BSc (Hons) Criminology and Sociology

This degree is designed to give you a solid understanding of the general theories, typical methods and key studies of criminology and sociology, and to relate these to contemporary issues in society. Our innovative curriculum covers a wide range of optional subjects which serve the local community, and are linked to research of international and national quality. We have strong links with local criminal justice agencies, who work with us both in the classroom and outside.

You will learn how to examine how crime, deviance, justice, law, regulation, surveillance and punishment are constructed, maintained and disturb the social order at all levels.

Our aim is to provide you with a deep criminological and sociological insight into the nature of social relations, crime and justice.

In your first year, all modules are compulsory. Here you will examine modules covering key criminological and sociological issues. We will also equip you with the study skills needed to get the best out of your degree, and introduce you to both the nature and scope of research within criminology.

In your second year and third years you will build on these foundations by looking in more detail at different theoretical perspectives in criminology and sociology.

Across years two and three, six options must be taken, three from criminology and three from sociology/language. However you make your combination, in year two you must choose two options for semester two. Combined with your core modules this will give you a total of 120 credits. The optional modules listed below are usually offered every year, so could be taken either in year two or year three.

You have one core module in the third year – for this you must choose one of the independent study options (see below). You then have to choose four optional modules from the lists above to complete your 120 credits for year three: two in semester one and two in semester two.

Students on this course also have the opportunity to study a new module called ‘Inside-Out’. This module involves contact hours that are delivered inside HMP Forest Bank prison with ‘inside’ students, who are serving prisoners enrolled as University of Salford students for the duration of the module. Both the ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ students learn together throughout the module.