Criminology

Criminologists play an important role in the criminal justice system. They conduct research, teach and work with various law enforcement agencies. They study the social and psychological factors that cause people to commit crimes and research which approaches to rehabilitation do and don’t work.

Subject Information

An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology.

Course Details

Criminology is an A-Level equivalent qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in humanities.  It has been designed to offer exciting, engaging experiences that focus learning for students through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in contexts linked to the criminal justice system. 

Students will have the opportunity to: 

  • Develop an understanding of different types of crime, and influences on perceptions of crime  
  • Plan campaigns for change relating to crime 
  • Consider links between societal perceptions of crime and policy-making 
  • Review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases

     

The qualification would support learners’ progression from GCSEs in Sociology, Law, Psychology, Philosophy and other humanities subjects.

Subject Specific Entry Requirements

  • Grade 6 in a GCSE humanities subject.

Where could Criminology take me?

An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social work, probation work, sociology and psychology. Criminology is a course designed to support learners progressing to university. These courses include: BSc Criminology; BA Criminology; BA Criminology and Criminal Justice; BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology; LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology; BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology; BA (Hons) Criminology; BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology; BSc Criminology with Law. 

Alternatively, the qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service. 

Reading List

Textbooks 

  • Henderson, C. (2022) 
    WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology: Revised Edition 
    Illuminate Publishing 
    ISBN: 9781912820986 
  • Webb, R. and Townend, A. (2021) 
    Criminology Book 1 for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma: Revised Edition 
    Napier Press 
    ISBN 9781838271503 
  • Webb, R. and Townend, A. (2021) 
    Criminology Book 2 for the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma: Revised Edition 
    Napier Press 
    ISBN 9781838271510 

 

Journals and Blogs 

  • A Level Law Review 
    Hodder Education 
  • The British Society of Criminology  
    The BSC blog: all about current issues on crime, criminology and criminal justice 
    thebscblog.wordpress.com  

 

Articles and official reports 

You will be directed to news articles, journal articles and official reports via the super-curricular channel on Teams.  

Examples for Unit 1, AC1.1-1.6 include: 


Books about true crime
 

  • The Secret Barrister (2019) 
    The Secret Barrister: stories of the law and how it’s broken 
    Pan Macmillan 
    ISBN: 9781509841141
  • Bilton, M. (2012)
    Wicked Beyond Belief
    Harper Collins
    ISBN: 9780007450732
  • Li, C.A. (2020)
    The murders at White House Farm
    Pan Macmillan
    ISBN: 9781529013313 

 

Wider reading 

  • Newburn, T. (2018) 
    Criminology: a very short introduction 
    Oxford University Press 
    ISBN: 9780199643257
  • Carrabine, E., Cox A. et al (2014)
    Criminology: A Sociological Introduction
    Routledge
    ISBN: 9781138566262
  • Treadwell, J. and Lynes, A. (2019)
    50 facts everyone should know about crime and punishment in Britain
    Policy Press
    ISBN: 9781447343813
  • Frank, P.E. and Cabula, I. (2020)
    Criminology and criminal profiling for beginners
    Independently published
    ISBN: 9781654727239
  • Frank, P.E. and Cabula, I. (2020)
    Forensics psychology and criminal minds for beginners
    Independently published as an ebook
    ASIN: BOBGCJ3HNY 

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