Criminology and Psychology

Criminology and psychology address two sides of one of society's most persistent challenges: understanding why crime happens and how individuals and institutions respond to it. Criminology examines the social, cultural, and structural factors that shape criminal behaviour and the systems through which societies attempt to manage it. Psychology contributes the individual-level analysis, examining the cognitive, emotional, and developmental processes that underlie behaviour, including behaviour that causes harm.

Together, they provide a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and justice that neither subject can offer alone.

At Sheffield Hallam University, this three-year full-time degree with a foundation year gives you both a criminological and a psychological perspective on the causes and consequences of crime, the criminal justice system, and the treatment and management of offenders. You will develop a broad, cross-disciplinary understanding of criminological and psychological theory and learn how to apply this knowledge to real-life experiences, human behaviour, and workplace contexts. A sandwich year and work placement opportunities are integrated into the programme, giving you professional grounding in relevant organisations.

The typical entry tariff is 120 points.

Graduates from criminology and psychology programmes pursue careers across the criminal justice system, mental health services, social care, youth work, victim support, probation, the police service, and the voluntary sector. The combination of psychological and criminological knowledge is particularly valued in forensic settings, rehabilitation contexts, and roles that require assessment and intervention with people involved in the justice system. Postgraduate study in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminology, or social work is a natural continuation for those wishing to develop specialist professional credentials.