Criminology

Criminology is the systematic academic study of crime: what it is, who defines it, why it occurs, and how individuals, institutions, and societies respond to it. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, history, and political science to examine criminal behaviour and the criminal justice system from multiple angles, taking seriously both the causes of crime and the often contested and unequal nature of the responses to it. The discipline challenges common assumptions, asks difficult questions about power and inequality, and takes seriously the experiences of victims, offenders, and communities across a wide range of social contexts.

At Teesside University, this four-year programme includes a foundation year that provides a supported entry route for students who would benefit from additional academic preparation before engaging with the full criminology curriculum. The foundation year builds the academic skills, subject knowledge, and research habits of mind needed to thrive at degree level, after which you progress into an intellectually demanding criminology degree that develops your capacity to analyse crime and justice with rigour and depth. You will explore the causes of criminal and deviant behaviour, the workings of the criminal justice system, and the social, political, and cultural contexts in which both are embedded.

Criminology graduates are well prepared for careers in the criminal justice system, including probation, youth offending services, the prison service, victim support, and the police, as well as in social care, research, journalism, policy, and the voluntary sector. The analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills the degree develops are valued across the public sector and in organisations working on social issues. Postgraduate study in criminology, social work, forensic psychology, or law provides routes to more specialised roles for those who wish to develop their expertise further.