How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
On this course you will gain the knowledge, skills and attributes required for a professional career in the criminal justice or social justice sector. You will learn from our Criminology staff group who have a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills. Many have come from professional practice (including prisons, probation and police), and others are from academic and research backgrounds, numerous of whom are actively involved in current criminological research.

You learn on this course through:

• lectures
• class-based discussion and debate
• group tasks
• projects
• tasks utilising digital platforms
• simulation activities
• case study analysis
• online learning resources

On this course, you will focus on key foundational areas such as the criminal justice system, human rights and values, and social science research methods, building up to a specialised knowledge of the causes and consequence of crime and deviance within a social, political and international context. Core modules cover the foundational principles of crime, punishment, and the criminal justice system, encouraging critical thinking and a development of your specialised areas of interest.  

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include:

• access to our unique student support triangle, which includes a dedicated academic advisor, a student support advisor and an employability advisor  
• access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
• employability activities where you can get real-world experience such as placement modules, simulation modules, and project management modules. There are also opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.

Course leaders and tutors

Alex Black

Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Applied learning

Work Placements

To maximise your career prospects in this area, employability and placement opportunities are embedded across all years of the degree course. These include student placement modules and activities with criminal justice/third sector agencies, project work with external agencies, simulation modules, and voluntary work through our employability fair. You will also have access to degree-specific careers advice and support.

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.

International opportunities

You will have the opportunity to study abroad for the second semester of your second year. You will choose modules that you wish to study, and get the chance to learn about different cultures and learning styles, as well as travel to new places and meet new people.

Networking opportunities

This course benefits from its links with the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, which ensures that teaching focuses directly and indirectly on ethical and social justice issues related to the social exclusion/inclusion of a range of vulnerable groups, and on promoting social access to all available community resources. 

Our teaching is developed to supply a 'real world' curriculum and is designed to embed key transferrable skills that will help students with their search for future graduate employment or further study opportunities. In order to deliver this we work in partnership with employers and other key stakeholders to impact on important issues in the local area which enhances opportunities for student success by offering them the opportunity to work with prospective employers whilst applying their knowledge to the local community in order to positively impact a range of agencies and individuals. This can include opportunities aimed at young people, prison-related organisations, community justice organisations, substance misuse services, women's services, accommodation service, victim services, etc.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in

• the police service
• the probation service
• the prison service
• youth work
• victim support work
• citizens advice work
• community liaison work
• drug and alcohol services

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• The police (roles include police officer, hate crime coordinator, investigations officer)
• The Magistrates Court
• The Ministry of Justice
• Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
• Sheffield Hallam University

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Collegiate campus

Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.

Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Location

Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP

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Collegiate library

Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Important notice: The structure for this course is currently being reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment are all likely to change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Once the changes have been confirmed, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Fees and funding

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.