Criminology with Law

Criminology with law is a degree that combines two disciplines with deep, natural connections. Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime, asking why it happens, who commits it, who is victimised, and how society responds through policing, prosecution, courts, and corrections. Law provides the formal framework within which crime is defined and adjudicated, establishing the principles through which individuals are held accountable and rights are protected.

Studying them together produces a more complete and critical understanding of how the criminal justice system works than either discipline provides on its own.

At Teesside this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year that provides a supported entry route for students who need additional preparation before advancing to the main degree. You will be introduced to the historical and contemporary development of the social science disciplines that underpin criminology, alongside the legal knowledge and analytical skills that are central to law. The programme explores criminological theory and research methods, the sociology of crime and deviance, criminal justice policy, and the core areas of English law, including criminal law and procedure, building a framework that is both academically rigorous and practically grounded.

Graduates go on to careers in the police, the probation service, the prison service, youth offending teams, social care, victim support, legal practice, social research, and policy. The combination of criminological understanding and legal knowledge is particularly valuable in roles that sit at the interface of law and social practice, where understanding both the formal rules and the social realities of the criminal justice system is essential. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in criminology, law, social work, or criminal justice, and the foundation year ensures that students with the motivation and potential to succeed have the preparation they need.