Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and sociology are disciplines that together provide one of the most powerful frameworks available for understanding crime, deviance, and the social forces that shape them. Criminology examines why crime happens, how it is defined and measured, how the criminal justice system responds to it, and what the evidence says about punishment, rehabilitation, and prevention. Sociology supplies the broader analytical toolkit, helping you understand the structures of inequality, power, and culture within which crime takes place.

At Teesside University, this three-year full-time degree develops your academic skills and critical understanding of both disciplines. You will build expertise in searching for and evaluating evidence, critical thinking, academic writing, research design, and the use of digital tools for learning and analysis. These are not peripheral skills: they are the foundation of effective practice in research, policy, and the criminal justice professions.

You will engage with sociological and criminological theory and apply that theory to real social questions about crime, inequality, justice, and social change. The typical entry tariff is 88 UCAS points.

Graduates of criminology and sociology programmes pursue careers in the police and criminal justice system, probation and rehabilitation services, youth work, social research, public policy, the charity sector, community development, journalism, and social work. The analytical and research skills the degree develops are valued in any professional context where understanding people, organisations, and social structures matters. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in criminology, sociology, social policy, law, or social work, deepening their knowledge in the areas where they want to build a long-term career.