Criminology

Criminology is the social-scientific study of crime, deviance, and the systems societies build to define, prevent, and respond to them. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, philosophy, and history to ask not just what crime is, but who gets labelled a criminal, how the police, courts, and prisons operate in practice, and whether the outcomes of the justice system are fair. These are not merely academic questions: they bear directly on debates about sentencing policy, policing, prison reform, drug legislation, and the treatment of victims, making criminology a discipline with immediate real-world relevance.

At the University of Reading, you will study Criminology over three years, full time. You will explore the major theoretical traditions in the discipline, from classical and positivist explanations of criminal behaviour to critical, feminist, and cultural criminology, and examine how these frameworks shape both research and policy. You will look at specific forms of crime and deviance, including violent crime, corporate and white-collar offending, organised crime, cybercrime, and hate crime, alongside the institutions that respond to them.

Research methods form an important part of the degree, equipping you with the quantitative and qualitative skills needed to conduct and critically assess criminological research. You will also engage with questions about justice, punishment, and rehabilitation, considering the competing philosophies that inform how societies treat those who offend.

Criminology graduates enter a wide range of careers. The criminal justice sector, including probation, prison service, youth justice, police, and victim support, is a natural destination, as are roles in social work, community development, and the voluntary sector. Policy, research, and journalism are further pathways, particularly for those interested in influencing how crime and justice are understood publicly.

Many graduates also continue into postgraduate study in criminology, law, social work, or criminal justice, with some pursuing academic or applied research careers.