Counselling Skills and Criminology BA (Hons)

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies.<br/><br/>**Counselling Skills**<br/>Enhance your ability to communicate and gain highly developed embedded counselling skills to help others in a wide range of people-related employment contexts.<br/><br/>This course will give you the opportunity to develop practical counselling skills which can be used in a range of professional settings. You will evaluate the theories underpinning the skills and the contexts in which they are used, and enhance your self-awareness and capacity for ethical, empathic and reflective practice. You will develop valuable communication skills, knowledge and experience transferrable to a range of workplace and helping situations, as well as your multicultural competence and understanding. You will explore a wide variety of workplace contexts where counselling skills are used, carry out research and develop a critical understanding of different therapeutic approaches.<br/><br/>Chester has a long-established national reputation for the provision of counselling education. We are linked to a cutting-edge research community and the course is delivered by practitioners and researchers who draw on their own professional and academic expertise. The teaching is largely experiential with a strong practical component, and this is enhanced by guest lecturers who bring in knowledge and skills from the wider professional and academic community.<br/><br/>**Criminology**<br/>Prepare yourself for a career in one of the largest growing areas of employment as you explore the relationship between society, the individual, crime, punishment and victimisation.<br/><br/>On this dynamic and diverse course, you will gain an extensive understanding of a range of case studies, and learn how criminology can help us examine the various harms, crimes and injustices that occur domestically and internationally. Explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. Learn about explanations for crime and antisocial behaviour, and how the police and courts deal with such matters. You will study the role of punishment and the secure estate, and investigate crimes of the powerless and crimes of the powerful. The issue of human rights is integral to our analyses.<br/><br/>Through our wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise, and in ensuring a rich interdisciplinary approach, we work to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. We encourage you to engage in independent learning and thought, and we equip you with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analyse an array of materials, such as expert-led research, personal testimonies and documentaries. Across the Department we have an emphasis on being student-centred. This includes students being assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and highlighted drop-in times for you to visit lecturers.

Join a university with a real focus on making you not just ‘work ready’, but ‘World Ready’. With expert teaching alongside built-in work placements and industry links, courses are closely aligned to the real world, enabling you to graduate a step ahead, connected to a network of contacts. <br/><br/>Outside the classroom, you’ll have a comprehensive support package to help you gain self-worth and resilience, so you can contribute to society on a local, national and global level. There’s a wealth of opportunities to boost your CV; volunteer in the community, take a free language course, enhance your digital skills, work part-time and earn while you learn, and get involved with Chester Students’ Union.<br/><br/>Beautiful and packed with history, Chester is a bustling 21st century city balancing big name shopping, eating and living with an eclectic independent scene. It has a safe and thriving nightlife too. <br/><br/>Join a friendly and inclusive community that shares your ambition and Get World Ready – apply now!