Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies in Criminology and Social Work

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What is it like to study Criminology at Lancaster University?

Are you up for a challenge? Want to study an intellectually exciting subject which tackles problems faced by contemporary society? Like to attend a Top Ten UK University to study topics you find fascinating? Prefer learning in a vibrant research-led department with approachable staff members and an enthusiastic student population?

Then the Criminology degree is for you. Join us at the Department of Applied Social Science.

The Department of Applied Social Science, which runs the Criminology degree at Lancaster University, is one of the top places to study Criminology in Britain; our staff members are renowned for their pioneering research, and engage enthusiastically in traditional and cutting-edge teaching practices. There are 20 lecturers and professors, a vibrant community of postgraduate tutors and researchers, 120 undergraduate students and 6 administrative support staff in our supportive, friendly Department.

We want the best students to join us, so we are looking for motivated, creative, critical and hardworking undergraduate students who want to do an inspiring degree which will lead you into meaningful and satisfying jobs and enable you to make a real impact on the world.

What you need: AAB in your A-levels (see UCAS website for equivalents if you have other kinds of qualification).

Our degree courses: Lancaster is one of the few universities in the country where you able to study solely Criminology. Our main degree is the single major in Criminology but if you like to mix it up you can combine Criminology and Sociology, or Law and Criminology, or with a range of other subjects: Media and Cultural Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Geography, Politics, Religious Studies, History, Philosophy or Languages.

Small classes and friendly staff: We only take 40 or so undergraduates per year. You will always be in small lively seminar groups, a maximum of 15 students per group in your first year, and up to 30 students in years two and three. Our lecturers and admin staff are always willing to help and support you on your journey through university.

Your first year at Lancaster University: In your first year with us you will take three Part One subjects, namely Crime and Social Life (our introduction to Criminology) and two other Part One subjects. This is a free choice, but most of our students choose from: Marketing, Media Studies, Film Studies, History, English Literature, Linguistics, Sociology, Educational Psychology, Religious Studies, Geography, Psychology, Gender Studies. (If you decide Criminology isn't for you, you can change degree after your first year, but almost everybody stays with us).

You will leave with invaluable research skills: In their second year all our students are trained in real life research methods. In your final year you can choose to carry out an independent criminological research project on a topic of your choice. You can also opt for our final year dissertation conducted alongside serving police officers or in other criminal justice agencies.

You will leave with invaluable life skills: Apart from the knowledge you will acquire you will also key transferable skills: How to think critically, write well (essays, book and film reviews, reports, presentations, manifestos, letters, emails, websites, blogs), organise your time, solve problems, work in a group. You will also learn to pitch ideas and do presentations, design and carry out a research project and reflect on pressing ethical, political and moral issues.

Career paths: Lancaster University is ranked an impressive 5th for graduate employability in the UK. Our students become school and college teachers, lecturers, police officers, social workers, solicitors, administrative managers, public relations specialists, human resources officers, entrepreneurs, probation officers, prison support workers, community and youth workers, drug workers, central and local government department workers, event managers, researchers in policy think tanks, corporate finance managers and insurance underwriters. Criminology is a useful degree for a lot of different careers; it is particularly useful for jobs in which you will be working directly with a variety of people.

BA Hons Criminology

Part I

First Year Part I Crime & Social Life, and two other Part I subjects (one from a department within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, such as Gender and Women's Studies Part I or Sociology Part I).

Part I Crime & Social Life consists of 2 lectures a week, and 1 seminar, the latter giving students a chance to discuss topics and weekly readings in a friendly and supportive environment. Part I Crime & Social Life is taught over 25 weeks, and divided into 5 blocks: Divisions of Crime; Explanations of Crime; Criminological Frontiers; Crime and Criminal Justice Interventions; and Historical Dimensions of Crime.

Part II

Second and Third Years Single Honours majors are required to take a minimum of five full units (equivalent) in this department, three of which are compulsory in the second year: Understanding Research, Measuring Crime, and Criminological Thought.

The remaining courses are chosen from the Criminology list below. Students can opt to take the remaining three units (equivalent) in this department or as minor courses in other departments.

Crime, Poverty & Social Security, Understanding Crimininal Justice, Youth Justice, Criminal Investigation, Crime and the Media, Historical & Philosophical Aspects of Punishment, Drugs, Crime and Society, Criminal Careers, Cybercrime, Hate Crimes, Human Rights and the State, Organised Crime.

Half-unit dissertation option

These dissertation courses can be taken alongside taught 15 credit modules.

Full-unit research-based dissertation options

These are available to second and third year Criminology single and combined majors. Modules may be subject to change from year to year. There is also the option of undertaking a Police/Agency Project in the third year (please note places may be limited).

Study abroad

There is also the opportunity for our Criminology students to apply to study abroad for a year. For more information please visit: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/international/abroad/index.htm

LLB Hons Law and Criminology

Please contact the Law department

BA Hons Criminology & Sociology

Part I First Year

Part I Crime & Social Life, Part I Sociology and one other Part I subject.

Part II Second and Third Years

The minimum requirement for the Criminology element of the scheme is the equivalent of four full units from the Criminology List to include Criminological Thought in the second year. The equivalent of four full units of Sociology must also be taken. Please consult Sociology for their exact requirements.

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