Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and Sociology together offer one of the most penetrating ways of understanding how societies create, police, and respond to transgression. Criminology examines crime, deviance, and justice as social phenomena, questioning who gets labelled criminal, how the police and courts operate, and whether justice is served equitably. Sociology provides the broader theoretical and empirical framework, examining social structure, inequality, power, identity, and the institutions through which societies reproduce themselves.

The combination allows you to analyse crime not as an isolated behaviour but as something deeply embedded in social conditions, cultural norms, and political arrangements.

At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, you will study Criminology and Sociology over three years, full time. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, providing substantial structured experience of professional and international settings alongside your academic studies. You will engage with the major theoretical traditions in both disciplines, from labelling theory and critical criminology to Marxist, feminist, and postcolonial sociology, examining how different frameworks illuminate different aspects of crime and social life.

Research methods are central to both subjects, and you will develop skills in quantitative and qualitative approaches that are essential for graduate employment and further study. The placement and year abroad broaden your perspective on how different societies understand and respond to crime and social difference.

Graduates of Criminology and Sociology programmes enter careers in the criminal justice system, social work, community development, youth work, research, journalism, and policy. The voluntary sector, local government, and international organisations working on rights, justice, and inequality are all significant employers. Many graduates continue into postgraduate study in criminology, sociology, social work, public policy, or law, with some pursuing academic research careers.