BA (Honours) Criminology and Sociology
Three years full-time
UCAS code • ML93
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Criminology
Related subjects • Sociology and politics
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Watch videos explaining some of the benefits of studying sociology at Sheffield Hallam.
This course includes a number of initiatives designed to enhance your learning experience and make you more employable after you graduate. Find out more.
Visit the Department of Criminology website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
At a glance
Study the issues of crime and how it impacts on society. Gain a foundation in both criminology and sociology then develop your knowledge in specialist areas such as crime prevention and policing. Other opportunities such as work-based learning and overseas exchange options offer you ways to build your CV before you graduate giving you the edge when you enter the job market.
Key points
• Gain an in depth understanding of criminology as it relates to sociological studies.
• Benefit from the research and expertise from two key subject centres.
• Maximise your career prospects with work-based learning and overseas exchanges.
• Learn important general skills to give you the option to work in many different areas.
What is criminology and sociology?
Criminology is the study of the many causes and effects of crime.
Sociology is the scientific study of the nature, structure and workings of human society.
This course
Study crime and its relationship to society on this joint degree. You learn the many types, causes and consequences of crime and the criminal justice institutions and the processes that seek to reduce offending, alongside studies of human society, social groups and social structures.
Your studies can help you find a career in areas like criminal and community justice, education, personnel work, the civil service, or other options in the community or public sector.
You benefit from teaching staff who are active in two research centres – Hallam Centre for Community Justice and our Centre for Education and Inclusion Research. Thanks to this involvement with research we can offer course content that is up to date and teaching perspectives that are of a very high standard.
To maximise your career prospects in the area, you can take advantage of a range of opportunities during the course, such as • work-based learning • career management sessions • the opportunity to gain an international outlook with overseas study exchange options.
In the second and third year all students can take a credited placement module or a simulation module, where you are taught by practitioners. In previous years, placement students have worked with organisations such as South Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Probation Trust and SOVA.
International academic exchanges take place in the second semester of your second year.
As well as being prepared for a career in criminology, criminal and community justice areas, you also gain skills that make you attractive to all employers. These skills include • information gathering and analysis • problem solving • presentation skills • organisational and time management skills • critical thinking and analysis • report writing • the ability to construct an argument based on sound evidence • equality and diversity awareness.
Key areas of study
In your first year you study to gain a foundation in key areas from both subject areas including • crime • society • social behaviour • offending behaviour • criminal justice.
You then use this core understanding to develop your specialist criminological knowledge with a range of optional modules such as • crime prevention • gender • hate and bias crime • health • high risk and serious offenders • media • policing and prisons • religion • sexual and violent crime • drugs and crime.
As a student you can become involved in the student-run criminology society who organise socials, invite guest speakers, hold film nights and organise visits to places such as prisons.
Find out more about BA (Honours) Criminology and Sociology
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• essays • projects • research reports • work portfolios • dissertation in year three
Study criminal issues in society
Key Information Set 
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 1 (1:02)
Alan McGauley provides a general introduction to studying sociology with us. He describes what you study, with particular emphasis on some of our sociological greats, and how you can develop your own particular interests. Alan talks about how the sociology degrees explores theories and integrates practice, to ensure you develop key skills to help you in employment.
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 2 (0:55)
Alan McGauley discusses some of the key opportunities available to sociology students studying with us, including international placements and exchanges as well as employer links.
How we enhance you employability
As part of the course we run a number of initiatives designed to enhance your learning experience and make you more employable after you graduate. Examples of these initiatives are given below.
Employability fair
Every September a variety of agencies from across the criminal justice and voluntary sectors attend our event with the sole aim of employing our students as volunteers within their organisation. This has included prisons, Police, probation, SOVA and Remedi amongst others, who are involved with a broad spectrum of individuals including victim services, young offenders, neighbourhood resolution teams, prisoners and independent custody visitors. The placements you secure can be used in your second and third year of study to gain academic credit as you look at how theoretical approaches apply to real life situations.
Probation training
The department delivers the Probation Qualifications Framework across Yorkshire and Humberside and also the North West, under contract from the Ministry of Justice. This course offers the qualification required to be a probation officer.
Guest lectures and career mentoring
Throughout the year we have a variety of guest speakers. The talks are from a variety of practitioners and academics and may focus on a range of issues, from case studies to policy initiatives, from employment histories to careers advice. A number of these individuals also offer their time as career mentors, where you are partnered with a practitioner who will meet with you regularly to discuss your academic goals and your future career path.
Visit the Department of Criminology website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
