Program Overview

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Forensic and Criminal Investigation

BSc (Hons)

Summary

Study level: Undergraduate Award: Degree Full time: 3 years Part time: 3 years+ Location: Online

What makes Arden University special?

Education for everyone, everywhere Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

Are you interested in the fascinating world of forensic and criminal investigation? Our BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation course will fully immerse you in diverse aspects of the investigative process using cutting-edge technology, giving you valuable practical insight into real-life investigations.

The course starts by taking you on an immersive journey through the entire investigative process, illustrating the natural progress of criminal investigations and the interlinked areas of policing and forensics. Through this, you will gain knowledge of how the various personnel involved in an investigation work together to achieve a common goal. Not only is the course delivered by skilled academic staff with years of experience in the field, but the additional use of guest lectures and webinars will provide you with a solid grounding of real practises in modern forensic and criminal investigations.

Just one of the ways this course stands out is our immersive virtual crime world, which allows you to place yourself in real-world scenarios. To supplement your learning, this environment will be integrated seamlessly with your modules so that you can put the theory you learn during your lessons, seminars, and workshops into practice. You’ll have the opportunity to take on a range of investigative roles as you navigate different environments such as crime scenes, the police custody suite, the major incident room, police cells, the courtroom, the forensics lab, and a burial site where you uncover partially clothed bones. Through this, you’ll gain insight into important processes and roles in forensic and criminal investigations, preparing you for future work in the field of forensic investigation.

This course shares the same level 4 modules as our BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Investigation. After completing the first year of your course, you’ll have the option to switch over to this pathway if it better suits your interests.

Course details and modules

Your course modules begin by taking you through the entire forensic investigative process, from the scene of the crime to the courtroom. Each module will link offences, offenders, law enforcement, forensic personnel, laws, and legislation, helping bring evidence to life. Using our unique virtual environment, you’ll also have the opportunity to assume the role of a crime scene investigator, detective, civilian investigator, and coroner, helping you translate theoretical principles to the real-world scenarios you might face in your future role.

Later in the course you’ll study the academic components of forensic science, and the use of a wide range of modern forensic techniques, including forensic trace analysis, forensic biology and anthropology, and environmental forensics. Through level 5 elective modules, you’ll also be able to adapt your curriculum to your individual areas of interest.

Modules

• Level 4
  • Introduction to Forensic Investigation (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Criminal Investigation (20 credits)
  • Police Custody (20 credits)
  • Witnesses: An Introduction (20 credits)
  • Criminal Investigation: Procedures and Practices (20 credits)
  • Analysis and Application of Forensics (20 credits)
• Level 5
  • Core Modules
    • Forensic Trace Analysis (20 credits)
    • Forensic Biology (20 credits)
    • Civilian Employability (20 credits)
    • Death Investigation and the Coroner (20 credits)
  • Optional Modules
    • Transnational Organised Crime (20 credits)
    • Intelligence (20 credits)
    • Community Policing (20 credits)
• Level 6
  • Forensic Anthropology (20 credits)
  • Environmental Forensics (20 credits)
  • Law Enforcement: Vulnerability and Risk (20 credits)
  • Special Investigations Portfolio (60 credits)

Authentic assessments. No exams.

Unlike on more traditional degree programmes, you won’t be sitting any exams on this BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation. Instead, the course utilises authentic, real-world assessments that replicate the observations, interviews, and reports that would be conducted in the field as part of a real forensic and criminal investigation.

Study options

Online learning

Studying this course online gives you the ultimate in convenience. As one of our online students, you'll study your degree through iLearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud, which provides everything you need to study at university.

Learn within an immersive virtual reality environment

This ground-breaking course uses a custom-built immersive virtual environment to put you at the heart of the crime scene. You’ll be able to place yourself into the scenario that is being presented, providing a seamless integration between your course content and our supplementary virtual crime world. Each of the modules studied in each year are linked by offences, offenders, law enforcement and forensic personnel. You will be assuming these different roles as you navigate through the crime world, investigating various offences that have been presented to you.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for our BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation, you should normally have:

• Two subjects at GCE A level or equivalent, plus passes at grade C or above in three subjects at GCSE level or equivalent.
• Alternative level 3 qualifications will also be considered, including Access to HE, a BTEC Extended Diploma, or internationally equivalent.

We’re also happy to consider your application if you can demonstrate your ability to study the course via previous work experience, references, and a personal statement.

English proficiency

• IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent.
• Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the medium of instruction was in English can be accepted.

Course fees and funding

Course fee breakdown

Studying Online | Fee ---|--- Fee per level: Level 4 fee: £5,500 Level 5 fee: £5,500 Level 6 fee: £5,500 Please note: Fees quoted relate to the intake that you enrol on (i.e. when you start your course), NOT your application date.

Meet the faculty

Dr. Emma Winlow obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Criminology and Crime & Justice from the University of Chester and completed her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire. A public criminologist, Emma has extensive leadership and management experience in higher education and is passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and employability in teaching and learning. She established the School of Criminal Justice with these practices in mind. Emma is also a member of the British Society of Criminology and the British Society of Criminology’s Teaching and Learning Network.

Career prospects

Our BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation will provide you with the foundations you need to continue on with further study and for future work in the field of forensic and criminal investigation.

Industry skills

Once you’ve enrolled on your course with Arden you’ll get access to your Digital Backpack, a toolkit of digital resources we’ve put together to help you succeed during your time studying with us.

Here are some of the digital resources you’ll have available throughout your course:

• Office 365 subscription
• Integrated zoom video conferencing
• Careers support available through Arden Futures, your careers platform, to help you throughout your career journey whether you are a Career Starter, Changer or Developer
• Perlego online library, giving you access to over half a million books, journals, and articles
• Subscription to Togetherall for an abundance of mental health support.