Study criminology to unlock lots of great careers
By Neil Chakraborti
Published: 16 August 2007
Criminology is a topical, interdisciplinary subject that draws from sociological, psychological and legal perspectives to examine how crime is defined, why some people commit crime and the impact of their actions. It is a subject that examines different forms of offending behaviour - together with their causes and consequences - and one that considers governmental regulations and public reactions to crime. It requires a broad understanding of the types of factors that increase the likelihood of individuals acting in a manner defined as criminal, and the role of the criminal justice system - including the police, the courts and penal institutions - in addressing offending behaviour.
Every higher education institution that offers criminology as a degree subject will inevitably have their own approach to the subject, and as such there may be considerable variation in the way in which criminology is taught at different universities. That said, developing an understanding of how societies shape and respond to crime will play an important part in any criminology degree, as will debates surrounding how and why we punish offenders and legislate against offending behaviour.
At the University of Leicester, compulsory subjects include modules such as "Theories of crime and criminality", "An introduction to the criminal justice system", "Policing and society" and "Penality and punishment"; these are designed to cover areas that are essential to any student's understanding of criminology. A range of optional modules are also offered, with students able to choose from a selection of contemporary criminological issues such as "Crime and the media", "Crime and psychology", "Preventing crime", "Clinical criminology" and "Hate crime and victimisation".
The entry requirements for studying criminology at degree level will vary depending upon the institution to which students apply, and applicants are therefore advised to consult the individual institution's prospectus or admissions office to find out more about how to gain entry onto a particular criminology course.
By way of illustration, the entry requirements for criminology at the University of Leicester are listed below:
* A-/AS-levels: Applicants are usually expected to have a minimum of three A-levels at B,B,C level. General studies is accepted
* GCSE: maths and English at C grade or above
* Access to HE course: pass, with at least the requisite credits at level 3
* European Baccalaureate: pass, with 65 per cent overall
* BTEC Nationals: as per Tariff point requirements, plus any subject or GCSE requirements
* Other qualifications: other national and international qualifications welcomed. Key skills are also welcomed and may be included in any offer.
As with course content and entry requirements, the methods used to teach and assess undergraduate criminology students will vary according to the higher education institution offering the degree. Modules will typically be taught by a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, and students will be expected to supplement their learning through individual study and library-based work. Assessment methods will generally take the form of written assignments and unseen examinations, although students may also be assessed through alternative methods such as oral presentations, seminar diaries and peer review.
Criminology graduates will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of crime and its consequences, while their capacity for imaginative, rigorous and critical thinking will be developed throughout the degree programme. Subject-specific skills, as well as the ability to understand and use different types of evidence, will be complemented by the types of transferable skills that are crucial to future employment, including IT, research and problem-solving, communication, and the ability to work as part of a team.
A criminology degree also offers routes into a wide range of criminal justice and criminology-related careers. Possible career options include: the police service; the prison service; probation and youth offending services; the Crown Prosecution Service; community and voluntary organisations (for example, drugs projects or youth work); government agencies (whether at the Home Office or at local government level); and academic research. Is there something there for you?
Neil Chakraborti is a lecturer in criminology at the University of Leicester, www.le.ac.uk/criminology
