University of Reading

BSc Criminology

Compulsory modules

Year 1

• Introduction to Criminology: Explore crime, justice, punishment and social harm as you explore the discipline of criminology. You’ll consider main theoretical perspectives as you learn about criminology’s main concepts, the nature of crimes, and the correlation of social inequalities such as class, age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and disability with victims.
• Legal Skills for Criminologists: Develop your understanding of the English legal system and its relation to criminology as a discipline. As you study, you'll examine the interrelationship between society, culture and the law and develop practical, transferable skills.
• Criminal Law: Explore the application of a range of criminal offences and defences as you learn the fundamental principles of criminal law in the English Legal System. You’ll gain an appreciation of the development of the criminal law by precedent and statutory interpretation, focusing on law in theory and practice and the need for reform.
• Introduction to Criminal Justice: Study the process for preventing and managing crime. You’ll be introduced to main criminological traditions and perspectives relevant to studying criminal justice, focusing on the development, role, organisation, and governance of the main institutions and agencies involved in crime control and punishment.

Year 2

• Crime and Media: Learn to think critically about the relationship between media and crime. You’ll study theoretical perspectives on representation and the research methods needed to analyse media representations of crime and media in everyday life. Explore critical perspectives about media institutions and analyse how they build on and from ‘crime stories'.
• Advanced Criminological Theory: Gain insight into the development of key criminological perspectives since the 1960s and their continuing relevance for understanding crime and processes of criminalisation. You’ll examine contemporary concepts and study the interconnections between crime, criminalisation, victimisation and social inequalities.
• Criminological Research Methods: Develop an understanding of social science research and how it is applied to the study of crime and justice. As you study, you’ll rely on qualitative and quantitative research methods and learn how to analyse data.
• Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice: Study the administration of criminal justice and the agencies involved, including how they have evolved and how they engage with governmental bodies. You’ll study contemporary policy debates in criminal justice in the context of broader social changes, inequalities, and political and ideological processes.

Year 3

• Dissertation: Embark on a research journey that allows you to implement all you‘ve learned about law and legal theory. You’ll identify your own research question, conduct research, and analyse relevant law and literature to organise and articulate an extended written project.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Where can criminology take you?

Your criminology degree aims to equip you with research, analytical and communication skills that will prepare you for criminology careers or further study.

You’ll develop subject-specific knowledge relevant to careers in:

• government (Civil Service, local government offices)
• criminal justice (police, prison service, probation service, youth justice service)
• social work
• youth work
• non-governmental organisations
• welfare and service charities
• campaigning organisations and social research
• investigative journalism
• think tanks.

You may wish to undertake further study to work as a solicitor or in other legal professional jobs.

Careers support from the School of Law

You’ll benefit from our dedicated careers advisor and other employability support offered by the School of Law.

This includes:

• help with CV writing, placement applications and interview techniques
• regular commercial awareness workshops and other career-orientated events – such as employer visits, alumni conversations and career talks – featuring practitioners from a range of fields discussing their work.