Criminology and Criminal Justice BA (Hons)

About This Course

This course provides you with the opportunity to study two main subject areas; Criminology and Criminal Justice. Criminology examines theories and evidence relating to crime, criminals and victims, while Criminal Justice studies explore the various responses to crime and victims, from informal to formal legislative measures of social control and crime prevention; and examine the way in which the criminal justice system works - from policing through to imprisonment and rehabilitation.

The degree is designed to provide students with the practical knowledge and understanding of how criminal justice system works as well as an opportunity to consider the social and cultural factors that influence people’s decision to engage in criminal activity. Within the degree students gain a broad knowledge base of crime and crime control but also have the opportunity to focus on several distinct and complex areas of human behaviour such as drug abuse, interpersonal violence and organised criminality.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• During the course you will be taught by staff who combine research careers with a real dedication for teaching which takes place in a friendly and informal environment.
• We have good links with criminal justice agencies (locally, nationally and internationally) and our courses are innovative and reflect the topicality of the subject area.
• A range of visiting speakers adds to the learning experience.
• The structure of the degree allows you to specialise as well as to cover a broad range of options and to rise to the intellectual challenges of the subject area. The first year is designed to build your confidence, whatever your background.
• The degree includes discussion of a diverse range of complex subject and areas within the study of crime and criminality. Including the study of youth offending, victimology and organised crime.

Course Content

Modules on this course utilise a combination of weekly hour-long lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. Criminology focuses on contentious and challenging topics so lively discussion and debate is encouraged as we consider various challenges of crime control and motivations for why people offend.

Students will be directed over the course of the degree to academic studies and reports on crime and crime control using our online learning platform ‘Blackboard’ and Bangor University Library which provides access to a range of resources.

Throughout the degree we include sessions from guest speakers such as representatives from the criminal justice system and visiting academics, to provide students with a dynamic learning experience. We use a mixture of different assessment strategies during the degree from presentation tasks to essay and reports.