Sociology with Criminology

Sociology with criminology is a degree that combines the systematic study of how societies are organised with a focused engagement with one of their most contested and consequential dimensions: crime and its control. Sociology provides the conceptual tools for understanding social structures, inequalities, institutions, and the forces that shape human lives in ways that individuals often cannot see. Criminology applies similar analytical rigour to the definition, measurement, causes, and responses to crime, challenging dominant perspectives and asking who benefits from the way crime and punishment are organised.

At the University of York, this three-year, full-time programme develops your sociological imagination alongside a criminological understanding that encourages you to reconsider taken-for-granted assumptions about crime and disorder. You will explore some of the most hotly debated topics in contemporary society, from mass incarceration and policing to corporate crime and the politics of punishment, developing the analytical and research skills to engage with them with evidence rather than instinct. A sandwich year, year abroad option, and work placement opportunities are all available, giving you professional experience and the chance to encounter different social and criminal justice contexts.

York's research culture in sociology and criminology provides a rigorous academic environment, and graduates develop the skills in social research, argument, and written communication that employers in many sectors value. Careers in social work, probation, criminal justice, policy research, community development, the charity sector, journalism, and the civil service are all common destinations. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in sociology, criminology, social policy, or related fields, building on the analytical foundation the undergraduate degree provides.