Criminology and Law
Criminology and law is a combination that examines both the social scientific study of crime and the legal frameworks within which crime is defined, prosecuted, and sanctioned. Criminology asks why crime happens, who commits it, who is victimised, and how effective our responses to it are. Law provides the formal structure within which all these questions play out, examining the rules that define criminal offences, the procedures of the criminal justice system, and the principles of justice that both law and criminology must engage with.
Together they give you a fuller picture of crime and justice than either discipline alone can provide.
At Liverpool Hope University this four-year programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students with the motivation and potential to succeed in this demanding combination but who benefit from a supported academic preparation. Once through the foundation year, you will study the sociology and psychology of crime, criminal justice policy, policing, penal theory, and criminal law, developing both a social scientific understanding of crime and the legal knowledge to understand how the justice system functions. A sandwich year and work placement activity are both features of the programme, giving you experience in professional contexts relevant to criminology and law.
A year abroad is also available.
Graduates of criminology and law programmes pursue a range of careers in the criminal justice system and in related professional fields. Roles in the police, probation, youth justice, and victim support are common, as are careers in legal support work such as paralegal and legal executive positions. Some graduates go on to qualify as solicitors or barristers through further professional training.
Policy research, social work, community development, and academic research in criminology or law are further destinations. Postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, law, or social work is a well-used route for those aiming at specialist roles.