BA (Hons) Criminology Bachelor's degree at York St John University

Acquire a broad academic understanding of theories of crime, deviance, and transgression. Drawing on the history of criminological thought from the Enlightenment to the present day, you will explore the ideas of classicism, followed by positivistic theories, and an introduction into later critical forms of criminological theory.

Make criminological sense of regular situations, people, events, encounters, things and practices, and learn to question and investigate the 'taken-for-grantedness' of our everyday lives and encounters.

Introduction to basic principles of presenting, evaluating and interpreting data from quantitative and qualitative sources, such as government statistical bulletins and cultural artefacts. Each week you will explore a contemporary social issue or news story from a socio-criminological perspective.

Explore the delivery of justice in England and Wales through examination of the main agencies and processes (prisons, the police, probation, the courts and community justice) involved. Learn to think critically about the nature of criminal justice and injustice.

Build on skills developed around differing sociological and criminological perspectives, applications to the social world, and practical approaches to understanding and exploring social problems. Learn to deconstruct media representations of social phenomena.

Investigate contemporary sociological and criminological perspectives that exist in society at a global level. Learn to interpret associated subjects such as globalisation and neoliberalism and adopt a global mindset.

Explore the diverse career pathways available to social sciences graduates, and gain the practical tools you need to navigate your post-degree journey. Critically reflect on your skills, aspirations, and experiences.

Examine and evaluate a range of criminological qualitative methodologies and methodological processes. Study and critically evaluate qualitative research methodologies, and examine the strengths and weaknesses of a range of qualitative research strategies.

Learn about the investigation process, the laws and guidelines around the arrest process, and how police custody operates in practice. Consider the court process and the impact that this has on defendants and other court actors.

Study global disasters to learn about how things go so badly wrong, but also how society normally functions. Engage with global disasters as an accident investigator and problem-solver, uncovering the underpinning values or structures that caused disaster.

Gain a working proficiency in survey research design, accessing and managing secondary quantitative data, and data analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Learn to understand basic statistics.

Explore the culture of contemporary policing through a series of case studies addressing key issues in modern policing. Gain insight into the culture of the Police as an organisation, both locally and nationally within England and Wales.

Learn how police custody operates in practice. Consider detainee rights and entitlements, lengths and grounds for detention, police custody operations, and the importance of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Explore structural inequalities and systems of power that shape individual and collective experiences, with a focus on marginalised groups in society. Employ sociological and criminological theory to identify how societies and social control mechanisms contribute to discrimination.

Explore the world system via the mobilities paradigm – a turn in social sciences thinking that emphasises the importance of movement. Vital for understanding the world and holding it to account for its injustices.

Apply your knowledge and focus your studies on the topic that interests you most, to produce a substantial piece of research work. You will choose an issue of sociological importance and conduct detailed social research.

Consider the theory, practice, history and culture of imprisonment, as well as the experiences of prison staff and prisoners. Focus on England and Wales, but also make reference to prisons and imprisonment elsewhere.