BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University

Explore pressing crime and social issues and prepare for careers including policing, probation, youth offending and government. On this degree you'll discover the most recent ideas, issues and debates in criminology and sociology. These could include the media and moral panics; sexual violence and offender profiling; youth offending; war, terror and genocide – giving you a specialist perspective on crime and society.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences  |  Department: School of Humanities and Social Sciences  |  Duration: 3 years; 4 years with placement  |  Study mode: full-time (placement year available)  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

In Year 1 you’ll discover key ideas in sociology and criminology. These include the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies, and the inner workings, strengths and weaknesses of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Year 1: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Criminology, Criminal Justice in England and Wales, Sociology in Action; options include Media, Society and Crime, Global Affairs. Year 2: Mobilities and Migration, Researching Society and Culture, Ruskin Module, Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division; options include Cybercrime and Policing, Intoxicants and Intoxication, Revolving Doors: Punishment and Rehabilitation, Spirituality, Religion and the Secular. Year 3: Undergraduate Major Project, Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice, Social Change and Social Policy; options include Comparative and Global Criminal Justice, Investigative Psychology, Organised Crime, Police and Counter-terrorism.

Career pathways

Studying sociology at ARU has allowed me to see the world in a different perspective, and given me the ability to critically analyse theories and concepts. Prepare for your career from the first semester: build a portfolio and CV, attend volunteer and employment fairs, take part in our annual Criminology conference, and hear from key figures in criminal justice including authors of important criminology texts.

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