Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and sociology bring together two social sciences that share deep intellectual roots while approaching the study of social life from distinct but complementary angles. Sociology provides the broadest framework, asking how societies are organised, how inequalities are produced, how institutions function, and how social change happens. Criminology focuses on the specific phenomena of crime, deviance, and the social response to them, asking why crime patterns look the way they do, how criminal justice systems operate, who is labelled criminal and why, and what the effects of punishment and other interventions are.

Together, the two disciplines develop a rich and critical understanding of social order, harm, and justice.

At the University of Brighton, this three-year, full-time programme develops both disciplines alongside each other in an integrated way. You will engage with sociological theory and research methods, exploring topics such as class, gender, race, globalisation, and digital culture, while also developing a thorough grounding in criminological thought, from classical and positivist theories through to critical, feminist, and cultural criminology. The programme encourages you to think critically about the categories and institutions we use to understand crime and justice, and to evaluate the social-scientific evidence about what works in responding to harm.

Brighton's urban location and its diverse social context provide a vivid backdrop for thinking about the sociology of crime and urban life.

This programme includes a sandwich year with a work placement, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a real professional setting. Graduates go on to careers in the criminal justice system, probation, social work, youth justice, victim support, community organisations, research, policy, journalism, and a range of other fields where sociological understanding and awareness of crime and justice are directly relevant. Further postgraduate study in criminology, social policy, social work, or sociology is also a well-established pathway.