(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Criminology (Including Foundation Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Criminology
BA M903
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
UK and EU applicants:
All applications for degree courses with a foundation year (Year Zero) will be considered individually, whether you
- think you might not have the grades to enter the first year of a degree course;
- have non-traditional qualifications or experience (e.g. you haven’t studied A-levels or a BTEC);
- are returning to university after some time away from education; or
- are looking for more support during the transition into university study.
Standard offer:
Our standard offer is 72 UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels, or equivalent.
Examples of the above tariff may include:
- A-levels: DDD
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMP
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria, please get in touch for advice.
Mature applicants and non-traditional academic backgrounds:
We welcome applications from mature students (over 21) and students with non-traditional academic backgrounds (might not have gone on from school to take level 3 qualifications). We will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference, to gain a rounded view of your suitability for the course.
International applicants:
Essex Pathways Department is unable to accept applications from international students. Foundation pathways for international students are available at the University of Essex International College and are delivered and awarded by Kaplan, in partnership with the University of Essex. Successful completion will enable you to progress to the relevant degree course at the University of Essex.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall. Specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
Our Year 0 courses are only open to UK and EU applicants. If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to your chosen degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Emily Gray
Assistant Professor of Criminology
University of Warwick
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To provide students with an understanding of the distinctive character of criminological thinking (B).
- To provide students with a knowledge of the main theoretical traditions of criminology (B).
- To provide students with an understanding of research methods in criminology (B).
- To develop students capacity for critical enquiry, argument and analysis (B).
- To develop students capacity for independent learning.
- To provide students with the knowledge and skills to enable them to proceed to further study and research.
Reference to the QAA Benchmarks for Criminology are indicated by the letter B.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: A knowledge of key criminological concepts and theories
A2: A knowledge of the social, political and mediatised processes of victimisation and criminalisation (b)
A3: An understanding of the relationship of social divisions and diversity in relation to crime, deviance, victimisation and responses to crime. (b)
A4: An understanding of changing and diverse policing forms, practices, structures and cultures, and the relationships between individuals, groups and public and private police (b)
A5: An understanding of the changing values, policies, practices and institutions involved in different forms of punishment, community safety, security and criminal justice (b)
A6: An understanding of the principles of research design and the main approaches to data collection in crime and social problems (b)
A7: An understanding of the value of comparative analysis (b)
A8: An understanding of the relationship between theory, concepts and substantive issues in criminology (b)
Learning methods
The Department uses lectures to present material - ideas, data and arguments- in a clear and structured manner using examples, mapping the field and the contours of debates.
Lectures are also used to stimulate students interest in the area under discussion.
In each Module the issues and arguments covered in lectures are explored further through weekly classes or workshops for which students have to prepare.
The curriculum is designed to involve clear progression between the foundational work in the first year and the subsequent compulsory Modules.
There is a strong emphasis on developing students theoretical understanding of criminological work through the compulsory criminology modules, especially the progressive structuring of the material in SC104/SC204/SC205/SC304/SC382.
Classes, and preparation for classes, provide the opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the content of the Modules.
In addition student learning takes place through the work they do preparing essays and assignments.
In the first year on SC104 students are required to produce assignments based on selected empirical studies in criminology.
Students have to produce a critical reflection and an essay for SC111 and have a required examination question on key sociological concepts.
SC104 and SC111 also specifically introduce students to examples of ongoing research in the Department.
In the second-year Module SC203 students gain knowledge of research methods through workshops and small groups, in the context of preparation for the final year project.
In Module SC306, there is a focus on analysing a variety of crime texts (in literature, film and television).
In the third-year Modules SC304, SC382 and SC335 , there is a particular focus on comparative analysis and on criminal justice practitioners in action through international case studies and guest sessions.
In their third year all students must carry out independent work for a research project (SC831) for which they receive some individual supervision.
Assessment methods
Outcomes A1 to A8 are assessed through Module work and unseen written examinations.
Module work includes assessed oral presentations, essays, assignments, critical reflections and book reviews, and a research proposal.
In addition, the assessed work for all third year students includes a research project.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: An ability to understand, summarise and critically assess criminological work (b)
B2: An ability to compare competing theories and explanations (b)
B3: An ability to develop a reasoned argument
B4: An ability to assemble, evaluate and interpret evidence (b)
B5: An understanding of the epistemological and ethical dimensions of research (b)
Learning methods
Students enhance the above intellectual skills primarily through the work they do for their Modules, although lectures and classes provide a means of teachers demonstrating these skills.
Preparation for classes and class presentations involve the reading, interpretation and evaluation of criminological texts and the collection and evaluation of empirical data and policy documents.
Class tutors provide feedback on class presentations and contributions to classes through comment and discussion.
Similarly the preparation of essays and other assignments also develop the listed intellectual skills.
Students are provided with feedback on all assessed work and this is crucial to their intellectual development.
Their work for the first, second and third-year journals and the third year research project is also vital to the Departments learning and teaching strategy for this degree.
Assessment methods
Outcomes B1 to B5 are assessed by Module work and exam.
B1 and B2 are assessed through essays, assignments, journals, oral presentations and unseen written examinations for the criminology Modules.
Not all assignments require the evaluation and interpretation of empirical evidence (B4) though many do, and these skills are specifically assessed in some of the assignments for SC203.
On all Modules students are required to marshal material in order to expound an argument.
C: Practical skills
C1: An ability to retrieve relevant evidence using bibliographic and web searches (b)
C2: An ability to summarise, report and evaluate arguments, texts and findings in the field of criminology. (b)
C3: An ability to frame a research proposal and to identify and apply the appropriate research methods
C4: An ability to undertake scholarly work. (b)
C5: An ability to conduct and present a small scale piece of research
C6: Completion of work experience/volunteering and ability to reflect on in in the context of career decision making
C7: Competence in key elements of the job selection process
Learning methods
In the first year assignments cover tasks such as producing a bibliography on a sociological topic, producing a glossary, describing and evaluating a sociological text.
Throughout the three years of the degree practical skills are developed through preparation for classes, preparing essays and other assessed assignments, giving presentations and doing written examinations.
In SC101, students carry out an observational study and SC111 requires students to produce a journal which demonstrates reflexive awareness in interpreting sociological material.
The work for SC201 includes the detailed examination and interpretation of key sociological texts and in SC203 students frame a research proposal and select the appropriate research methods.
In addition the third year project for SC831 is particularly valuable in developing students practical sociological skills.
Some of these skills are further developed through the work students do for their optional courses.
Students receive detailed feedback on all their coursework and presentations.
Study skills advice and training is available from the Student Support Manager in the Study Centre, which is dedicated to this purpose.
Assessment methods
Skill C1 forms part of the assessment of almost every piece of assessed Module work.
Skills C2 and C4 are assessed in the majority of pieces of assessed Module work and written examinations.
C3 and C4 are assessed in the Module assignments for SC203.
C3, C4 and C5 are assessed in the third year research project (SC831).
D: Key skills
D1: An ability to present ideas and evidence to others both orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
D2: An ability to collect and present materials using information technology
D3: An ability to read, interpret and draw inferences from official statistics; an ability to carry out simple statistical calculations
D4: An ability to identify problems and propose solutions
D5: An ability to plan work, manage time, and to operate in group settings
D6: An ability to plan work and manage time, and an ability to reflect on their own work and respond constructively to the comments of others
Learning methods
Generic skills are taught and learned throughout the degree through a range of strategies, for example, requiring students to give oral presentations, through giving them specific assignments such as carrying bibliographic and web searches, through specific assignments requiring numerical skills, and through class discussion and class and essay preparation.
Students have the opportunity to discuss essay plans with staff and are given clear deadlines for their work which they must meet.
They are given feedback on all their Module work and are encouraged to reflect and improve upon their work.
Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in working in groups through their participation in the classes for every Module.
Assessment methods
Communication skills are assessed throughout the degree through continuous assessed Module work (including oral presentation) and examinations.
IT skills are a component in the evaluation of most assessed work which require bibliographic and web searches, but there is a particular focus on them in assessments for SC101 and in the literature review assignment for SC203.
Numeracy skills are assessed in SC203, which includes the computer application of statistical procedures.
Problem solving skills are assessed in almost all assignments.
Since the curriculum is structured in a progressive manner, student skills in improving learning and performance are also assessed through the related structured progression of formal assessed work.