BA (Hons) Sociology and Criminology (Study Abroad) Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

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

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.

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

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.

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

How can the ‘sociological imagination’ help us make sense of important contemporary topics? Focussing upon the sociological study of these topics, this module will explore how sociology explores them compared to other methods. These topics might include: Identity Family Crime Inequality Health Consumption Climate change By the end of the module, you'll be able to define sociology in your own terms and use core sociological ideas to critically analyse contemporary social challenges. You will also be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate more specialised topics, theories, and research methods as you progress in your studies.

Exploring how sociology can contribute to real-world change, this module focusses on the role of public sociology in addressing social inequalities, informing policy and engaging with communities. You will examine how sociological research can shape public debates, influence decision-making and be used as a tool for activism. Through case studies and practical activities, you will learn how sociologists communicate their work beyond academia, whether through media, policy engagement, or grassroots initiatives. The module will also encourage you to critically reflect on the ethical and political dimensions of public sociology. On completion, you will have a deeper understanding of how sociolog

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 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

The world is full of “wicked problems”, from inequality, to unemployment, to housing crisis, to climate change. We need innovative policy to tackle these complex issues. On this module you will act as policy advisors, learning how to solve complex problems and produce practical recommendations to government for policy change. Working in teams on real-world policy cases, you will develop your understanding of the policymaking process from policy design to evaluation. We’ll touch on questions such as: Why do some issues get framed as problems and make it to the policy agenda? How is policy formulated? Why do policies fail? By the end of this module, you’ll have the skills to evaluate policy, p

Discover the key concepts that shape our understanding of British politics, learn how to conduct political analysis, and gain a sophisticated understanding of the complexities of the British political landscape. In this module we will open the black box of British politics. We'll explore the ideological foundations of major parties, tracing the Conservative Party's evolution from One-Nation to Thatcherism and Brexit, and analysing Labour's shift from Old to New Labour and the dilemmas of social democracy today. Through contemporary debates in the classroom and rigorous text analysis, you'll fine-tune your presentation skills, develop critical analytical skills by learning how to dissect poli

In this module you'll explore the dynamic relationship between media, society, and culture, examining how media influences and reflects cultural norms, identities, and power structures. You’ll consider the material, social and institutional contexts in which media forms have been produced, and think about the role of the media in creating communities, and both reproducing and tackling social inequalities. This module provides you with the skills to navigate complex debates about media and culture as you progress with your studies

Media do not just reflect identities, but play an active role in bringing them into being. In this module, you will consider the role our screens – in all their many forms – play in producing our sense of self and the world around us. From selfies and avatars to being the subjects of film or advertisements, our ‘mediated selves’ cannot be avoided. How do we use media to represent and transmit a sense of ourselves to others? In what ways does self-representation allow us to assume and feel agency in our lives, and to connect with other selves? What does it mean to be shaped by media culture? You will critically engage with various media forms to understand their influence on identity formatio

Introducing you to a diverse range of theoretical perspectives from around the world, this module will analyse how different social theories help us understand the emergence and transformation of our societies. Through exploring these theories’ historical contexts and contemporary relevance, you will engage with key debates on topics such as capitalism, class, colonialism, globalisation and social reproduction and examine how these issues are theorised across different intellectual traditions. Encouraging you to think critically about the connections between theories and the contexts in which they develop, you will foster a global and comparative approach to sociological thought. Through clo

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.

Equipping you with essential research skills to explore pressing social questions, this module will dive into how sociologists investigate the world around us. You will learn a range of methods, from qualitative approaches like interviews, ethnography and discourse analysis to quantitative techniques such as survey analysis and social statistics. Through hands-on exercises, you will develop your ability to collect, analyse and interpret data. The module allows you to deepen your understanding of specific methods while working independently and in groups, supported by expert guidance. Whether designing a research project, writing a dissertation, or producing policy reports, this module provid

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

Preparing you for independent research, this module will guide you through the process of developing sociological research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies and considering ethical and practical challenges. You will explore different research designs, from case studies and comparative analysis to trend studies and mixed-method approaches. Through practical workshops, you will refine your ability to justify methodological choices and align them with research aims. Following on from Research in Action, this module is distinct in its focus on the conceptual and strategic aspects of research design, rather than specific data collection techniques. It will provide you with the necess

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

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

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.

Despite widespread beliefs in social progress, racial inequalities and racism persist across the globe. This module equips you with the tools to critically examine race and racism from a sociological perspective, exploring their historical foundations and contemporary manifestations. You will engage with key theoretical approaches and empirical case studies to understand how racism operates at individual, institutional and structural levels. Topics may include colonialism and imperialism, everyday racism, whiteness and racial capitalism, as well as the politics of resistance and anti-racist movements. The module may also address forms of racism such as Islamophobia, anti-Blackness, misogynoi

Explore how gender identities and sexualities are constructed, normalised, and navigated in relation to media and popular culture. Drawing on feminist and queer media research, we examine how representations in the media play a role in reinforcing gender binaries and heteronormative social roles and identities, focussing on how media and popular culture have been co-opted as a space of creative resistance. The module takes an intersectional approach, examining gender and sexuality within complex relations of class, race, ethnicity, dis/ability and age. We examine these questions by engaging with a wide range of spaces and platforms including film, television, fashion, music, public space, an

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.

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

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country. You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country. The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Austral

Develop and refine your research question, design an appropriate methodological approach and critically engage with relevant literature, as you conduct an original piece of sociological research on the topic of your choice. With guidance from an academic supervisor, you will collect and analyse data, interpret your findings, and produce a well-structured research report or dissertation. This project allows you to apply the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout your degree, demonstrating your ability to work independently, think critically and contribute to sociological debates. It is an essential opportunity to deepen your expertise in an area of personal and academic interest w

In this module you will research a criminological topic of your choice in much greater depth than you have previously. The module is worth 40 credits, which is the equivalent of two optional taught modules. You are encouraged to undertake your own empirical research, using the methods and techniques you have learned in your second year to generate new evidence. There is also the scope to undertake a desk-based research project if you prefer. The dissertation will span the entire final year of study, but planning will start earlier in the previous academic year. You will work independently on your project but will be supported by a Criminology academic working in the related field. Academic s

Green Criminology is the application of Criminological thought (concepts, methods, theories etc.) to environmental harm. In this module, you will engage with the increasing awareness of the damage contemporary industrial society inflicts on the natural world - and the urgent need for effective responses and solutions to environmental problems. You’ll focus on a range of environmental harms, whether or not subject to criminal control and you will examine society’s attempts to control them. A relatively recent addition to criminology, Green Criminology draws on established traditions of examining ‘crimes of the powerful’ and focuses on a zemiological (harm-centred) perspective rather than lega

An engaging and highly relevant module, Drugs, Crime and Society examines the nature and extent of drug taking in the UK and beyond. We will: explore the difficulties of researching hidden populations, like drug users engage with theories of drug use from a sociological, psychological and cultural perspective consider global and national drug markets investigate the links between drugs and crime evaluate policing responses to drugs You will be taught by research-active lecturers who will introduce you to the latest research in this field and contemporary debate. For example, you might study current research and publications concerning cannabis cultivation, world markets, and drug distributio

This module focuses on the crimes that power makes possible. Criminological theory and research has traditionally prioritized the crimes of the powerless over and against the crimes of those that make laws, wield influence and capital or authorize State violence. As such, this module will introduce you to theory, research, and case-studies on corporate and white-collar crimes, as well as state crimes like genocide and torture, in order to provide an analysis of the commission and punishment of such crimes.

Take an advanced look at how sociologists use paradigms, theories and concepts, as this module takes a deep dive into every stage of research. Each week, you will explore a contemporary sociological study to see how key theoretical ideas shape research, from selecting topics and framing questions to choosing methods, interpreting data and influencing change. You will engage with a range of social theories, critically examining how they inform methodological strategies, site selection, sampling and the dissemination of research. Running in parallel with your Independent Research Project, this module supports you in refining your conceptual approach and applying theoretical insights to your own

How are health and illness shaped by society? This module explores sociological perspectives on health, illness and healthcare, focusing on how social structures and inequalities influence health outcomes. You will engage with key debates on medicalisation, health inequalities, mental health and the politics of healthcare provision, considering how forms of social organisation shape access to care and the experience of illness. The module also examines how health is central to social reproduction, the processes that sustain daily life and future generations, including the role of care work, reproductive labour and biopolitics. Drawing on contemporary and historical examples, you will criticall