Criminology and Criminal Justice BSc (Hons)

What is crime? Who commits crime and why? Should crime be punished? This BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice gives you the chance to think critically about such questions. It offers you a unique and cutting-edge approach to criminology by exploring conventional approaches to criminal justice, as well as offering you an appreciation of alternative responses to harmful behaviour in society. It is ideal if you are looking for a course that is critical, questioning and creative.<br/><br/>**Why choose this course?**<br/><br/><br/>- We offer you high-quality, flexible and supportive teaching by internationally recognised academics with expertise in the social, political, economic, theoretical and cultural contexts of crime.<br/><br/><br/>- We employ social justice principles to allow you to focus on key issues such as race, gender and sexuality to understand everyday problems and injustices including policing and racism, domestic and sexual violence, and hate crime.<br/><br/><br/>- This course equips you with wide-ranging skills that are valued in the working world of frontline criminal justice or advocacy, policy or campaigning.<br/><br/><br/>**What you will learn**<br/><br/>On this flexible course you can tailor your learning to your interests, be it terrorism, drugs, migration, prison abolition or alternative routes to justice. You will learn to critically evaluate evidence and examine theories to better understand criminological problems. You will analyse real-world events through a focus on national and international criminal justice policy, institutions and practices. You will also think about the people who make, and those who are subjected to, these systems and processes.<br/><br/>Our skills-based approach fosters your skills in critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and communicating and writing for different audiences: transferable skills that are highly valued in a range of professions and careers. <br/><br/>**How you will learn**<br/><br/>This BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice is available for you to study full- or part-time. Classes take place in the evening to give you time during the day for other commitments. Our lectures and seminars are delivered through innovative methods including virtual learning environments, multimedia content, student-led study groups and built-in study skills acquisition. <br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- Dedicated academic skills workshops are run by our Learning Development Tutors, who can advise on a range of study skills.<br/><br/><br/>- You can participate in our year-round Criminology Careers Events: Work for Social Justice, Work for Criminal Justice. You can achieve support from Birkbeck alumni through our Mentoring Pathways scheme.<br/><br/><br/>- You can hear from scholars within and beyond Birkbeck including at the esteemed Annual Criminology Lecture, Law on Trial events week and our Criminology Research Seminars. These showcase prominent academics carrying out path-breaking research on crime, criminal justice and related themes.<br/><br/><br/>- You may be eligible for the Birkbeck cash bursary scheme to assist with the costs of study, such as purchasing books, printing and travelling to classes.<br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability** <br/><br/>On successfully graduating from this BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:<br/><br/><br/>- a critical appreciation of social interests, positions and values and their impact on social policy and law-making in criminal justice<br/><br/><br/>- the ability to confidently communicate information about crime and criminalisation to a range of audiences<br/><br/><br/>- the ability to research, plan and present investigations into a particular area of crime and criminal justice including analysing and interpreting theoretical or empirical research.<br/><br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in criminal justice, public safety, social welfare or policy, charities and NGOs or academia and research. Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- community development worker<br/><br/><br/>- prison or probation officer<br/><br/><br/>- social worker<br/><br/><br/>- adult guidance worker.<br/>