Criminal Investigation with Psychology

Criminal investigation with psychology brings together the practical and procedural knowledge of criminal investigation with the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Understanding why people commit crimes, how offenders think and behave, how witnesses remember events, and how investigators make decisions under uncertainty are all questions where psychology has direct and important things to say. This degree prepares you to engage with criminal investigation not just as a set of procedures but as a discipline that is enriched by psychological understanding.

At Southampton Solent you will study the methods, legal frameworks, and professional practice of criminal investigation alongside core areas of psychological science covering cognition, perception, memory, forensic psychology, abnormal psychology, and the psychology of offending and of criminal justice decision-making. You will develop practical skills relevant to investigation, including evidence collection and analysis, interviewing, and crime scene management, alongside the critical and analytical thinking that a scientifically grounded approach to criminal behaviour requires. The programme includes a foundation year for students who need additional preparation before the main degree begins, and a sandwich placement year with a work placement, giving you professional experience in a relevant law enforcement, forensic, or criminal justice context.

Graduates go on to careers in policing and law enforcement, forensic science, crime scene investigation, probation, social work, victim services, security, and research. The combination of investigative knowledge and psychological understanding is particularly relevant to roles in detective work, forensic psychology support, intelligence, and criminal justice. Many students continue to postgraduate study in forensic psychology, criminology, or criminal justice.