History and Criminology BA (Hons)

Study History from the sixteenth century to modern day, while exploring key aspects of crime and criminal justice – from offending to rehabilitation.

You’ll explore the combination of the theory, policy and practice of criminal justice and criminology. Criminologists seek to understand the nature and impact of behaviour labelled as ‘criminal’. A key focus of our programme is the relationship between criminological theory and knowledge to real-world criminal justice policy and practice. You will combine this with studying history against the rich historical background of Derby and Derbyshire – an important centre for trade, religious expression, industry and enlightenment thought. Our History courses explore these key ideas and themes both within our region and across the globe.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE


1. Combining two subjects boosts your employability and gives you the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise in two subject areas, making you a more versatile graduate


2. You will enjoy the opportunity to debate major philosophical ideas such as retribution, rehabilitation, and punishment and apply them to the real world. Does prison work? Is rehabilitation effective? How do the justice and penal systems in other countries compare with our own?


3. Benefit from Derby and Derbyshire’s rich historical and cultural heritage as the backdrop to your studies


4. Take modules underpinned by research and our strong relationships with police, probation services, prisons and other criminal justice agencies, cultural organisations, museums and World Heritage sites


5. Develop your understanding of how the local, regional, national and international interconnect in the fields of Criminology and History to gain a global perspective


HOW YOU’LL LEARN:

For Criminology modules, you will learn through lectures, tutorials, group work and independent learning.

For History modules you’ll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, study visits and co-curricular learning.

YOUR CAREER:

Our Criminology graduates go onto a range of roles in areas such as the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, probation and prison services, the police, youth offending teams and other law enforcement roles. As Criminology is such a diverse subject, it also opens opportunities for roles in other areas such as social research, academia, public sector, management or third sector roles such as victim services.

Due to the transferable nature of the skills, you’ll learn studying History such as verbal and written communication, critical analysis, independent thought and problem solving youll be suitably positioned for a range of roles upon graduating. In recent years, our own graduates have entered a variety of careers, including:
• Teaching



• Libraries



• Museums and archives



• Retail and commercial management



• Human resources



• Marketing



STUDY OPTIONS:

On the Joint Honours programme, there are different pathways of study available. You can often study both subjects equally or choose to major in a subject. Please view the course page on our website for more information on pathways.

We're a Top 10 UK University* in the heart of England, with great transport links to London and the rest of the UK.

Ranked 2nd in the UK for employability and course quality*, the University of Derby offers expert, industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

(*Uni Compare 2026)