BA (Hons) Criminology with Forensics

Unleash your passion with practical learning and build your skills with criminological theory.

Lots of hand-on practice to build your forensic and criminology skills

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Three A levels grades CCC or above

BTEC triple grades MMM or above

Access 23-45 D/M with min 6D

T level P (C+)

GCSE English Language, Maths and a Science at grade 4 or grade C or above

UCAS code TBC

UCAS institution code P63

Duration 3 years

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Course Summary

Crime is everywhere – in the news, at the cinema, on our TV screens, and in the books we read. This course offers you the opportunity to look behind the headlines to explore the complexity of a subject which fascinates and worries us in equal measure.

You will study crime from a variety of perspectives ranging from seemingly simple questions such as ‘what is crime?’ to considering the impact of the media on our understanding of crime and the way we deal with crimes such as youth violence and domestic abuse. As a Marjon criminology graduate you will have a thorough understanding of the social, political and cultural nature of crime as well as how crime is addressed locally, nationally and globally.

This course will also equip you with the skills and knowledge you’ll need to thrive in the real world of forensic investigation. Dive deep into the practical aspects of crime scene investigation and develop investigative skills which go hand in hand with the theories of Criminology which you will learn.

The diverse modules on this course mean you’ll gain marketable expertise beyond forensics, as you study how to undertake police interviewing techniques, photography and research, building an impressive portfolio of skills to take with you to potential employers once your degree is complete. In particular our digital forensics module will teach you in-demand skills in a rapidly growing field,

Why study Criminology with Forensics at Marjon?

Gain a critical understanding of theory and investigation skills so you develop a solid foundation for your learning

Learn and practically apply many of the hands-on methods which are employed in the forensic and investigation world

Small class sizes enable you to get to know your lecturers and fellow classmates, giving you individualised support and attention so you can concentrate on furthering your own skill set

Staff have extensive real-world experience giving you practical insight and helping you to develop the skills that employers want

Learn the latest practises through close links with industry partners

Modules for this course

1st Year

Crime and the Criminal Justice System

This module focuses on the challenges of defining and responding to crime and deviance. You'll consider the punishment of crime and learn about the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation

In this module you will learn what ‘evidence’ is and what it tells us. You will look at many different types of crime scenes, interpreting evidence on the spot and building up hypotheses as to what really happened. You will learn how to seize and store evidence and what CSI really means – Continuity, Security, Integrity. This module is heavily based on practicals and you will spend most of your time in our Crime Scene House using the skills which you have learned in the lectures. This module is all about getting you ‘thinking’ like and investigator and using your practical skills.

Social Problems

By investigating the contemporary causes and consequences of social problems, this module will provide students with a greater insight into how problems are perceived by wider society. We will consider the processes by which these problems are “socially constructed” and the resulting policies and programs that are designed to solve them through an exploration of the interconnectedness of various social issues (such as homelessness, domestic abuse, poverty, etc.).

Criminological Theory

You will explore the philosophies of crime and deviance. You will also study the key theories and theorists of crime and deviance, and apply these criminological theories to criminal justice in practice.

Victims and Victimology

You'll discover the complex nature of victimisation and victimhood, and the impact of the criminal justice system on victims. You will also gain an understanding of the experiences and impact of criminal victimisation

Criminal Law

This module introduces students to criminal law within a social science context. It will provide students with a broad understanding of what constitutes crime, how crimes are defined and dealt within the criminal justice system and the role of criminal law in society.

2nd Year

Research Methods

In this module you'll undertake an original piece of research, learning the process of research design, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, literature review and how to analyse and writing up your research findings.

Crime Scene Photography

Building on from the Crime Scene Investigation module, the Crime Scene Photography module puts students back into various crime scenes and utilises their skills as evaluating evidence in order to create a visual record of the scene. Students will learn an excellent ‘life skill’ of photography as well as building on their own crime scene assessment and interpretation knowledge. This module is heavily based around practical experience and the university has some excellent camera equipment for the students to use at the university and at home to develop their skills.

Police and Policing

This module is all about the police - the history and development of the police, the changing nature and role of policing, and policing by consent. You'll also explore questions around arming the police and future policing developments.

Designing Safe Communities

This module was created in order to improve our understanding of the modern implications of environmental criminology. The student will develop an understanding of the key theories and concepts associated with geographic criminology, and its contributions to police investigations and crime prevention techniques. We also focus on the environmental analysis of cyberspace, geo-profiling and designing safe communities- physical and online.

Digital Forensics

Data and information stored digitally has become one of the most important areas of criminal investigation today. This groundbreaking module introduces students to the concept of digital evidence built on from the Forensic Skills module. It will teach students how to identify the different types of potential evidence when stored digitally and methods of retrieving this data as well as presenting the evidence. The module also includes the legislation around data interrogation. This module will prepare students for entering the forensic world after graduation as the area of digital forensics is expanding rapidly.

Understanding Violence

Violent crime often triggers social outcry and political response when targeted towards vulnerable groups within society. However, the notion of violent crime moves beyond the obvious offending into areas such chastisement of children, violence in social disorder, domestic violence, state violence and violence against nature. Drawing on theoretical considerations from sociological, penological and psychological fields of knowledge alongside political, social and media reactions, the module offers a multi-disciplinary view on this form of offending. The aim of this module is to explore the range of violent offending currently criminalised within and beyond the criminal justice system, the social and political responses to such offending and the treatment of violent offenders.

3rd Year

Investigative Psychology

The psychological study of crime, criminals and victims within an investigative framework is known as criminal or investigative psychology. The module explores different ways investigative psychology contributes to police training, investigations and interviewing, as well as their contribution to understanding evidence in the courtroom. Drawing on theoretical and practical considerations from global fields of knowledge alongside political, social and media reactions, the module offers a multi-disciplinary view on investigative psychology and its applications.

Security and Counter-terrorism

This module provides knowledge and critical understanding of national and global security challenges. It prepares students to undertake effective evaluation of real world reports and research in the field of security and counter-terrorism.

Practical Policing Investigation

Contemporary Issues in Crime and Criminology

This module focuses on a variety of contemporary issues explored through a criminological lens. You will study issues such as migration, organised crime, social exclusion, media impact/influence, social control, human trafficking and societal reaction to crime.

Honours Project

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What might you become?

Graduates from this course could find careers in a variety of sectors, starting in roles including Police Officer, Direct Graduate Entry Detective Constable or Digital Forensics Officer. There are also Forensic Laboratory opportunities, Civil Service investigation roles, Crime Scene Investigator or Police Civilian Investigator jobs.

How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

Teaching will combine lectures and seminars with weekly practical sessions in the Crime Scene House, laboratory or other simulated crime scenes.

How will you be assessed?

Assessment methods vary from module to module, so there will be some written assessments, but most will have a practical assessment to verify that the required skills have been learned.

Dr Samantha Hauptman

Course leader

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Sam has spent over 10 years teaching criminal justice and sociology in Higher Education. Prior to that she worked for six years in administration at the South Carolina Department of Corrections, working with youthful offenders, victims and eventually in educational programming. She teaches a broad range of classes and has a variety of research interests including globalization, criminal and social deviance, social control, and immigration. She is the author of The Criminalization of Immigration: The Post 9/11 Moral Panic (2013) and co-author of the forthcoming publication: Security and the State in the Era of Globalization: Criminology in the XXI Century.

Lecturers

Dr Sarah Gardner

Senior Lecturer

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Following the completion of my PhD in Organic Chemistry I worked for West Mercia Police in their fingerprint laboratory. From there I moved to the Home Office and conducted research into fingerprint enhancement techniques. I then changed direction and joined the Forensic Science Service and trained as a Forensic Biologist, running cases in the Violent and Sexually Motivated Crime teams. I have been an academic since 2008, starting at Kingston University in London, moving to Bond University in Australia and I have been at Marjon since 2019.

David Moore

Programme Lead

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Currently serving as a police sergeant with over 26 years of experience. 9 years lecturing. Policing experience includes - response, neighbourhood, training and assessing officers, burglary squad, interview teams, custody, evidence review, and licensing in both urban and rural police areas. Recently used forensic science in developing effective crime prevention within policing. Recipient of the Plymouth Police Commander's Mayflower Memorial Award in 2019. Recently received national recognition for work around the developing evaluation and investigative working practices around drink spiking offences in the UK.

Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,535 per annum

Fees for International students: £14,600 per annum

This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.

Funding available for this course

Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.

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