School of Law

BA Criminal Justice and Criminology is a modular course that gives you a wide range of choice over the topics that you wish to study in more detail. A module is a unit of teaching that the School then examines upon completion. Modules are weighted in terms of credits: most modules have a 20 credit weighting.

In all three years you will study 120 credits. Some modules are compulsory (all in your first year) but you will be able to chose additional modules in your second and third year.

Teaching methods

Most teaching involves lectures, seminars and workshops. Lectures 'set the scene' for a topic or theme, and provide you with a framework for independent study. Seminars are smaller groups of between twelve and fifteen students, who meet for structured discussions under the guidance of a seminar leader. Seminars allow students to investigate lecture topics in more depth, raise questions and develop arguments.

There are also opportunities to hear guest speakers from local criminal institutions, to visit criminal justice agencies and apply for work placements.

Assessment

In general, we assess modules through either essays and exams but sometimes use other methods such as presentations. The School assesses some modules by examination only and some by coursework alone.

Where we assess a module by examination and coursework, the proportion of marks for each component of assessment may vary from subject to subject.

Supported by a supervisor, final year students design and complete a dissertation: a large piece of independent study on a criminological issue of particular interest to them.