South Devon College

FdSc Criminology and Psychology

Everything at University Centre South Devon (UCSD) is designed to maximise your employability and future career opportunities. Courses are created with local employers to ensure you learn industry-relevant skills and are delivered in small classes with regular one-to-one support, covering a range of study skills – it’s no wonder we’re recognised as a leading institution in the National Student Survey.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    • Introduction to Criminological Theory (SOUD1351)

    • Social, Developmental, Clinical and Learning Psychology (SOUD1430)

      This module provides an introduction to four areas of psychology: learning, clinical, social and developmental psychology.

    • Research and Professional Skills (SOUD1451)

    • An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales (SOUD1501)

      This module describes and analyses the structure and role of the criminal justice system and the objectives and philosophy of the main criminal justice institutions in England and Wales. It will introduce students to the practices and processes of the criminal justice system as it examines crime control, sentencing and a variety of responses to offending, explaining how these processes are underpinned by human rights.

    • Crime, Criminology and Society (SOUD1502)

      This module looks at the impact of how crime and criminals are perceived within society. It encourages students to apply criminological and sociological theory and research to explain attitudes to crime and criminal justice and to consider how public perception interacts with media coverage, political agendas and criminological or penal policy

    • Methods of Detection and Offender Profiling (SOUD1503)

      Students will be introduced to the purpose of detection and criminal profiling methods, such as a need to link crimes to suspects, the importance of assessing risk and the ability to predict or prevent re-offending. Methods will then be introduced and applied to explain how arsonists, rapists, and serial murderers can be detected and profiled.

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    • Individual Differences and Research Methods (SOUD2297)

    • Youth Justice, Restorative Justice and Victims of Crime (SOUD2301)

    • Policing and Community Safety (SOUD2387)

      Module will critically consider the role of policing and police, examining the policing task, the organisation of the police and key issues associated with the police in contemporary society. It will analyse the growth of political and academic interest in crime prevention and community safety. Involving the study of crime prevention, and the implications of community safety for social and criminal justice policy.

    • Criminological and Penal Theory (SOUD2457)

      The module will critically explore major criminological and penal theories, both historical and contemporary. The module will seek to explore different kinds of punishment that are implemented around the world and the rationale behind them. In the context of theory, the module will investigate the relationship between punishment, social values and political and philosophical positions. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to engage in critical and evaluative debates surrounding contemporary real world issues.

    • The Psychology of Offending Behaviour (SOUD2458)

      Biological, behavioural, cognitive, developmental and social approaches will be applied to explain offending behaviours, such as stalking, aggression and sexual offences. The potential relationship between mental illness and offending will also be critically considered and approaches to offender rehabilitation will be evaluated.

    • Victim and Witness Psychology (SOUD2459)

      The focus of this module is to gain an understanding of the impact that crime can have on victims and witnesses of crime using cognitive and physiological psychology. Cognitive psychology will be applied to explain how various factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness memory. Physiological psychology will be explored in relation to the impact that crime can have biologically on victims and witnesses of crime.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

How to apply

All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.

Our partnership with South Devon College

The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

Studying with South Devon College

At the heart of the sunny English Riviera, we’re an award-winning Beacon status college. Add to that our ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted (in 2009), modern facilities and our larger-than-life Students’ Union, and you’re left with the perfect environment.
 
Plymouth students working on a group project