BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies with Law

If you haven’t applied to the University of Plymouth for September 2019 entry, prior to the UCAS deadline, there may still be vacancies on your chosen course.

It’s not too late to apply

• Make a difference – draw on our inter-disciplinary approach to study, with a focus on contemporary issues, to gain real insight into the nature of crime, the workings of the criminal justice system and the society around you, and equip yourself with the skills to bring about change.
• Equip yourself with in-demand skills – our graduates are highly sought after by a range of criminal justice agencies, including the police, probation, prison and youth justice services or find careers as paralegals and legal executives.
• Boost your employability and gain hands-on experience by volunteering with local and national criminal justice agencies. 
• Open doors to a career in the private, public or third sector – highly transferable skills mean you’ll find career opportunities in a diverse range of settings.
• Your Law minor means you’ll be eligible for entry into our Graduate Diploma in Law programme, enabling you to convert your degree to a 'qualifying' law degree.
• To complement your formal learning we offer regular PALS sessions that provide the opportunity for you to learn with and from your peers. Share knowledge, discuss ideas, and ask questions in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Year 1
• In your first year, you’ll lay the foundations for your studies, exploring perspectives on criminology and examining theories on causes of crime and deviance. You’ll develop an understanding of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and gain a grounding in criminal justice research, examining crime in the context of economic, political and social frameworks. You’ll also be introduced to the key areas of law and gain an understanding of the English, EU and international legal systems.

  Core modules

  • CCJS1112 Criminology and Crime Problems

    This module introduces students to the subject of criminology. It emphasises criminology's multi-disciplinary and the different perspectives, methods and sources of information that it draws upon in developing theories about the different causes and problematizations of crime and deviance.

  • CCJS1115 Being a Criminologist

    The module provides students with a grounding in the concepts, techniques, methods and skills necessary for developing a criminological analysis to crime and justice. Students will analyse key contemporary examples of crime, justice and social issues pertinent at the time which could include; murder, the war on drugs, police brutality and injustice within the courts. Students will assess the strengths and weakness of criminological and methodological approaches to understanding these examples.

  • CCJS1116 Crime in Context

    This module provides students with an introduction to key questions in the study of criminology and criminal justice, providing them with necessary skills to be a successful and reflexive student of criminology. The module places criminology in the context of economic, political and social interpretative frameworks, and contributes to the creation of a criminological imagination. Furthermore, the module uses this basis to introduce students to theoretical discussions that critique and question the role and practices of the main criminal justice institutions in England and Wales in relation to historical perspectives, equality, space and place and social justice, more broadly.

  • CCJS1119 21st Century Criminological Issues

    The module introduces students to the global challenges of crime and crime control. It does so by drawing on contextual examples of contemporary developments to the landscape of crime, deviancy, social problems, globalisation and criminal justice. Students will assess the strengths and weakness of criminological approaches to understanding these examples.

  • LAW1219 Legal Studies (Law Minor)

    This module focuses on providing an overview of key substantive areas of law with the integration of the development of legal problem solving skills for students on the Law Minor programmes.

  • LAW1220 Introduction to Law (Law Minor)

    This module focuses on providing an overview on the skills necessary to study law; of the English, EU and International legal systems; and of key substantive areas of law with the integration of the development of legal problem solving skills for students on the Law Minor programmes.

• Year 2
• In your second year you’ll broaden your skills – from learning how to assess, collect and use statistics, surveys, interviews and observational studies in researching crime and criminal justice, to examining theories of criminology alongside contemporary social, communications and cultural theories, urban studies, international relations and social harm. You’ll also have a choice of law modules including consumer law, tort and human rights.

  Core modules

  • CCJS2115 Crime, Theory and Culture

    This module examines contemporary criminological theory and scholarship, providing a critical analysis of new directions at the forefront of the discipline. The module covers the intersections of criminology with contemporary social theory, communications theory, urban studies, international relations, cultural theory and zemiology.

  • CCJS2120 Researching Crime and Criminal Justice

    This module describes and assesses the reliability and validity of the different methodologies and sources of information utilised in criminal justice research, focusing especially upon the collection and use of official statistics, surveys, interviews and observational studies. The module also provides practical experience for students in using specialist quantitative and qualitative computer programmes for analysing data.

  • CCJS2121 Policing and Community Safety

    This module affords students an opportunity to explore, in depth, the structures, practices and key issues facing modern policing and community safety in the UK. It focuses particularly upon the police service, but also upon developments in plural policing, including the expansion of partnership policing.

  • CCJS2125 Prisons, 'Probation' and Penality

    This module draws on theories of penality to analyse and evaluate penal policy and practice. In particular it critically examines contemporary issues, developments and debates relating to the use of imprisonment and community sentences for adult offenders.

  • CCJSP200 Preparation for Work Placement

    This module is aimed at students who have elected to undertake a placement at the end of stage 2 of their degree. On completion of the placement year students will return to sit stage 3. It is designed to build on skills learned in stage 1 and helps students in their search for a placement, and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  Optional modules

  • LAW2215 Environmental Law

    The module provides an examination of key themes in environmental law, with a focus on the generation, application and enforcement of this law within a critical and applied context.

  • LAW2216 Human Rights Law

    This module focuses on the law relating to human rights with reference to national, regional and international law principles. It examines the development and scope of fundamental rights in both theory and practice, and the legitimate limits and restrictions on rights in the interests of balancing conflicting interests in democratic societies.

  • LAW2218 Family Law

    This module will examine the principles of family law from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

  • LAW2220 Cybercrime: Issues and Regulation

  • LAW2226 Tort Law (Law Minor)

    A module for Law Minor students introducing principles and concepts of tort law and examining the principles involved in a number of selected torts. The Law of Tort is concerned with the creation and imposition of civil rights obligations on people generally. It is focused on the legal protection of a number of key rights, such as the right to bodily integrity, reputation, enjoyment of property and privacy amongst others.

  • LAW2229 Jurisprudence: law, society and justice

    This module follows jurisprudential inquiries into themes and topics relating to the concept of law and the intersection between law and society. It analyses key ideas and theories on the development of legal concepts and regulatory frameworks. It adopts a broad range of theoretical perspectives from sociology, cultural studies and economics to examine the phenomenon of law, providing a platform for developing rich interdisciplinary discussion and reflection.

• Final year
• In your final year, you’ll design and implement your own research project to produce your dissertation, working independently with the support of a member of our academic team. Choose from a variety of modules such as comparative studies, policing illicit drug use, anti-social behaviour, racism and criminal justice. Law options include criminal law, parents and children, media and information law, environmental law, European business law, and business regulation and corporate governance.

  Core modules

  • CCJS3142 Criminology/Police and Criminal Justice Studies Dissertation

    This module provides students with the opportunity to design and implement their own research project, working independently but under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

  Optional modules

  • CCJS3141 Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies: Work Based Learning

    This module provides students with opportunities to gain practical insights into the workings of criminal justice (and related) organisations, and to link such insights with criminological theory and knowledge. In addition the module will prepare students for the graduate job market and encourage their autonomous engagement in personal development planning.

  • CCJS3148A Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

    This module focuses upon a contemporary criminal justice-related issue that has received attention in the media and in official reports but may not be well covered yet in an established academic literature. The purpose of the module is for students to collect data on the issue and to subject it to a thorough criminological analysis, using the variety of concepts and perspectives covered throughout the degree programme.

  • CCJS3148B Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

    This module focuses upon a contemporary criminal justice-related issue that has received attention in the media and in official reports but may not be well covered yet in an established academic literature. The purpose of the module is for students to collect data on the issue and to subject it to a thorough criminological analysis, using the variety of concepts and perspectives covered throughout the degree programme.

  • CCJS3156 Criminology of War

    This module explores the issue of crime in the context of war and conflict. Theoretical and conceptual understandings of crime, violence, victimisation and justice will be used to interrogate acts considered as war crimes. The module will address the history of crimes committed in war and will critically explore international criminal justice responses.

  • CCJS3158 Drugs, Crime and Society

    This module critically examines the social construction of drug use and control in the UK and internationally, analysing the relationship between drugs, crime and society. A comparative approach will be utilized to explore the contextual dimensions of illicit drug use and control. Students will read criminological texts, engage with works from other disciplines and critically analyse non-academic sources, including popular journalism, internet sites and postings, and films.

  • CCJS3162 Victims, Violence and the Criminal Justice System

    This module examines women's experiences of victimisation as victims of sexual violence, domestic violence and workplace violence.

  • CCJS3165 Crime, Punishment and Social Change

    This module responds to a growing criminological interest in the history of crime and punishment. It examines how attitudes towards crime and the punishments used have changed and developed since the 18th century. It introduces students to historical research methods by utilising both digital and local archives, and encourages them to research aspects from crime history and critically compare and contrast them with contemporary perspectives and criminological literature.

  • CCJS3166 Digital Crime and Deviancy

    This module explores the issue of crime related to digital technology, in particular the Internet. It will consider how digital technology normalises and legitimises criminal activity, with a particular focus on harassment, sexual crimes and activities related to children and young people. The module will also consider approaches to tackling digital crime, considering legislative approaches contrasted against human rights issues.

  • CCJS3169 Green Criminology

    This module explores contemporary developments within the study of green criminology, offering a theoretically informed understanding of key issues at the forefront of the discipline. Students will have the opportunity to study examples of environmental crimes and their harms, their regulation and their enforcement. Students will consider the importance of criminology to understanding the causes, impacts and futures of climate change, against a backdrop of global consumer capitalism.

  • CCJS3170 Deviant Leisure

    This module explores contemporary developments within the study of deviant leisure, offering a theoretically informed understanding of key issues at the forefront of the discipline. Students will have the opportunity to study the changing nature of criminology¿s engagement with leisure against a backdrop of global consumer capitalism.

  • CCJS3171 International Human Rights and 'Children First' Youth Justice

    This module compares and contrasts youth justice policies and processes in a range of different countries. In particular, it analyses the impact of socio-political and cultural factors on youth justice debates from a comparative international perspective. This includes an analysis of the extent to which countries comply with international human rights standards.

  • CCJS3172 Critical Hate Studies

    This module will present the problem of `hate crime¿ to students by identifying legislation, policy and practice that has been framed within its context. It will deconstruct the notion of hate crime and provide a critical reflection on the notion of `hate¿ and its manifestations in late modernity.

  • LAW3229 Environmental Law

    The module provides an examination of key themes in environmental law, with a focus on the generation, application and enforcement of this law within a critical and applied context.

  • LAW3230 Family Law

    This module will examine the principles of family law from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

  • LAW3231 Criminal Law (Law Minor)

    This module provides an introduction to the principles and concepts of criminal law for Law Minors, including an introduction to modes of participation, and detailed analysis of selected offences and defences.

  • LAW3233 Commercial Law

    In outline this module covers elements of commercial law, trading, commercial relations and practice. It includes aspects of commercial transactions, agency, regulation enforcement and remedies.

  • LAW3235 Immigration, Nationality and Refugee Law

    This module focuses on the key and topical issues in Immigration, Nationality and Refugee law in the UK. The UK¿s system of immigration control is fully considered and there is some emphasis on the application of decision making to those entering the UK both for immigration purposes and as refugees. There is consideration of the global and European context and of the influence of policy, politics and the media in the field.

  • LAW3238 Sex, Power and Legal Control

    This module examines how law and society controls and regulates sexual behaviour and conduct and why and how it criminalises and punishes certain activities and sexual expression. In particular it will focus on the enactment and implementation of laws relating to sexual autonomy and sex crime and examine how these are practically operationalized within the criminal justice process. Within this context the impact upon those affected by such legal regulation is also examined.

  • LAW3239 Cybercrime: Issues and Regulation

  • LAW3244 Jurisprudence: law, society and justice

    This module follows jurisprudential inquiries into themes and topics relating to the concept of law and the intersection between law and society. It analyses key ideas and theories on the development of legal concepts and regulatory frameworks. It adopts a broad range of theoretical perspectives from sociology, cultural studies and economics to examine the phenomenon of law, providing a platform for developing rich interdisciplinary discussion and reflection.

  • LAW3249 Law, Literature and the Screen

    To introduce students to fictional representations of the legal order in prose, film and TV, and to examine the inter-connections between law, literature and the screen.

  • MAR321 Carriage of Goods by Sea

    The study of the law relating to charterparties and bill of lading contracts, and liability for pollution.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies programme specification 3283

UCAS tariff

88 - 104