power, accountability and ‘cop culture’ and interpret theories in the context of policing.

Explore gender through a transnational and decolonial approach, as this module examines its intersections with race, class, nationality, sexuality, disability, religion and the environment. You will analyse historical and contemporary examples from around the world, engaging with key debates that shape feminist research and activism. Drawing on diverse feminist perspectives, including Black, Indigenous and queer critiques, the module will challenge you to think critically about complex topics such as: Sex work Sexual violence Islamophobia Transgender rights Reproductive justice Ecofeminism Migration The course also brings these perspectives and positions to bear on what it means design, cond

The future of state-funded welfare is one of the most pressing social questions of our time. This module explores the history, purpose and politics of welfare states, examining what social welfare is, who it is for and how it should be funded and delivered. You will consider the social and political debates that have shaped social welfare and trace their development over time. Topics covered may include education, health, housing, social security and unemployment. You will explore how welfare systems are funded, managed and organised and analyse the impact of social welfare cuts on poverty and social inequality. The module also examines the moral and political tensions within welfare debates

How many advertisements have you already seen today? From moving billboards to advertisements between games on your phone - advertising is everywhere. How many advertisements have you already seen today? From moving billboards to advertisements between games on your phone, advertising is everywhere. In this module, you will learn how advertisers use language, visuals, sound and music to influence behaviour. You will discover how to differentiate advertising from marketing by examining hard and soft selling, influencer advertising and the role of “prosumers” on social media. You will explore consumer research to ask what makes a good advertisement. Rich examples show how advertising has borro

In this examination of the evolving landscape of global power, we identify the forces challenging the world’s leading nations and explore the fluid nature of influence in the 21st century. We will analyse the shifting balance of power, explore the relative decline of traditional superpowers and the simultaneous rise of new actors on the global stage. You’ll be encouraged to consider how economic, military, and cultural influence is being reconfigured in a multipolar world, reshaping traditional understandings of world order. Crucially, we will also analyse the internal and external pressures these powers face, form rising regional actors, to the evolving nature of global threats, and the ero

This module offers a critical introduction to the complex political landscapes of regions in the Global South, exploring how historical, economic and social forces have shaped contemporary states and societies. You will examine colonial legacies and their lasting influence on political institutions, and the impact of external interventions on regions. The module also investigates the consequences of neoliberal economic reforms, the challenges faced during democratization processes, narratives of ‘development,’ and the dynamics of armed conflict and peacebuilding. Consideration is given to grassroots activism as well as the role of regional integration and cooperation in shaping political and

Our everyday lives are saturated by images of all kinds. This module will introduce you to some key ‘ways of seeing’ our world of images. We will explore questions such as: How are images made, who gets to produce them and, importantly, from whose point of view? How do pictures circulate? How do viewers read and interpret images? Who gets to look and through whose eyes? How do these processes and practices relate to power? We’ll consider these questions in relation to a range of media texts, from photographs and advertisements to television and film.

This module will allow you to spend the year working in a graduate-level placement role in the industry or sector that interests you most. Throughout the year, you will build an awareness of what is required in the professional workplace whilst developing a range of transferable skills. During the module you will reflect on and critically analyse: your own career readiness, the ongoing development of your self-awareness in terms of skills and professional knowledge, and your understanding of current workplace practices and professional etiquette. Our Careers and Placements Team will support you during your placement with online contact and learning resources.

Learn about forms and methods of punishment today and historically and consider the place of prisons within this wider context. You’ll explore key theories and perspectives around the justification and limitations of past and present practices as you examine the shift to a prison industrial complex. You will learn to ask key questions such as: What constitutes ‘punishment’? How have prisons evolved, and what perspectives have influenced carceral projects nationally and internationally? Who is most likely to be punished or imprisoned? You will also question who is most likely to be subject to punishment or imprisonment and how this relates to wider social inequalities and demographic experien