Class Description

Criminology at Newman University explores crime and the criminal justice system from a critical perspective and with a focus on social justice. You will quickly become a valued part of a diverse learning community seeking to understand the full range of crimes and social harms that affect us all in society. We will debate questions such as: Is crime the product of social factors or individual psychology? Is the law enforced equally on all sections of the community? What is the purpose of punishment and prisons? How can we best respond to youth violence? Our interactive classroom sessions are complemented by field trips to courts and prisons and talks by guest speakers such as ex-prisoners, Police and prison staff, magistrates, campaigners and internationally renowned academics.

Why study Criminology?

You might find that the teaching and learning on the criminology programme at Newman is not what you expect. Especially in this day and age, you can quickly access information via the internet in seconds, so for us, studying criminology at Newman is about you becoming critical criminological thinkers.

Some facts that were ‘known’ about crime and criminal justice 100 years ago are now discredited. Sometimes you will know more than we do, and we will acknowledge this and let you educate us. This means you will be able to challenge us as lecturers, and each other, and even change what we are learning.

Rather than listening to someone at the front of a classroom giving you information, we strive to create dialogical and democratic spaces in which we can all discuss the most pertinent and contemporary topics related to crime and the criminal justice system. This will hopefully inspire you to go and find out more. We also operate a small tutor group system designed to offer you more individual support with any personal issues and develop your study skills.

You will be taught by a team of experienced lecturers who are actively engaged in research which informs the teaching and learning experience in Criminology, your

lecturers also have substantive experience working professionally in the field and utilise their vast networks to enrich your learning experience.

What does the course cover?

Year one establishes your broad understanding of the social sciences and issues of social inequality, introducing you to the many facets of criminal justice and criminological theory. You will quickly become immersed in debates about the role of the media in constructing crime as a social problem and the history and contested role of the Police service in the UK. We will explore the underlying psychological and social causes of crime and you will visit a Magistrates court to see how criminal justice is administered.

In year two you will think in more detail about ‘what works’ in terms of preventing and reducing crime. You will critically examine the moral and ethical dimensions of punishment and explore a range of social problems, considering how criminal justice and social policy offer very different ways of responding. You will also have the choice of studying either the psychology of the criminal justice system or exploring criminal justice systems across the world, comparing responses to global crime topics. This will deepen your understanding of the theoretical assumptions and ideologies that frame criminal justice policy in our increasingly globalised society. You will also have the opportunity to develop your ideas for your final year capstone project and undertake a work placement as part of your studies.

In your final year you will delve deeper into issues of equality and diversity in criminal justice and the crimes committed by big business, corporations and state actors such as the Police and national governments. You will also pursue independent, in-depth research into a criminological topic of particular interest to you. This can either be in the form of a traditional dissertation or an extended project that explains a crime related issue to an audience of your choice. You will also be able to choose from a range of tailored option modules that, for example, examine youth crime or explore crime in a specific neighbourhood through a photography project.

How will I be assessed?

All assessment is via coursework in the form of essays, personal reflective accounts, individual and group presentations, reports, case studies and digital projects like film or photography based on your own field observations. There are no formal examinations in the programme. You will receive regular feedback to help with your assignments through our tutor group system and individual tutorials.

Modules

Year 0

1. Degree Tutor Group part 1

2. Education and Society

3. Degree Tutor Group part 2

4. Being human in a Digital World

Year 1

1. Seeing Crime and Justice

2. The Criminal Justice Environment

3. The Sociology of Crime

4. The Psychology of Crime

5. Policing and Social Control

6. Understanding Social Research

Year 2

1. Qualitative Criminological Research Methods

2. Work Related Learning

3. The Psychology of Criminal Justice (Optional)

4. Comparative Criminal Justice (Optional)

5. Penology: Punishment and Prisons

6. Rehabilitation and Desistance

7. Crime and Society

8. Research Preparation

Year 3

1. Dissertation (Optional)

2. Criminology Extended Project (Optional)

3. Equality, Diversity and Criminal Justice

4. Crime and Power

5. Crime, Place and Space (Optional)

6. Young People and Crime (Optional)

Entry Requirements

At FSB we welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. If you have recently been in education or are returning after a long time, we would be more than happy to consider your application on an individual basis.

Application based on Previous qualifications:

If you are applying based on your previous qualifications, you will usually have achieved a minimum of 90 credits from a Level 3 qualification such as A Levels or BTECs.

Mature learners (Aged 21+)

If you are applying as a mature learner (aged 21+) and do not have the above qualifications, you can apply via our assessment based entry and we will consider your prior experiences (work, voluntary, life, and other experiences) that are relevant to the course.

You will be required to complete the following:

• • Provide a Personal Statement (500 words)
  • English Language Test (with a minimum 60% score, equivalent to IELTS 5.5)
  • Maths Test (Score 50%)
  • Applicants will also be invited to attend an Interview

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Find out more: admissions@fairfield.ac