Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and sociology is a combination that takes seriously the idea that crime cannot be understood in isolation from the social structures that produce it. Criminology asks why crime occurs, who commits it, how criminal justice systems respond, and whether those responses are fair and effective. Sociology provides the broader analytical framework, examining inequality, power, culture, and institutions, and showing how social conditions shape the opportunities and constraints that individuals face.

Together, they give you a richer and more critical understanding of crime and society than either discipline provides alone.

At Sussex you will expand your criminological imagination through sociological perspectives, developing the analytical and research skills to understand complex contemporary societies and to engage critically with how they might be changed. You will study criminological theory from classical to critical and cultural perspectives alongside sociological frameworks for understanding inequality, race, gender, class, and power. Research methods training in both disciplines will equip you to design and conduct empirical investigations as well as to engage critically with existing research.

The three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year for students who need it, a sandwich placement year, and a year abroad, providing comprehensive preparation alongside direct professional experience and international exposure during your studies.

Graduates pursue careers in criminal justice, social research, policy, the voluntary and community sector, youth justice, social work, journalism, education, and the civil service. The analytical skills the combination develops are valuable in any professional context that involves understanding how society generates inequality, how institutions respond to it, and how things might be different. Many students continue to postgraduate study in criminology, sociology, social policy, or law.