Sociology and Criminology

Sociology and criminology is a combination that is particularly coherent, because crime is fundamentally a social phenomenon. Criminology asks why crime occurs, how it is defined, how it is measured and how societies respond to it through policing, prosecution, imprisonment and rehabilitation. Sociology provides the theoretical frameworks that make sense of those questions, examining how inequality, culture, institutions and social structures shape both the conditions that produce crime and the systems that respond to it.

Studying the two together means you can engage with crime at the level of both social theory and empirical investigation.

At Birkbeck, this part-time programme allows you to develop your knowledge in both disciplines while managing work or other commitments. Birkbeck has a long tradition of making rigorous higher education accessible to adult learners, and a part-time sociology and criminology programme reflects that commitment. Evening and flexible study is typical at Birkbeck, and many students are working professionals who bring relevant experience to their academic learning.

You will explore social life, social relations and the forces that shape inequality and social change, alongside the specific questions of crime, its definition, causes and the institutions of criminal justice. You will develop your research skills, your theoretical understanding and your ability to engage critically with evidence about social and criminal justice phenomena.

Graduates of sociology and criminology programmes move into the civil service, local government, social work, youth justice, policing, probation, research, the voluntary sector, journalism, education and public affairs. The analytical and research skills the degree develops are valued across a wide range of sectors. Postgraduate study in sociology, criminology, social policy or social research is a natural option.