Psychology and Criminology – (B.Sc.)

Psychology is a fascinating science concerned with the study of the mind and behaviour. It has links with a variety of disciplines such as the biological, computer and forensic sciences, as well as with the humanities such as sociology, philosophy and literature. The common factor linking people who study psychology is curiosity and the search for knowledge.

Psychology and Criminology in combination looks at understanding the criminal mind in particular and reasons behind, and leading to, criminal behaviour. It addresses how, through criminal profiling, insights are offered into deviant behaviour, youth offending, gendered violence, war and terror, genocide, rape and abuse. This course also develops an understanding of media representations of specific 'valued' news, moral panics and the promotion of fear from both a psychological and criminological perspective.

There are a number of reasons why you may wish to study psychology. Psychology is exciting: for example, is there a relationship between psychological disorders and brain biochemistry? Psychology is challenging: for example, does psychotherapy help people overcome psychological problems such as depression and anxiety? Psychology is useful: psychology has a broad range of real-world applications in everyday life, ranging from stress, health, mental illness, artificial intelligence and human-machine interaction, to personal development, social interaction and the environment, to name but a few. Psychology offers good career prospects.
There are a large number of careers in psychology and criminology, but the skills you learn will readily transfer to many other careers. The Department of Psychology at Anglia Ruskin has achieved a great deal of success in its short history. Our teaching provision was rated as 'excellent' at our latest teaching quality assessment by the QAA, and our single honours Psychology course is fully accredited by The British Psychological Society.

The main topics will include social, cognitive, developmental and health psychology as well as relevant research methods. You will be encouraged to evaluate theories and research methodologies critically and to be aware of the philosophical debates, issues and controversies inherent in the discipline. This broad foundation will provide the basis for a rigorous and creative approach to understanding human behaviour. In addition, the course offers you the opportunity to develop confidence in a variety of core competencies, including literacy, numeracy, communication and analytical skills.

You will have the opportunity to carry out investigations using a variety of methods, including experimental work, interviews and observational studies. Opportunities are provided for group work in discussions, project work and presentations. The final-year project will enable you to develop your skills by conducting an independent piece of research.

The specific aims of this course are:

* To enable you to devise an academically rigorous programme of theoretical, issue-based and research-related criminology and psychology modules most suited to your individual requirements
* to develop your scientific understanding of the different perspectives within some of the core areas of Psychology and Criminology
* to enable you to bring a scientific perspective to your everyday experience
* to develop your skills in the synthesis and critical evaluation of a range of psychological and criminological theory and research
* to enable you to develop and maintain transferable intellectual, academic and interpersonal skills that will allow you to pursue further training or a career with professional competence and integrity.

Additional course information
Upon completion of this course you will also be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

* the scientific basis of the discipline of psychology, and its philosophical and historical origins;
* the relationship between data collection, interpretation and theory development;
* selected research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, assessment techniques, and statistical analysis, appropriate to the pathway;
* key concepts and theoretical perspectives within psychology and criminology in relation to psychological functioning and crime, and the relationships between them, to a range and level appropriate to their pathway;
* variability in normal psychological functioning;
* good academic and ethical practice, personal responsibility and professional codes of conduct;
* applications of psychological and criminological theory;
* the distinctive nature of the two disciplines, as well as their theoretical and methodological limitations;
* the historical and contemporary major features of the Criminal Justice System and how its institutions, actors and policies respond to crime, deviance and victimisation
* complex social problems, the relationship of social class, gender, age, race and other salient aspects of diversity in relation to offending, crime control, policing, criminal justice, the law and penal systems
* the value of comparative analysis and an ability to examine criminological work against issues of social, public and civic policy at a national, international and global level.

You will also be able to:

* Take account of multiple perspectives on functioning and behaviour;
* Synthesise information in relation to identified issues, critically evaluate it, and draw appropriate conclusions;
* Reason scientifically;
* Identify alternative explanations for findings or identify gaps in knowledge;
* Marshall and organise relevant information in support of a reasoned argument;
* Show flexible and creative approaches to problems.
* Appreciate the theoretical, practical and methodological implications of your own and others' research;
* Identify the theoretical, practical and methodological limitations of your own and others' research;
* Apply your knowledge in a practical fashion
* Select and review relevant information, based upon effective, independent bibliographical and other research and the appropriate use of information technology
* Manage information effectively in a range of media
* Make evaluations based on sensitivity in relation to the range of psychological functioning and behaviour, crime and the impact of crime and punishment
* Appreciate and develop the ability to make distinctions between a wide range of circumstances such as diversity of culture, values and ways of life that may contribute to our understanding of behaviour, laws and social control