Criminology

Criminology asks why crime occurs, who commits it, who is harmed by it, and how societies respond through law, policing, courts, and punishment. It is an intellectually challenging discipline that draws on sociology, psychology, philosophy, and law, and it demands that you engage critically with the concepts and institutions that most people take for granted. What counts as a crime?

Who gets labelled a criminal? Does punishment work? These are not questions with simple answers, and criminology takes them seriously.

The Open University offers criminology on a part-time, distance learning basis, making it genuinely accessible to students who cannot attend a campus-based university. This includes those who are working, caring for others, or who simply prefer the independence and flexibility of distance learning. The OU has decades of experience in developing high-quality learning materials and online support, and its criminology programme draws on that expertise to deliver rigorous academic content in a format that fits around other commitments.

You will engage with the major theoretical traditions in criminology, from classical deterrence theory and strain theory through to labelling theory, critical criminology, and feminist perspectives on crime and justice. You will examine specific areas such as policing, the prison system, youth justice, white-collar crime, cybercrime, and victimology, and you will develop research skills that allow you to engage critically with evidence and to evaluate competing claims. The distance format encourages independent study habits and develops the discipline of sustained analytical writing, which serves graduates well in many careers.

Graduates from OU criminology programmes work in the criminal justice system, social work, probation, victim support, the voluntary sector, public administration, and journalism. The analytical and written communication skills the degree develops are also valued in many other contexts. Postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, social policy, or related areas is an option for those who wish to specialise further or pursue research careers.