FdA Criminology and Criminal Justice
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Subject
Criminology
Level
Foundation Degree (Level 5)
Study Mode
Full-Time
Duration
2 years full-time/4 years part-time
Start Date
September 2024
The course
The FdA in Criminology and Criminal Justice is a vocational course that develops a range of practical and knowledge-based skills related to the Criminal Justice Sector.
Compulsory work experience develops practical experience in the workplace.
The foundation degree will provide you with the skills to explore and analyse the way in which society perceives and tackles crime.
PLEASE NOTE: This programme is currently undergoing a refresh with the University of Hull to ensure you get the best experience and opportunity to achieve as an employment-ready graduate. The programme title, learning outcomes, modules, the teaching and learning strategy, contact hours and assessment strategies may change. Full details of the newly refreshed programme will be available later in the year and will be communicated to all applicants at the earliest opportunity.
Course Information
- Provide you with the key underpinning theories of criminology studies.
- Enhance your knowledge of the organisations that make up the Criminal Justice System and understanding of the roles they play.
- Foster your independence with a diverse set of analytical, academic and professional skills applicable to a career in the Criminal Justice System.
- Develop your ability to accurately apply sound theoretical principles to practical issues pertaining to the Criminal Justice System.
- Cultivate communication and decision-making skills thus sanctioning you to make reasoned and evidenced arguments.
Year 1
- Academic and Professional Skills: The module will assist in progression to Higher Education and academic writing. You will also be introduced to university level study and how the programme will underpin your choice of career, discussing the various assessments such as presentations, essay, reports and exam and how they are developed to support your transition.
- Work Based Learning 1: An introduction to employment, this module has two key aims. The first aim is for you to prepare a portfolio of transferable skills, current skills and look at how the programme will add essential skills for working in the criminal justice sector. The second aim is to emphasise the importance of experience for both personal reasons and for your CV. Planning your career and choosing the correct volunteering experience can be invaluable.
- Crime Fundamentals: Knowing the foundations of criminology and social science studies will prepare you for the programme. As a new area in social science in the bigger scheme of things, criminology draws on other social sciences and has specific theorists. Having this knowledge is essential to understanding and discussing topics in this field. Biological theory and Lombroso, Chicago school of criminology and Sutherland, and psychological theory and Freud are some of the theorists discussed.
- Crime Process and Procedure: The Criminal Justice Process at first glance can appear complicated. This module will take you through the whole process, from the crime, arrest, detention, bail, courts including Magistrates, Crown and Court of Appeal, prison, probation and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that support the offenders transition into society.
- Social Research: Understanding why research takes place, what it aims to achieve and the variety of research processes will be introduced. Through the review of current research, you will form a clear understanding of said research, why it was conducted in the way it was, what the aim of the research was and what the intentions of the research achieved. Also, the key to research is recognising barriers and limitations to the research.
- Youth Deviance: A generic area within criminology, you will discuss the labelling of the youth and why they are perceived to be bad. Consider solutions to this perception and the next generation of society. It is without a doubt that youth crime attains a high percentage of all crime reported, yet does not paint a true picture of why youth are demonised.
Year 2
- Work Based Learning 2: Aforementioned at Level 4, the work based learning is a key selling point from the programme. There is an expectation that you will complete a minimum of 70 hours volunteering in a relevant industry that may be a chosen career path. You will complete an electronic portfolio of your experience as an assessment task for this module.
- Social Research: As you progress through the programme with intent and purpose of becoming an independent learner you will begin to specialise in an area of choice. This is what can be described as a Mini Dissertation. You will research an area of choice and produce evidence of your research, justifying your chosen format and presenting your findings.
- Victimology: Who is at fault for the crime? Consider this scenario: You have arrived at a public carpark and you are in a rush. In haste you jump out of your vehicle leaving your handbag OR your wallet on the front seat of the car. Your vehicle is not locked and you rush to wherever you are going. A passer-by spots the item on the front seat and realises the car door is not locked. Without thought the person opens the car door and takes the item. Who is fault for the crime? Is it you for putting temptation in the way of the passer-by? Or should the passer-by take full responsibility for the crime? Would the crime have taken place if it wasnt for your actions?
- Crime Creation: Why does crime occur? What would happen if crime did not exist? These are two key questions discussed in this module. Is it poverty that creates criminals and should we correlate the actions of a desperate person to crime? Is society to blame when austerity and cost of living is at an all-time high? Or is this a choice of the individual? There are many theorists who discuss the rationale of crime.
- Drugs and Society: Prescription, legal, illegal and those that could no longer be illegal. Drugs are a major factor in crime, whether this the reason for the crime, the cause of the crime or the crime itself. Burglary to take belongings to sell in order of gaining financial reward to buy drugs; an individual who is acting suspicious and behaving abnormally after taking drugs; and drugs trafficking or selling drugs to an individual are examples of drug crime.
- Crime and Law: Both UK law and International Law work exclusively well for the individual countries and problems arise when borders are crossed. Cultural differences can influence law and in retrospect this causes issues when crimes take place in other countries or when individuals commit crimes that are not recognised as a crime in their country of origin. In a world that is more accessible, the barriers in law are becoming more prominent.
You will need:
A minimum of 72 UCAS points OR a relevant BTEC Level 3 and significant industrial experience
Plus:
GCSE English 4 or above or equivalent and a suitable reference
UCAS points may be from qualifications such as T Levels, A Levels, BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas, Access to Higher Education Diplomas, and City and Guilds Advanced Technical Diplomas amongst others. Please use the UCAS Tariff points calculator to determine the UCAS points value of your qualifications.
Life and/or experience of non-traditional students will be taken into account when considering applications. The successful completion of an entry task may be required when considering applications without the required formal entry qualifications.
If an applicants first language is not English, or a Tier 4 student visa to study is required and GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent is not held, they will need to evidence their English language proficiency level, such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 overall (with a minimum 5.5 in each skill).
Advanced entry may be possible due to prior experience or certificated learning; applicants will be invited to complete the recognition of prior learning approval process.
This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches to include all students learning styles and preferences.
For all modules, theory lectures are delivered that aim to deliver the core content and provide the underpinning knowledge. To complement the theory lectures, you will have group seminars that are used to reinforce concepts delivered theoretically.
The teaching methods focus on facilitating a student-centered approach to enhance the independent learning that takes place outside of the classroom.
The full-time pathway includes pproximately 16 hours a week, incorporating lectures, seminars, debates and tutorials. You are also expected to carry out a significant amount of private study in addition to contact time (25-30 hours a week).
A part-time option is also available.
You can expect to receive your timetable during induction week.
- There may be additional costs for DBS if you are seeking additional experience within relevant sectors. The cost will be dependent on the level of check completed, and would be at your expense. You can check the current cost on the www.gov.uk website.
- A suitable electronic device, e.g. a laptop or tablet, with internet connectivity is required for accessing online learning.
- Any educational visits/trips and enrichment activities will be additional to the course fees, students will be made aware of these optional visits and associated costs as required.
- On successful completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to graduate at a ceremony wearing formal dress. The hire of the formal dress is an additional cost.
Validated by University of Hull
We are proud to collaborate with University of Hull on the validation of this course.
This includes transforming our programmes to ensure that we meet the evolving needs of the sector, giving you the best opportunities for success when you graduate by having a competence-based focus. Find out more about competence-based higher education.
View the policies and procedures you would be agreeing to comply with by registering for this programme. This encompasses University of Hull Quality and Standards, including a Guide for Collaborative Provision students.
Financial Information
Find the full details of the fees associated with this programme and the financial support available.
