Criminal Justice And Psychology

Criminal justice and psychology is a degree that examines crime and the criminal justice system from both a sociological and a psychological perspective. Criminal justice looks at the institutions and processes that society uses to respond to crime, examining the police, courts, prisons, and probation service and asking how effectively and fairly they operate. Psychology asks about the mental processes that underlie human behaviour, including criminal behaviour, exploring the psychological factors that contribute to offending and the forensic and investigative psychology methods used in policing and prosecution.

At Edge Hill University, this three-year full-time programme combines both subjects in a lively and engaging fashion, developing your knowledge of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system alongside the fundamental principles of psychology. You will study criminological theory, criminal justice policy, forensic psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and research methods across both disciplines, developing a genuinely rounded understanding of why crime happens and how society responds. The programme includes a sandwich year with a year abroad and work placement, giving you direct professional experience in a criminal justice, psychological, or community setting.

Entry typically requires around 104 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates work in the probation service, the prison service, the police, youth offending teams, social work, victim support, research, and the many organisations at the intersection of criminal justice and psychological practice. Many continue to postgraduate study in forensic psychology, criminology, or social work, or pursue further qualifications in counselling or clinical psychology.