Criminology

Criminology is the academic study of crime, criminal behaviour, the criminal justice system and society's responses to lawbreaking. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, politics and philosophy to ask searching questions about why crime occurs, how it is defined and measured, who is most affected by it, and whether punishment, rehabilitation and prevention actually work. Criminology does not simply describe crime: it examines the social forces and institutional arrangements that shape what gets called crime and who gets treated as a criminal.

At the University of Northampton, this three-year full-time programme takes you through the major theoretical traditions in criminology, from classical and positivist approaches to critical, feminist and cultural criminology, alongside substantive engagement with topics including policing, sentencing, imprisonment, victimology, youth justice and online crime. You will develop your skills in research methods and data analysis, as well as your capacity to construct well-evidenced arguments and engage critically with policy debates. The programme develops the kind of analytical rigour that is valued across many professional contexts, not just within the criminal justice sector.

Graduates work in probation, prison services, police support roles, youth offending teams, victim support organisations, social work, the charitable sector and policy research. The research skills and critical thinking that criminology develops are also valued in journalism, local government, public health and education. Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in criminology, social policy, law, social work or related fields, using their undergraduate foundation to move into specialist practice or academic research.

The degree provides a strong preparation for any career that requires understanding the social and institutional dimensions of harm, justice and response.