Psychology and Crime

Psychology and crime together form a pairing that is both intellectually absorbing and practically important. Understanding why people commit offences, how criminal behaviour develops across a lifetime, how groups exert pressure on individuals, and how society responds to offending are questions that draw on some of the deepest themes in psychological and criminological research. This foundation degree at the University of Bedfordshire covers the study of psychology, criminology and law with a specific focus on aspects of psychology relevant to understanding behaviour in groups and individual development through childhood, adolescence and maturity.

You will develop a firm grounding in both general psychology and criminal psychology, examining the theories and evidence that explain offending behaviour, the psychological processes involved in eyewitness testimony, risk assessment and rehabilitation, and the social and developmental factors that shape criminal careers. The law component gives you an understanding of how the criminal justice system is structured and how psychological knowledge informs it, from courtroom processes and sentencing to the treatment and management of offenders. This two-year full-time foundation degree is designed to give you both academic knowledge and the analytical skills needed to apply it to real situations involving human behaviour and society's response to it.

This qualification provides a solid foundation for progression to an honours degree in psychology, criminology, forensic psychology, criminal justice or a related field. The knowledge and skills developed are also directly relevant to roles in the criminal justice system, probation, the prison service, social work and victim support. Many graduates use the foundation degree as a stepping stone to further academic study, where the understanding of psychological and criminological principles they have developed forms a strong base for more advanced work in forensic psychology or allied professional fields.