BSc (Hons) — 2027 entry Criminology with Forensic Investigation

This module is designed to help students successfully make the transition from further to higher education and lays the groundwork for thriving at university. It introduces students to the academic, employability and professional, and other skills and capabilities that they will need throughout their course (and beyond) and provides foundations upon which to build their confidence in meeting the varying demands of their degree programme. As such, the module aims to introduce and develop resourcefulness and resilience amongst students (alongside other skills and capabilities – see ‘other information’, below) that will prepare them for concurrent and future module requirements. Rather than simply being about ‘study skills’, this module approaches the development of academic learning, employability, and professional and other relevant skills and capabilities from a holistic, subject area-specific perspective. The intention here is to enable students to situate their learning within the expectations of the social sciences more generally, but within the demands of criminology and forensic investigation more specifically, with a particular focus on the interconnectivity of what might initially appear to be discreet and/or loosely related components. Moreover, the module is ‘outward facing’ in the sense that it recognises the requirements of other modules across the programme and further integrates the development of the capabilities required for those here

The purpose of this module is to give students a fundamental understanding of the conceptual frameworks underpinning forensic science. In this first-year module a very wide array of evidence types are covered. Casework examples are used to give students a broad understanding of how forensic evidence is retrieved, packaged, analysed and reported in court. This module interacts with material that students are taught through analytical chemistry modules and demonstrates the application of relevant techniques to forensic casework. This module supports further learning across a number of criminology modules.

The Criminal Justice System comprises those institutions and agencies that are collectively responsible for managing a state’s response to crime and disorder. This module provides an introduction to the key agencies within the contemporary criminal justice system in England and Wales but parallels are also drawn to other jurisdictions (where appropriate). We will focus on the role and function of the police service, prosecutors, courts, prisons and the probation service.

This module introduces students to Forensic Criminology, which examines the intersections of criminology, forensic science, the penal system, and criminal investigation. The disciplines of criminology (broadly, the explanation and understanding of crime, criminals, and criminal justice institutions) and forensic science (knowledge produced to assist those working within the penal system to do their job more effectively) have long been separate entities, with different aims, objectives, approaches, and epistemologies (the philosophical study of knowledge). More recently, however, these two disciplines have begun to merge closer together in an attempt to provide a more complete and robust understanding of crime and criminality.

This module will introduce students to the major theoretical perspectives that have been developed within criminology to conceptualise 'crime' and 'deviance', and to explain the different ways societies respond to crime.Part A covers a number of theoretical developments from 'classical' and 'positive' theories all the way to more critical approaches within the discipline. Part B builds on knowledge acquired in Part A and provides an overview of contemporary debates and discussions within criminology, including but not limited to life-course approaches, problems of governance, and criminal justice policy. A common thread across the module will be how criminological theories can be situated and explained within specific contexts of society and criminal justice.The module will help students to develop a critical awareness of how contemporary criminological theories both contribute to an understanding of criminality as well as shaping and generating ideas and responses to crime and deviance. Students will also explore how specific theoretical perspectives can help us to address criminal justice problems such as punishment, incarceration, and social control. In so doing, students will gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between theory and practice and how the two can inform and influence one another.

This module introduces students to qualitative and quantitative approaches to research design, methodology and data analysis, and considers how recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) influence how we conduct research. Part A focuses on qualitative field methods, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observation, and their place within the wider research process. Students will explore the insights and possibilities generated by qualitative research as well as some of the challenges that qualitative researchers may encounter. Part B is designed to introduce students to the statistical techniques necessary for implementing and critically evaluating quantitative social research. Emphasis will be put on when and how data is collected, how to use basic statistical techniques to analyse the data appropriately, and how to interpret results. Students will also acquire a familiarity with R, a software environment for statistical computing and graphics, and will start developing discipline-specific AI skills.

This module is concerned with understanding the contribution of psychological explanations (connecting to Sociological and Criminological) for understanding criminal behaviour. It introduces students to theories and concepts of criminal behaviour according to Psychology and the context in which these ideas emerge. In particular, the module focuses on specific categories of criminal behaviour – for example, mentally disordered offences, the ‘psychopath’, violent criminals, and serial murderers. In doing so, the module seeks to examine how particular crimes come to be sensationalised and glorified by and through various media platforms. The module also sets out to examine the means for managing and evaluating interventions designed to reduce crime and re-offending, and thus enable students to consider more widely, the role of Psychology within Western criminal justice systems.

This module looks at the role of contemporary technologies within crime and the criminal justice system and critically engages with current thinking around the extent to which technology can be a ‘enabler’ or ‘facilitator’ of crime. The module seeks to develop critical understanding of the increasing role of technology within the criminal justice system – for example, forensic technologies such as fingerprinting and DNA profiles, ‘predictive’ technologies such as polygraph tests and neural scanning and enforcement/punitive technologies such as tasers. The module pays special attention to arguments that ‘technological fetishism’ may be undermining the autonomy of the justice system, with the result that ‘technological justice’ may be replacing due process and the rule of law, engaging with the increasing role of AI and automation within justice.

This module examines the history, role, and function of the police service and processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The first half of the module considers the nature of the policing task, the contemporary organisation of the service and a range of issues to do with accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. The second half of the module progresses by introducing students to the processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The particular focus of this module is volume crime and some serious crime types, reserving the management and investigation of major, and complex crime for the corresponding module in the final year of the programme.

The primary focus of this degree programme is the work undertaken by a range of actors as part of a criminal investigation, from the initial investigation, the collection of evidence, and the subsequent analysis of that evidence, all with the purpose of ultimately identifying those responsible for the crime and securing their prosecution and conviction in court. The courtroom and our adversarial approach to the delivery of justice, however, present a range of challenges situated at the axis of the relationship between science, evidence, law, and procedure. This module therefore explores the scientific expertise offered by expert witnesses and higher crime scene management aspects of forensic investigations and introduces students to the challenges faced by experts within the courtroom setting. It begins by revising the scientific principles and fundamental understanding acquired in level 4 and will then critically review the crime scene investigation process followed by the techniques used in the analysis of forensic science evidence. It culminates in the interpretation and presentation of evidence in the court room with a focus on developing student awareness, knowledge and interest in roles and careers in the forensic investigation arena.

The purpose of this module is to provide an insight into the most up to date methods employed within investigations and methods that are currently being developed that may be deployed in the future. Students will also focus on the implications of bias and psychology in decision making during investigations and the multidisciplinary nature of forensic investigation which supports the need to work collaboratively to address shared goals within the criminal justice system. This is to ensure that students have knowledge of cutting-edge techniques and are equipped with key transferrable skills which can be applied in their future careers.

The study of cybercrime and cybersecurity not only represents one of the key emerging areas of research within contemporary criminology but is also a crucial problem of national policy and crime control. Recent (2016) data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales suggest that cybercrime may now be the most prevalent form of criminality in the UK and repeated breaches to key infrastructures across most jurisdictions have emphasized why it is has also become one of the main threats to international peace and security.  This module will introduce students to the key themes within the study of cybercrime and cybersecurity – including, offence types and their prevalence; typical victims and perpetrators; policing and control measures; varieties of cybersecurity responses and the ‘human’ problem in making these resilient.

This module enables students to focus on and research a topic of significance of their own choice. It enables them to build on, bring together and demonstrate the range of analytic, knowledge based and digital skills they have developed throughout their degree and equips them with new transferable skills of designing and developing an independent project and reporting this  professionally. Students will learn relevant AI skills and use their digital, global and cultural capabilities to synthesize and communicate knowledge within their chosen project. Students work on their project with the guidance of an individual supervisor and participate in a series of workshops designed to provide guidance for key stages of the project.  Within the 45 credit individual work module we offer a choice of two formats: Research-based dissertation project  - Project approaches are diverse and include collection of primary data (e.g through interviews or surveys); secondary analysis of existing data sets; analysis of documentary or media sources or a systematic review of existing literature. A final project report of 10-12,00 words is prepared. Topic based portfolio focused on a chosen social issue, comprising:An academic literature review offering the rationale for the choice of issue A public-facing component (e.g. podcasts, vlogs, set of blog posts) explaining some aspect of the issue to a non-specialist audiencePolicy briefing notes giving advice to a chosen public body or institution on how to tackle the issue The choice of format allows students to demonstrate their achievements in the skillset they see as best suited for their next steps.

This module is designed to help students successfully make the transition from further to higher education and lays the groundwork for thriving at university. It introduces students to the academic, employability and professional, and other skills and capabilities that they will need throughout their course (and beyond) and provides foundations upon which to build their confidence in meeting the varying demands of their degree programme. As such, the module aims to introduce and develop resourcefulness and resilience amongst students (alongside other skills and capabilities – see ‘other information’, below) that will prepare them for concurrent and future module requirements. Rather than simply being about ‘study skills’, this module approaches the development of academic learning, employability, and professional and other relevant skills and capabilities from a holistic, subject area-specific perspective. The intention here is to enable students to situate their learning within the expectations of the social sciences more generally, but within the demands of criminology and forensic investigation more specifically, with a particular focus on the interconnectivity of what might initially appear to be discreet and/or loosely related components. Moreover, the module is ‘outward facing’ in the sense that it recognises the requirements of other modules across the programme and further integrates the development of the capabilities required for those here

The purpose of this module is to give students a fundamental understanding of the conceptual frameworks underpinning forensic science. In this first-year module a very wide array of evidence types are covered. Casework examples are used to give students a broad understanding of how forensic evidence is retrieved, packaged, analysed and reported in court. This module interacts with material that students are taught through analytical chemistry modules and demonstrates the application of relevant techniques to forensic casework. This module supports further learning across a number of criminology modules.

The Criminal Justice System comprises those institutions and agencies that are collectively responsible for managing a state’s response to crime and disorder. This module provides an introduction to the key agencies within the contemporary criminal justice system in England and Wales but parallels are also drawn to other jurisdictions (where appropriate). We will focus on the role and function of the police service, prosecutors, courts, prisons and the probation service.

This module introduces students to Forensic Criminology, which examines the intersections of criminology, forensic science, the penal system, and criminal investigation. The disciplines of criminology (broadly, the explanation and understanding of crime, criminals, and criminal justice institutions) and forensic science (knowledge produced to assist those working within the penal system to do their job more effectively) have long been separate entities, with different aims, objectives, approaches, and epistemologies (the philosophical study of knowledge). More recently, however, these two disciplines have begun to merge closer together in an attempt to provide a more complete and robust understanding of crime and criminality.

This module will introduce students to the major theoretical perspectives that have been developed within criminology to conceptualise 'crime' and 'deviance', and to explain the different ways societies respond to crime.Part A covers a number of theoretical developments from 'classical' and 'positive' theories all the way to more critical approaches within the discipline. Part B builds on knowledge acquired in Part A and provides an overview of contemporary debates and discussions within criminology, including but not limited to life-course approaches, problems of governance, and criminal justice policy. A common thread across the module will be how criminological theories can be situated and explained within specific contexts of society and criminal justice.The module will help students to develop a critical awareness of how contemporary criminological theories both contribute to an understanding of criminality as well as shaping and generating ideas and responses to crime and deviance. Students will also explore how specific theoretical perspectives can help us to address criminal justice problems such as punishment, incarceration, and social control. In so doing, students will gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between theory and practice and how the two can inform and influence one another.

This module introduces students to qualitative and quantitative approaches to research design, methodology and data analysis, and considers how recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) influence how we conduct research. Part A focuses on qualitative field methods, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observation, and their place within the wider research process. Students will explore the insights and possibilities generated by qualitative research as well as some of the challenges that qualitative researchers may encounter. Part B is designed to introduce students to the statistical techniques necessary for implementing and critically evaluating quantitative social research. Emphasis will be put on when and how data is collected, how to use basic statistical techniques to analyse the data appropriately, and how to interpret results. Students will also acquire a familiarity with R, a software environment for statistical computing and graphics, and will start developing discipline-specific AI skills.

This module is concerned with understanding the contribution of psychological explanations (connecting to Sociological and Criminological) for understanding criminal behaviour. It introduces students to theories and concepts of criminal behaviour according to Psychology and the context in which these ideas emerge. In particular, the module focuses on specific categories of criminal behaviour – for example, mentally disordered offences, the ‘psychopath’, violent criminals, and serial murderers. In doing so, the module seeks to examine how particular crimes come to be sensationalised and glorified by and through various media platforms. The module also sets out to examine the means for managing and evaluating interventions designed to reduce crime and re-offending, and thus enable students to consider more widely, the role of Psychology within Western criminal justice systems.

This module looks at the role of contemporary technologies within crime and the criminal justice system and critically engages with current thinking around the extent to which technology can be a ‘enabler’ or ‘facilitator’ of crime. The module seeks to develop critical understanding of the increasing role of technology within the criminal justice system – for example, forensic technologies such as fingerprinting and DNA profiles, ‘predictive’ technologies such as polygraph tests and neural scanning and enforcement/punitive technologies such as tasers. The module pays special attention to arguments that ‘technological fetishism’ may be undermining the autonomy of the justice system, with the result that ‘technological justice’ may be replacing due process and the rule of law, engaging with the increasing role of AI and automation within justice.

This module examines the history, role, and function of the police service and processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The first half of the module considers the nature of the policing task, the contemporary organisation of the service and a range of issues to do with accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. The second half of the module progresses by introducing students to the processes of criminal investigation, within a policing context. The particular focus of this module is volume crime and some serious crime types, reserving the management and investigation of major, and complex crime for the corresponding module in the final year of the programme.

The primary focus of this degree programme is the work undertaken by a range of actors as part of a criminal investigation, from the initial investigation, the collection of evidence, and the subsequent analysis of that evidence, all with the purpose of ultimately identifying those responsible for the crime and securing their prosecution and conviction in court. The courtroom and our adversarial approach to the delivery of justice, however, present a range of challenges situated at the axis of the relationship between science, evidence, law, and procedure. This module therefore explores the scientific expertise offered by expert witnesses and higher crime scene management aspects of forensic investigations and introduces students to the challenges faced by experts within the courtroom setting. It begins by revising the scientific principles and fundamental understanding acquired in level 4 and will then critically review the crime scene investigation process followed by the techniques used in the analysis of forensic science evidence. It culminates in the interpretation and presentation of evidence in the court room with a focus on developing student awareness, knowledge and interest in roles and careers in the forensic investigation arena.

The purpose of this module is to provide an insight into the most up to date methods employed within investigations and methods that are currently being developed that may be deployed in the future. Students will also focus on the implications of bias and psychology in decision making during investigations and the multidisciplinary nature of forensic investigation which supports the need to work collaboratively to address shared goals within the criminal justice system. This is to ensure that students have knowledge of cutting-edge techniques and are equipped with key transferrable skills which can be applied in their future careers.

The study of cybercrime and cybersecurity not only represents one of the key emerging areas of research within contemporary criminology but is also a crucial problem of national policy and crime control. Recent (2016) data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales suggest that cybercrime may now be the most prevalent form of criminality in the UK and repeated breaches to key infrastructures across most jurisdictions have emphasized why it is has also become one of the main threats to international peace and security.  This module will introduce students to the key themes within the study of cybercrime and cybersecurity – including, offence types and their prevalence; typical victims and perpetrators; policing and control measures; varieties of cybersecurity responses and the ‘human’ problem in making these resilient.

This module enables students to focus on and research a topic of significance of their own choice. It enables them to build on, bring together and demonstrate the range of analytic, knowledge based and digital skills they have developed throughout their degree and equips them with new transferable skills of designing and developing an independent project and reporting this  professionally. Students will learn relevant AI skills and use their digital, global and cultural capabilities to synthesize and communicate knowledge within their chosen project. Students work on their project with the guidance of an individual supervisor and participate in a series of workshops designed to provide guidance for key stages of the project.  Within the 45 credit individual work module we offer a choice of two formats: Research-based dissertation project  - Project approaches are diverse and include collection of primary data (e.g through interviews or surveys); secondary analysis of existing data sets; analysis of documentary or media sources or a systematic review of existing literature. A final project report of 10-12,00 words is prepared. Topic based portfolio focused on a chosen social issue, comprising:An academic literature review offering the rationale for the choice of issue A public-facing component (e.g. podcasts, vlogs, set of blog posts) explaining some aspect of the issue to a non-specialist audiencePolicy briefing notes giving advice to a chosen public body or institution on how to tackle the issue The choice of format allows students to demonstrate their achievements in the skillset they see as best suited for their next steps.