Sustainable Development and Criminology

Sustainable development and criminology is a degree that brings together two fields of inquiry that address, from different angles, some of the most pressing questions about how societies can function justly and responsibly. Sustainable development is concerned with meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, examining the environmental, economic and social dimensions of that challenge. Criminology investigates crime, deviance and the institutions of criminal justice, asking how harm is defined, how it is controlled, and how the costs of crime and punishment are distributed across society.

The two disciplines connect in important ways: environmental crime, corporate harm, the criminalisation of protest and the policing of communities all sit at their intersection.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, the four-year programme explores both disciplines with attention to the distinctive context of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The region faces environmental challenges, including land use conflicts, rewilding debates and the effects of climate change on rural communities, as well as social challenges around deprivation, access to services and community cohesion. These real-world problems give the degree a grounded and locally relevant character alongside its broader theoretical concerns.

The programme develops your ability to gather and evaluate evidence, to think critically about social and environmental policy, and to communicate complex ideas clearly. These skills are applicable in a wide range of professional and research contexts.

Graduates of degrees combining sustainable development and criminology move into careers in environmental policy, criminal justice, community development, the voluntary sector, local government, research and education. Postgraduate study in criminology, environmental law, social policy, sustainability or a related field is a natural next step for those who want to develop specialist expertise.