Criminology with foundation year

Criminology asks some of the most fundamental questions about how societies define, respond to and are shaped by crime. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, politics and philosophy to examine why crime occurs, who is most affected by it, how the criminal justice system functions and whether current approaches to punishment and prevention actually work. Rather than taking crime and justice as fixed categories, criminology investigates who defines what counts as a crime, whose interests those definitions serve, and what alternatives might look like.

At Coventry University this four-year, full-time programme begins with a foundation year that eases your transition into higher education before you move into the main degree. You will explore theories of crime and deviance, the sociology of policing and punishment, victimology, crime prevention and community safety, as well as the broader questions of social inequality and justice that criminology raises. The programme includes a sandwich year in professional practice and a year abroad, giving you extended professional experience and an international perspective on crime and justice issues that vary significantly across national contexts.

Your placement year allows you to test academic knowledge in real organisations working in criminal justice, community safety or related fields.

Criminology graduates are well placed for careers in probation, youth justice, community safety, social work, prison service, policing, policy research and the voluntary sector. The degree also provides a strong platform for postgraduate study in criminology, law, social policy or applied social research. Many graduates find that the critical thinking and evidence evaluation skills built during their degree are valued in a wide range of roles beyond the justice sector, including journalism, public affairs, education and community development work.