Program Overview

BA (Hons) Criminology and International Relations with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• Develop your ability to understand the cross-roads between Criminology and International Relations
• Learn from nationally and internationally recognised experts in the fields of Criminology and International Relations
• Join a highly motivated and research active academic community
• Specialise on pressing topics relating to crime, international politics, justice and security including but not limited to warfare, terrorism, globalisation, crime prevention and protest.

About your course

A new degree which will encourage students to critically examine the intersections between Criminology and International Relations

In a global age, the links between crime, harm, deviance, and global contexts remain at the forefront of public and policy debates. To understand the world we live in today and develop opinions on how to engage with this fast-paced world, the BA (Hons) Criminology and International Relations degree at Liverpool John Moores University will provide you with a thorough, critical and nuanced understanding of the fields, Criminology and International Relations.

By studying this unique programme, students get to explore how crime and crime prevention increasingly transcend state borders through a range of theoretical and real-world case studies of state and non-state actors, law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations. The degree will encourage you to develop your critical thinking skills as you interrogate concepts of crime, punishment, justice, security and globalisation in order to make sense of a dynamic and fast-changing world.

While this course will enable you to acquire traditional academic knowledge and understandings, it is also geared towards the development of transferable skills that are essential for employment-related success.

Course modules

Foundation Year

• Preparing for Academic Success (30 credits)
  • This module provides you with the integrated skills required for academic success. It will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the terminology and expectations associated with higher education study and you will learn to identify, understand and demonstrate academic research, writing and referencing techniques.
• Investigating Liverpool (30 credits)
  • This module will provide you with the necessary skills to develop a Liverpool focussed research project from your subject perspective. You will identify and locate relevant source material; outline how this source material can be used as a foundation for your research project and write a coherent piece of academic work which evidences understanding of Liverpool.
• Contemporary Issues in Policing, Security and Criminal Justice (30 credits)
  • This module provides you with the opportunity to understand contemporary Policing, Security and Criminal Justice and the local, national and international issues and challenges to securing social justice.
• Peace: the Pursuit of Harmony in Humanities and Social Science (30 credits)
  • This module aims to develop your understandings of society at peace through a multi-disciplinary approach in humanities and social science.

Year 1

• Global Crime and International Relations (20 credits)
  • Global Crime and International Relations (Part 1) is a module that explores the intersections between international relations and international crime in order to highlight and explain their distinct yet interconnected nature and makeup.
• Introduction to International Relations and Politics (20 credits)
  • This module enables you to understand the world in which we live today. It provides a solid grounding in the study of international affairs through the varying theories that have been developed throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries.
• Global Crime and International Security (20 credits)
  • Global Crime and International Security (Part 2) will introduce the students into the linkages between crime and security in twenty-first century.
• Modern Global History: Empire, Statehood, and Sovereignty (20 credits)
  • The state in international affairs is an essential component to the study of International Relations. This module will guide you through its development in Europe from the 17th Century to the present day.
• An Introduction to Criminological Theory (20 credits)
  • This module will introduce you to a core of key theoretical perspectives within criminology.
• Inside the Criminal Justice System (20 credits)
  • This module will introduce you to the roles, agencies and institutions key to the operation of the Criminal Justice System.

Year 2

• Crime, Justice and the International (20 credits)
  • In an era of globalisation, it is possible to locate issues such as crime and justice on the international level.
• Research Methods in Criminology and International Relations (20 credits)
  • Research is the core business of all academic discovery. Understanding the plurality of methodology and methods and using them effectively to investigate global societies develops our academic and policy literacy.
• Criminology and International Relations in Practice (20 credits)
  • This module provides you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of a particular topic related to Criminology and International Relations and enables you to develop the necessary research skills for the work place and prepares you for your Level 6 research project module.

Year 3

• Research Project in Criminology and International Relations - Route 1 (40 credits)
  • The dissertation is an independent research project. Working under the direct supervision of a research-active member of staff, you will produce an extended piece of original independent research which will draw upon the latest developments in your field and demonstrate your in-depth knowledge.
• Research Project in Criminology and International Relations - Route 2 (40 credits)
  • In the first semester students will take workshops focused on research skills, including interview techniques. In the second semester, they will participate in the MOD hacking programme, respond to the question set, interview government personnel, and present and write-up their findings.

Your Learning Experience

• Excellent facilities and learning resources
• Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
• Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

Career paths

• Placing your career goals at the heart of your learning
• This course situates employability skills and mindsets at its forefront and it seeks to enhance your career prospects in diverse fields, including government and non-government sectors, research, teaching, social work and youth justice.

Tuition fees and funding

• The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
• The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies.

Entry requirements

• Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD (72)
• GCSEs and equivalents: Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification.
• A levels: Minimum number of A Levels required: 2, Average A Level offer: DDD
• BTECs: National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications, National Diploma subjects / grades required: DM if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
• Access awards: Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications, Further information: At least 24 Merits and 21 Passes, or any other combination that equates to 72 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject
• International Baccalaureate: International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications, Additional information: 72 UCAS Tariff points
• Irish awards: Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications, Grades / subjects required: 72 UCAS Tariff points with a maximum of 20 points from Ordinary Level
• Welsh awards: Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• T levels: T Level requirements: 72 UCAS Tariff points in a related subject
• NVQ: Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
• Alternative qualifications considered: Mature applicants will be considered on an individual basis. These applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview, and should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.