Criminal Justice FdSc

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Gain a critical understanding of the criminal justice system. Equip yourself with the skills needed to work in the police, probation and prison services and other non-government organisations that work with offenders, victims or other vulnerable populations. Study at a local college and have the option to ‘top-up’ to a full bachelors degree with a third year of study at the University of Sunderland.

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Overview

This full-time, two-year criminal justice course is designed to provide you with the skills and capabilities utilised in the criminal justice sector, with the opportunity to progress onto the BSc (Hons) Criminology course.

You will gain an understanding of the National Occupational Standards for the justice sector, underpinned by academic knowledge, understanding and evaluation of broader justice sector issues.

You will focus on the history of crime and punishment, political philosophies of crime and law, violence and criminal justice, policing and rehabilitation in a variety of criminal justice environments and with a diversity of client groups.

Please note, we are not recruiting to this course.

Why us?

Diverse, innovative and flexible learning and teaching methods
Applied research methods incorporate training in computer-assisted data analysis software
Volunteer in criminal justice organisations such as the police and youth justice and in non-government organisations including community rehabilitation companies and Changing Lives

The criminal justice course is developed in partnership with employers and stakeholders, adding value to your employment opportunities
Opportunity to ‘top-up’ this course to a full BSc (Hons) degree with an extra year of study
Teaching staff are research-active, which enhances the curriculum and student experience

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and group and individual presentations.

Your progress will be assessed with written coursework, research projects, presentations and exams. Throughout the criminal justice course you will have one-to-one support from academic staff.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Introduction to Criminology (20 credits)

Understand the key concepts and definitions of crime and the problems in defining and measuring crime and criminality, outlining some of the main issues and debates on the ‘social problem of crime’. Explore media representations of crime; dimensions of vicimisation and victimology, and the relationships between social divisions and crime, such as class, gender, age, and ethnicity.

Social Problems (20 credits)

Examine the contribution sociology can make to thinking about and trying to solve social problems. Gain knowledge of the nature and extent of particular social problems to explore the relationship between definition, explanation, and intervention. Build on your research skills to enable you to identify the causes, impacts and responses to social problems in society.

Introduction to Criminal Justice System (20 credits)

Understand criminal justice within the broader context of civil societies from a historical context and the key concepts and theoretical approaches that underpin the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Explore the systems, processes, and practices of the criminal justice ‘system’ with reference to the main agencies, departments and organisations involved. Examine the influence of social divisions such as class, gender, race, and age in criminal justice.

Applied Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences (20 credits)

Gain an understanding of the theory and practice of qualitative research methodologies and methods in social science. Discover the history of social science research and the philosophical and methodological debates which have underpinned the emergence of contemporary social science. Carry out your own research, investigation an aspect of contemporary social life, learning how to think about, organise, manage, and report on social scientific research.

Equality, Diversity, Ethics and Rights (20 credits)

Gain knowledge and understanding of equality, diversity and rights legislation, as well as the ethical requirements pervading all aspects of the justice sector. Research the practical application of legislation and the framework within which legislation operates, paying particular attention to the role of equality, diversity and ethics within this framework.

Law and Procedure (20 credits)

Investigate the effect and practical application of legislation and the criminal justice procedure. Discuss the main provisions of legislation relating to the criminal justice sector. Identify and explain the main provisions of legislation governing the organisations within the sector such as the Criminal Justice Act.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Theoretical Issues in Criminology (20 credits)

Examine some of the main criminological theories that have sought to explain and account for crime and criminality and its impact over the last century. Analyse the implications of different approaches to substantive issues in criminology.

Offender Management in Criminal Justice (20 credits)

Engage with key philosophies of punishment that underpin modes and justifications for punishing offenders in criminal justice in England and Wales, such as rehabilitation and risk management. Evaluate criminal justice legislation and subsequent policies and practices of the probation and prison services, with a particular focus on the punishment agencies.

Policing Past, Present and Future (20 credits)

Explore how the politics institution as we know it came to emerge and how it has been shaped over time by examining the history of policing. Discover how police powers and accountability has prompted controversy and concern within the public and political domain and consider how these powers are regulated in response to controversies concerning police misconduct. Develop an understanding of the different relationships and experiences people have with the police and critically consider the future of the police in the face of the changing nature of society and growth of technology.

Applied Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences (20 credits)

Examine the effectiveness of using quantitative research methods and methodologies in social science to gather information on contemporary social and cultural environments. Apply the principles underpinning quantitative research to the analysis and interpretation of statistical data. Investigate an aspect of contemporary social life, learning how to think about, organise, manage and report quantitative research.

Work-based Learning (20 credits)

Develop an understanding of the importance of multi-agency approaches to working in a political, social and policy context, examining the key drivers for change.

Impact of Crime (20 credits)

Consider the impact of crime with regards to the victims, witnesses and survivors, and the wider community. Explore the theoretical issues associated with crime and its impact, and the theories of victimisation, as well as secondary repeat victimisation, allowing you to contextualise the impact of crime within the wider society.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

Applicants without formal qualifications may qualify for entry through relevant work based experience.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

Please note that this course is not available to international students.

If you need support or have any queries about applying for your finances for this partner college programme, or want to get in touch with our Partnership Liaison team, you can find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

This criminal justice course has a strong emphasis on real-world learning that boosts employability through real-life observations of the criminal justice system and volunteering opportunities.

Career options

Many of our students have gone on to work in the police, probation and prison services, CRCs and other non-government organisations that work with offenders, victims or vulnerable people. We monitor changes in employers' recruitment methods in order to enhance the employability of our students.

Further study

We provide a solid foundation in criminology so you can progress onto the BSc (Hons) Criminology course.

You will gain all of the qualifications and skills needed to apply to become a probation officer on the BSc (Hons) Criminology course, particularly if you have taken the applied criminology and criminal justice pathway. We regularly monitor and react to these requirements to enhance your employability.

You will also be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for further study such as criminology research masters, criminal justice professional courses, social policy, teacher training, social work courses and PhD research.

Practical experience

Our academic staff have links to the criminal justice system including the police, probation service, community rehabilitation companies (CRCs), youth offending teams and the prison service. You will experience real-world situations by observing the criminal courts, visiting prisons and volunteering in a relevant organisation.

Centre for Applied Social Sciences

College staff will be supported by a research active lead Criminology team who are all members of CASS and British Society of Criminology. The work of CASS is currently organised around three strands: Children, Young People and Families; Communities, Health and Social Exclusion; and Crime, Victims and Social Justice. Members of CASS are engaged in various research activities under these three themes from original academic research to practice-based collaborations and reach-out activities. The objectives of CASS are to produce excellent original research to increase society's understanding of social issues; to facilitate knowledge exchange between academics, frontline practitioners and policymakers to promote development of best practice and policy; and to develop a research-active curriculum that engages undergraduates and graduates in policy and practice challenges in their chosen field; and provides a supportive research environment for early career and postgraduate research.

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Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Education and Society.

Page last updated: 30 November 2022

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