Criminology

Criminology is the systematic study of crime, criminal behaviour and the institutions and policies through which society responds to it. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, politics and philosophy to ask why crime occurs, how it is defined and measured, how it is experienced by those affected, and whether criminal justice systems succeed in their stated aims. Far from being simply descriptive, criminology is a critical discipline that interrogates the assumptions underlying crime policy, examines who is criminalised and why, and evaluates the evidence for what actually reduces harm.

At the University of East Anglia, this three-year full-time programme takes you through the major theoretical traditions in criminology alongside substantive engagement with topics including policing, the courts, imprisonment, youth justice, cybercrime, victimology, drugs policy and the relationship between race, gender and the criminal justice system. You will develop your skills in research methods, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as your capacity for evidence-based argument and clear analytical writing. The programme encourages you to think independently about contested questions in policy and practice.

Graduates from criminology programmes move into careers across the criminal justice sector, including probation, prison and police services, victim support organisations, youth offending teams, the voluntary sector and policy research. The social research skills and analytical training developed through criminology are also valued in social work, local government, public health and academic research. Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in criminology, criminal justice, social policy, law or social work, developing specialist knowledge in a particular area of practice or moving toward professional qualifications in related fields.