Introduction to Criminology with Sociology BA (Hons)

The Criminology with Sociology programme offers students the opportunity to combine two closely related and complementary disciplines, tackling some of the most interesting and important issues of our times. Criminology, the major component of this programme, involves the study of crime as a particular aspect of all societies. Sociology, the minor component, involves the study of the ways in which societies are organised and how they function.

Course Content

The programme involves critical engagement with relevant theories, concepts, and ideas, as well as the development of a wide range of critical thinking, research, and communication skills. Students will be taught and supervised by world-leading experts in the subject areas and will experience a range of research-engaged teaching, learning, and assessment methods.

Year One

Modules in year one provide a broad introduction to the two subject areas and disciplines via a series of mandatory modules. This includes an introduction to foundational criminological theories, thinking, and debates, an introduction to foundational sociological thinking, as well as an introduction to key social policy issues and debates.

• SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY (SOCI101) - 30 credits
• BECOMING A SOCIAL RESEARCHER (SOCI106) - 30 credits
• SOCIAL CHANGE AND SOCIAL POLICY IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY 1 (SOCI102) - 15 credits
• SOCIAL CHANGE AND SOCIAL POLICY IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY 2: CHANGING INEQUALITIES (SOCI103) - 15 credits
• INTRODUCTION TO CRIME AND SOCIETY (SOCI107) - 15 credits
• CONTROLLING CRIME - AN INTRODUCTION (SOCI108) - 15 credits

Year Two

Modules in year two build on these foundations by introducing students to more advanced and contemporary criminological and sociological theorising. They involve a particular focus on policing, punishment, and prisons, as well as more advanced training in social science research methods.

• CRIMINOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS (SOCI244) - 30 credits
• QUANTITATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS (SOCI247) - 15 credits
• QUALITATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS (SOCI248) - 15 credits
• POLICING IN A DIVIDED SOCIETY (SOCI241) - 15 credits
• PUNISHMENT, PENALITY AND PRISONS: CRITICAL DEBATES (SOCI254) - 15 credits
• THINKING SOCIOLOGICALLY: APPROACHES TO SOCIAL INQUIRY (SOCI242) - 30 credits
  • Optional modules:
    • DEVIANCE, YOUTH AND CULTURE (SOCI252) - 15 credits
    • CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL POLICY IN THE UK (SOCI205) - 15 credits
    • THE BLACK PRESENCE - MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT IN BRITAIN (SOCI223) - 15 credits
    • CRITICAL EDUCATION STUDIES (SOCI257) - 15 credits
    • COMPARING WELFARE STATES (SOCI207) - 15 credits
    • CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIETY (SOCI258) - 15 credits
    • UNDERSTANDING VIOLENCE (SOCI296) - 15 credits

Year Three

In year three, students are required to undertake a substantive piece of supervised but original research, either in the form of a dissertation or an applied Interchange Portfolio project. Both provide students with a unique opportunity to apply the competencies they have been developing over the previous two years to a topic area or issue that is important to them.

• DISSERTATION (SOCI301) - 30 credits
• INTERCHANGE PORTFOLIO: WORK-BASED LEARNING (SOCI303) - 30 credits
• CREATIVE CONSULTANT: DISSERTATION BY PORTFOLIO (SOCI347) - 30 credits
• SHORT INTERCHANGE PROJECT (SOCI311) - 15 credits
  • Optional modules:
    • HEALTH, LIFECOURSE & SOCIETY (SOCI307) - 15 credits
    • GENDER AND CRIME (SOCI308) - 15 credits
    • HATE CRIME AND 'THE STIGMATISED OTHER' (SOCI313) - 15 credits
    • THE RISK SOCIETY: CRIME, SECURITY AND PUBLIC POLICY (SOCI320) - 15 credits
    • THE VIOLENCE OF NEO-IMPERIALISM: STATE-CORPORATE CRIME IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (SOCI322) - 15 credits
    • CULTURE, ECONOMY AND CITIES (SOCI327) - 15 credits
    • GENDER AND THE WELFARE STATE (SOCI332) - 15 credits
    • SOCIOLOGIES OF CLASS AND INEQUALITY (SOCI335) - 15 credits
    • DRUGS, CRIME AND SOCIETY (SOCI339) - 15 credits
    • CONTEMPORARY CULTURE AND THE SEDUCTIONS OF CRIME (SOCI340) - 15 credits
    • 'RACE', COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY (SOCI346) - 15 credits
    • CRIME, JUSTICE AND THE SEX INDUSTRY (SOCI349) - 15 credits
    • LOVE, HATE AND ANGER: EMOTIONS AND SOCIETY (SOCI354) - 15 credits
    • CYBER CRIME, HARM, AND VICTIMISATION (SOCI362) - 15 credits
    • BODIES, POLITICS AND MORALITY (SOCI363) - 15 credits
    • COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (SOCI369) - 15 credits
    • ARCHITECTURE AND POWER: PARLIAMENTS, PRISONS AND COURTS (SOCI372) - 15 credits
    • MEN, MASCULINITIES AND SOCIAL CHANGE (SOCI374) - 15 credits
    • ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION: A CRITICAL EXPLORATION (SOCI378) - 15 credits
    • LOVE AND MARRIAGE: THE SOCIOLOGY OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS (SOCI380) - 15 credits

Teaching and Assessment

Students will be taught through a combination of face-to-face teaching in group lectures and small class sessions, tutorials, and seminars, which are supplemented by opportunities to get one-to-one guidance from academic staff during their weekly 'open office' hours. The rest of their study time will be spent undertaking directed independent study, making use of excellent library and IT facilities.

Course Options

Studying with us means students can tailor their degree to suit them. Here's what is available on this course:

• Global opportunities: University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
• Year in China: Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
• Year abroad: Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
• Semester abroad: Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
• Summer abroad: Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
• Language study: Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree.

Your Experience

The Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology is based in the state-of-the-art School of Law and Social Justice Building. While teaching takes place across campus, this is your home for departmental support and student life. Just a one-minute walk from the Sydney Jones Library and a ten-minute walk from the city centre, it's surrounded by Liverpool's rich history and vibrant culture.

Careers and Employability

We will help students develop a range of social scientific, analytical, and communication skills, along with a variety of transferable skills valued by many employers across various industries. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in public and private sectors, social welfare and criminal justice agencies, non-governmental organisations, and more.

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK fees: £9,790 per year (full-time), £1,955 (year in industry fee), £1,465 (year abroad fee)
• International fees: £27,000 per year (full-time), £1,955 (year in industry fee), £13,500 (year abroad fee)

Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay tuition and living expenses, including:

• The Liverpool Bursary
• Asylum Seekers Scholarship
• Care Leavers' Opportunity Bursary
• Cowrie Foundation Scholarship
• Estranged Students Bursary
• Genesys Life Sciences Scholarship
• Nolan Scholarships
• Rigby Enterprise Award
• ROLABOTIC Scholarship
• Sport Liverpool Performance Programme
• Technetix Broadhurst Engineering Scholarship
• Young Adult Carer's (YAC) Bursary

Entry Requirements

• A levels: BBB (applicants may only offer ONE of the following A Levels: General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or Critical Thinking)
• T levels: considered in a relevant subject
• GCSE: 4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDD in one of the specified subjects
• International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall with no score less than 4
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H2, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3
• Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher: BBB in Advanced Highers
• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced: B in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus BB at A level
• Access: pass relevant Access to HE Diploma (Humanities/Social Sciences) with 45 Level 3 credits with 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit
• International qualifications: select your country or region to view specific entry requirements

English Language Requirements

Students will need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless they are from a majority English-speaking country. We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.

• IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17, and speaking 19
• Duolingo English Test: 125 overall, with speaking, reading, and writing not less than 105, and listening not below 100
• Pearson PTE Academic: 61 overall, with no component below 59
• LanguageCert Academic: 70 overall, with no skill below 60
• Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500: Grade C overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking and listening
• Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0990: Grade 4 overall, with Merit in speaking and listening
• Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0510/0511: 0510: Grade B overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking; 0511: Grade B overall
• Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0993/0991: 0993: Grade 6 overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking; 0991: Grade 6 overall
• Cambridge ESOL Level 2/3 Advanced: 176 overall, with no paper below 162
• International Baccalaureate English A: Literature or Language & Literature: Grade 5 at Standard Level or grade 5 at Higher Level
• International Baccalaureate English B: Grade 7 at Standard Level or grade 6 at Higher Level

Pre-sessional English

Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course? The length of the Pre-sessional English course you will need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.

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