Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminals, and the ways in which societies respond to criminal behaviour. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, politics, and philosophy to ask why crime occurs, who commits it, how it affects victims and communities, and whether the criminal justice institutions and practices that societies have developed actually achieve the goals of justice, deterrence, and rehabilitation that justify them. Studying criminology is both intellectually demanding and practically relevant to some of the most pressing questions in contemporary social life.

At Arden University, this three-year full-time programme is taught with an innovative assessment model that has a real-world focus, embedding skills you can use in your future career. You will study theories of crime and deviance, criminal justice policy, victimology, the sociology of law, and the politics of punishment, developing the analytical and research skills to evaluate evidence and construct arguments about crime and justice that go beyond surface-level commentary. Arden's approach encourages you to engage critically with the assumptions behind policy and public debate, developing the independent thinking that professional practice in criminal justice fields genuinely requires.

Graduates from criminology programmes go on to careers in the police, probation service, prison service, victim support, social work, community justice, policy research, the civil service, journalism, and advocacy. The combination of analytical skills, social awareness, and knowledge of criminal justice institutions that the degree develops is valued across all of these fields. Further study at postgraduate level in criminology, social policy, social work, or forensic psychology is available for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.