BSc(Hons) Psychology with Criminology

This module will introduce foundational approaches to research design and analysis. You'll learn how to distinguish and use quantitative and qualitative methods, develop sound research questions and communicate findings clearly. Topics will include experimental variables, confounding factors, randomisation, counterbalancing, and between-subjects, within-subjects, matched-pairs and mixed designs. You'll also explore observation and questionnaire development, types of data and descriptive statistics. Using spreadsheet, statistical and graphics software, you'll learn to summarise data and present it effectively through tables, graphs and charts while considering good research practice.

In this module, you'll explore core areas of psychology and consider how they contribute to understanding crime and criminal justice. Topics will typically span cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology and individual differences, including neuroscience, perception, memory, intelligence, personality, attachment, development, motivation, emotion, identity, group processes and mental health. Historical and conceptual perspectives, the replication crisis and critical psychology will support critical engagement with the discipline. You'll develop a foundation of specialist knowledge and transferable skills relevant to psychology and criminal behaviour.

This module will introduce the criminal justice system in England and Wales, examining how its institutions and processes work together. You'll explore policing, courts, sentencing, prisons, alternatives to custody, probation and youth justice, alongside different models of justice. Core concepts will include crime, punishment, rehabilitation and social control. Through critical engagement with questions of fairness, inequality and effectiveness, you'll develop research, communication, digital fluency and problem-solving skills, creating a strong foundation for further study in criminology and related fields.

This module will introduce key criminological theories and show how they shape explanations of crime, criminal justice policy and social control. You'll examine how crime and justice are socially constructed across historical contexts, considering the origins of criminology and debates about changes in crime and data. Topics will typically include classical and positivist criminology, sociological and social-psychological perspectives, and their application to policy and justice. You'll use theory to analyse contemporary issues, which may include mass incarceration and the social and cultural foundations of penal justice.

In this module, you'll examine crime and victimisation in contemporary society, considering their nature, extent and distribution. You'll explore how crime may be shaped by characteristics such as age, gender, race, ethnicity and social class, while engaging critically with evidence and approaches to measuring crime. Topics will typically include official statistics, crime and the media, fear of crime, victims, young people, property crime, policy-making, and the relationship between crime, space and place. Specific themes may vary to reflect contemporary events and debates.

In this module, you'll take an integrated approach to social psychology, individual differences and developmental psychology. You'll explore social cognitive, social constructionist and critical perspectives on how identities and differences develop. Topics will typically include childhood and adolescent development, friendships, relationships, self and identity, personality, intelligence, creativity, attitudes, stereotypes, attribution, gender, crowds and group processes. Along the way, you'll strengthen information retrieval, communication and critical evaluation skills, learning to compare sources and consider different perspectives on psychological questions.

This module integrates cognitive, developmental and biological psychology to examine how the mind and brain change across the lifespan. You'll explore basic and higher-order cognitive processes alongside neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, considering a range of theories and explanations. Through the module, you'll develop scientific reasoning, critical evaluation and information-management skills, as well as greater independence in planning and project work. You'll learn to communicate psychological ideas clearly and weigh alternative perspectives when interpreting evidence about cognition, development and biological processes.

This module will develop your understanding of quantitative psychological research design and analysis. You'll typically examine experimental, quasi-experimental and correlational approaches, alongside data collection through questionnaires, observation, psychometrics, experiments and secondary sources. Analysis will include the importance of effect size and statistical power, with methods such as analysis of variance, correlation and regression. You may also be introduced to techniques including factor analysis and meta-analysis. Practical work will strengthen your ability to evaluate methods, identify bias and communicate quantitative findings.

In this module, you'll develop practical and critical skills in qualitative psychological research. You'll explore the strengths and limitations of qualitative approaches, different research designs and procedures, and methods for collecting rich data. These will typically include interactive approaches such as interviews and focus groups, alongside textual methods such as qualitative surveys. You'll learn to analyse material using approaches including thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and discourse analysis, while strengthening your ability to judge research quality and communicate findings effectively.

This project module will support you to plan and investigate a psychology topic while connecting disciplinary methods with employment and practice. Supporting content may typically include literature searching, bibliography development, research methods and methodologies, ethical issues and dissemination. You'll learn how to identify and use relevant evidence, choose an appropriate approach and communicate your work effectively. The module may also create links with alumni, employers and other stakeholders, enabling projects, where relevant, to engage with real-world issues and contexts while strengthening your independence, research capability and employability awareness.

This module will typically examine forensic psychology across policing, criminology, applied science and the criminal justice system. You'll explore formulation, criminogenic needs, protective factors and desistance, alongside biological, psychopathological, social and learning theories of crime. Topics may include crime-scene analysis, confirmation bias, childhood adversity, conduct disorder, psychopathy, mental disorders, risk assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The module will also consider dangerous and non-violent offending and approaches to reducing risk, helping you connect psychological evidence with investigation, intervention and work with people in forensic contexts.