Sociology with Criminology

Sociology and criminology are disciplines that belong together. Sociology provides the theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding how society works: how inequality is produced, how institutions exercise power, how identities of class, race, and gender shape life chances, and how social norms are established and enforced. Criminology takes these frameworks and applies them directly to crime, deviance, and the justice system, asking not just who offends but why, and examining how the definition of crime itself reflects the interests and values of those with power to define it.

Studying both together gives you a more complete analytical picture than either discipline provides alone.

At York St John University, this three-year full-time degree includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need to build their academic foundations before entering the main programme. The degree allows you to apply sociological and criminological theories to examine issues of victimisation, identity, and social marginalisation, developing your analytical skills through investigation of the challenges contemporary societies face. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad option, and a work placement, providing structured opportunities to connect your academic study with professional experience and international perspectives that enrich your understanding of how justice and social inequality operate in different contexts.

Graduates from Sociology with Criminology programmes are valued across a broad range of public and social sector organisations. Many work in criminal justice, social work, community development, housing, youth work, and the voluntary sector. Others move into policy, research, journalism, education, and the civil service.

The combination of sociological breadth and criminological specificity provides a versatile foundation for careers that require analytical rigour, social awareness, and the ability to engage with complex human situations. Postgraduate study in sociology, criminology, social policy, or social work is a natural next step. The typical entry tariff is 104 points.