Criminology and Social Care

Criminology and social care is a combination that reflects the close and often underexamined relationship between the criminal justice system and the welfare system. Many of the same individuals and families appear at the intersection of both, and understanding how to respond effectively requires insight into crime, social inequality, vulnerability, and the organisations that attempt to support people in difficulty. This degree gives you the analytical and practical foundation to work competently in both domains.

At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time degree encourages you to explore why crime happens, what its effects are on individuals and communities, and how society attempts to prevent and respond to it. In criminology, you will examine how crime is defined and measured, who makes those definitions, and what drives offending behaviour across different social contexts. You will also study the institutions of the criminal justice system, from policing and courts to prisons and probation, learning to evaluate their effectiveness and fairness.

The social care dimension of the degree introduces you to the frameworks, policies, and practices through which vulnerable people are supported, examining issues including child protection, mental health, substance misuse, and domestic abuse. The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you direct professional experience and international exposure that significantly strengthen your graduate profile.

You will develop empathy alongside analytical rigour, learning to understand complex social problems through both theoretical frameworks and practical engagement. You will also build communication and interpersonal skills essential for work in caring and justice-related professions.

Graduates from criminology and social care programmes move into social work, probation, youth offending, domestic abuse services, community support organisations, housing, health and social care, and criminal justice roles. The degree is also a foundation for postgraduate study in social work, criminology, public health, or social policy for those who wish to qualify further or specialise.