Criminology

Criminology is the systematic study of crime as a social, political, and legal phenomenon. It asks why particular acts are defined as criminal at particular times and in particular societies, who commits crime and why, how victims are affected, and whether the institutions of criminal justice, police, courts, and prisons, actually deliver what they promise. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, and political science to produce a discipline that is both analytically rigorous and directly relevant to some of the most contested questions in contemporary public life.

At Richmond, the American International University in London, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, a sandwich year with work placement opportunities, and a year abroad, offering an unusually full set of structural features for students who want to combine academic study with practical experience and international exposure. The American university tradition at Richmond brings a transatlantic and comparative perspective to a field that benefits enormously from cross-national comparison. You will study crime, deviance, and social control through the lens of multiple disciplines, with attention to comparative criminal justice systems and global perspectives on crime and punishment.

Criminology graduates pursue careers across criminal justice, social policy, research, and advocacy. The police, probation service, prison service, youth offending teams, and victim support organisations are established employers. Social work, community development, and roles in the charitable sector working with offenders and victims are further options.

Policy research and journalism draw on the analytical skills developed. The year abroad and placement year give graduates an international outlook and real-world professional experience. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in criminology, social work, law, or public policy, and the comparative perspective developed at Richmond is particularly useful for those pursuing internationally oriented careers.