Criminology and Psychology BA (Hons)

The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice involved in researching crime. You will be provided with the tools to develop your own thoughts and ideas about criminological matters, review criminological literature, plan and conduct research, and present research outcomes to diverse audiences. In addition, you will acquire digital literacy and transferable skills that will be benefit you in other learning and employment environments.

Compulsory

This module focuses on political, social, cultural, and popular constructions of victims of crime and wider social harms. The module places particular critical focus on the victimisation experiences of marginalised social groups, demonstrating that certain individuals and groups are more readily ascribed victim status than others. You will consider the international context, with technology and global insecurity that can affect the way people experience being victims of crime today.

Compulsory

This module aims to provide you with a core understanding of biological psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. This module adopts a thematic approach. Several themes will be considered across the module delivery that will be contemporary, of global significance (e.g. mental health) and may change in any given year. You will be required to examine individual and group responses to the issues presented by drawing on knowledge and understanding of key topics within each of the core domains and demonstrating how these relate to the criminal context.

Compulsory

Following on from the previous module, Perspectives in Forensic Psychology, this module will continue developing your understanding of the core aspects of psychology and should extend this to consider how this knowledge could contribute to solving a community relevant issue. You will continue to look further into biological psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and individual differences by adopting a thematic approach. You will be tasked with researching an issue relevant to external community-based organisations. You will be required to examine individual and group responses to the issues presented by drawing on knowledge and understanding of key topics within each of the core domains. 

Compulsory

This module introduces you to key issues relating to policing democratic societies. This will include a critical evaluation of the relationships between the police, the state, and the citizen. The independence of the police and their interdependence within the wider criminal justice system will be assessed, and concepts such as consensus, legitimacy, and accountability in relation to policing practice will be explored. Topics to be debated range from policing protest and disorder to the role of the media in representing the police.

Compulsory

This module focuses on historical developments and contemporary issues surrounding the use of criminal sanctions. It covers the theoretical underpinning of punishments and risk management whilst aiming to equip you with a critical understanding of the effectiveness of custodial and community sentences. You will explore key issues relating to punishment and control, such as the complexities of managing a diverse prison population, privatisation, and reintegration, and will demonstrate your understanding through group exercises in an assessment centre environment.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary global organised crime. It will examine organised crime as a transnational phenomenon and the need for major organised criminal activities, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, to cross borders. A broader analysis will explore how the expansion of global trade and lowering of barriers to free movement that have enabled the world economy to grow have also provided parallel opportunities for illegal trade. A detailed comparative analysis will also be made of traditional criminal organisations, such as the American and Sicilian mafia, Japanese Yakuza, and Chinese Triads, and new organised criminal groups in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, and the United Kingdom as well as terrorist groups. Particular attention will be given to international and domestic organisations involved in fighting organised crime and the impact of globalisation on organised criminal groups.

Compulsory

The aim of this module is to explore forms of violence and exploitation in childhood and adulthood. You will investigate violence and exploitation in relation to incidence, prevalence, and reporting, as well as theoretical and explanatory frameworks. You will also be encouraged to develop an understanding of the concepts, issues, and current debates in the field of violence and exploitation with emphasis on developments in theoretical approaches, policies and procedures. Through discussions of recent research, you will explore the impacts and meaning for victims/survivors, persistence and change with respect to the justice system, support services, and approaches to prevention.

Compulsory

Choose one from the following three modules:

• Criminal Behaviour and its Contexts - 20 credits
  This module aims to explore the contribution psychology can make to our understanding of criminal behaviour across different contexts in society. It will look into how people explain why crime happens in various situations in society. Applying psychological theories, three types of crimes, which include violent, sexual and economic crimes, will be examined in specific contexts, which can include the family, workplace and sports. At an applied level it will demonstrate the impact psychology has made in specific areas of the criminal process, for example, the development of treatment programmes, and the prevention of crimes related to the contexts examined.
• Addictive Behaviours - 20 credits
  This module aims to further your knowledge of key topic areas in the domain of psychopharmacology. It aims to develop your understanding of the interrelationship between drugs, psychology and behaviour, and draws on several areas of psychology (particularly cognitive and biological approaches) in developing models of, for example, addictive processes. Relevant findings from several branches of science, including psychophysics, psychopharmacology and molecular biology will be considered.
• Child and Educational Psychology - 20 credits
  This module aims to develop your knowledge of key theories and research that relate to the psychology of development, teaching and learning and the application of those theories to applied contexts. You will be introduced to areas of special educational needs experienced by children and adults and how these difficulties impact on their experience of school and growing up. Issues of assessment, labelling, intervention, and remediation will be examined.

Optional

Choose one from the following three modules:

• Clinical Neuroscience - 20 credits
  This module builds on the biological and cognitive approaches to Psychology introduced in your second year. It introduces contemporary and complex neural mechanisms of human behaviour in typical and clinical populations. The module seeks to develop your ability to critically evaluate published scientific reports of current research in Clinical Neuroscience, with a particular focus on criminal behaviour. The module aims to develop an appreciation of neurological mechanisms underlying human thinking and behaviour and the clinical pictures that arise when the mechanisms are disrupted. You will engage with emerging critical issues within Clinical Neuroscience and recognise a range of factors that influence human behaviour, particularly considering criminal behaviour. This will be encapsulated within the assessment, which requires you to present an in-depth understanding of a selected neuropsychological function and submit a written project demonstrating a firm command of classical Neuroscience concepts and how they relate to known clinical disorders and criminal behaviour.
• Counselling Psychology - 20 credits
  The module aims to introduce you to the broader concepts within Counselling Psychology and specifically you should gain an understanding of the key theoretical explanations and how to implement these in practice with diverse clients (e.g. cross-cultural counselling, sports performers, former athletes, victims and ex-offenders). This will be focused within three main approaches in Counselling Psychology: humanistic (person-centred), cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic and across different treatment modalities (e.g., individual, group, couples and/or family therapy). You will also have the opportunity to develop counselling skills by engaging in co-counselling skills sessions for each of the key approaches involving a variety of different group-based activities (e.g., scenario-based behavioural rehearsal, inter-personal strategies). You will engage in critical reflection on your experience of using counselling skills within your chosen approach.
• Aggression and Violent Behaviour - 20 credits
  This module will introduce key theoretical explanations of aggression and violence within different contexts (e.g., mental health hospitals; prisons; intimate relationships). You will integrate mainstream psychological theories across the core areas of psychology (i.e., developmental, social, biological, cognitive) to build an understanding of how aggression and violence can explain deviant/criminal behaviours and interpersonal conflict within different situations and professional relationships. There will be a focus on thinking critically, developing interventions, and analysing existing models/framework linked to different forms and explanations of aggression and violence. For example, Triggered Displaced Aggression may be explored within various contexts, drawing on the different perspectives. You will have the opportunity to critically evaluate contemporary literature across the domains of aggression and violence, with an applied focus.

Optional

This module aims to help you build and use the skills needed to thoroughly study a crime-related topic while also concentrating on a particular aspect of criminology. Throughout this module you will conduct independent learning, communicate effectively and appropriately retrieve, and use information from a variety of sources, and develop time management skills.

Compulsory