Criminology with Law

Criminology with law brings together two disciplines that share a concern with wrongdoing, harm and the systems societies construct to respond to them. Criminology examines crime as a social phenomenon, drawing on sociology, psychology, social policy and philosophy to ask why crime occurs, how it is defined and measured, who is most affected by it, and whether criminal justice institutions achieve what they claim to. Law provides the formal framework within which crime is defined, prosecuted and punished, and studying both together allows you to see the gap between legal rules as they exist on paper and criminal justice as it operates in practice.

At Teesside University, this three-year full-time programme develops the academic skills, knowledge and analytical understanding needed to engage seriously with criminological and legal questions. You will build competence in searching for and evaluating evidence, constructing critical arguments, presenting ideas clearly and working effectively both independently and in groups. These skills, which are developed through the study of criminology and law, are genuinely transferable to a wide range of professional contexts.

You will engage with contemporary debates about crime, punishment, policing and justice, developing the capacity to think carefully about contested questions and communicate your views with precision.

Graduates from criminology with law programmes pursue careers across the criminal justice system and beyond. Many enter roles in the probation service, the prison service, the police, youth justice, victim support and social work. Others work in policy, the law, the voluntary sector, local government and community organisations.

The legal dimension of the degree is also a stepping stone for those interested in qualifying as a solicitor or barrister, and many graduates go on to postgraduate study in law, criminology, social work or public policy. The analytical and communication skills developed through the programme are valued across a wide range of public and private sector employers.