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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Sociology and Criminology
Enrich your study of criminology by exploring the sociological factors that give rise to crime.
Course Overview
-
L3M9 -
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
3 Years -
20 Sep 2021
Develop your critical analytical and interpretive skills and forge a deeper sociological understanding of the world around you.
As part of this course you’ll:
- Learn to understand the complex social conditions that drive people to commit crime and how that expert knowledge can enhance your study of criminology
- Critically analyse and challenge responses to crime in order to help shape a better society
- Study a variety of topics such as modern theories of sociology and criminology, exploring issues such as youth crime, social exclusion and how the media shapes our perceptions of crime
- Choose your own area of investigation when researching and writing your dissertation
You’ll engage with sociology and criminology equally. Through a blend of workshops, collaborative projects and observational field trips, you’ll be encouraged to drive your studies in the direction of your choosing.
Sociological projects can include creating wikis or presenting your work at a student conference. You could even see your critical essay published in our school's highly regarded sociology journal.
You’ll be perfectly placed to add impressive work experience to your CV by taking advantage of the wealth of work placement opportunities on offer in Leeds. You can also get involved with live projects and observational research trips to develop your employability skills and prepare you for the world of work.
Each of your modules will be taught by an expert staff member. You’ll learn from a range of practitioners as they share their insights and professional experience through our guest lecture series. Past speakers have included representatives from the probation and police services.
Why study Sociology and Criminology at Leeds Beckett University...
- Study abroad option
- Work placement opportunities available
- Guest lectures
BA (Hons) Sociology BA (Hons) Sociology student Joelle talks about his experiences at Leeds Beckett.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
104
points required
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
Entry requirements
104
points required
UCAS Tariff Points: 104 points required.
(Minimum 64 from two A Levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies).
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
GCSEs:
GCSE English Language at Grade C or above (Grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.Access to HE Diploma:
Pass overall with a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points.Scottish Awards:
Minimum of 5 subjects at Grade B at Higher Level.Irish Leaving Certificate:
Minimum of 5 subjects at Grade C1 or above at Higher Level of which at least 3 must be at B2.Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
International baccalaureate
25 Points
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Mature Applicants:
Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. All students will be considered through the contextual admissions policy described above. If you do not meet the requirements through the contextual admissions policy, we may still be able to make you an offer if you have recent relevant work experience through our ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ policy. Please ensure that you list both your qualifications and any relevant work experience in your application so that we can consider you under both schemes where applicable..
All applicants are required to meet our standard English language and Maths requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, for example we accept some Functional Skills Tests.
If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff.
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
International baccalaureate
25 Points
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Additional entry requirements:
Verify your qualifications
If you are an international student, we can help you to compare and verify your qualifications. Please contact our International Office on +44 (0)113 812 1111 09.00 to 17.00 Mon-Thurs / 09.00 to 16.30 Fri GMT or email internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.Need to improve your English Language skills?
Don't worry if you don't have the level of English required for your chosen course. We offer a wide range of courses which have been designed to help you to improve your qualifications and English language ability, most of which are accredited by the British Council. Check your English and find out more about our English courses.More questions?
No matter what your questions, we are here to answer them, visit our International website to get more information and find out about our online open days.Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Our silver status in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework, reflects our commitment to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.
Teaching & Learning
Understand the main themes within contemporary sociology and criminology. You will explore the problem of crime and its causes and costs to society, and learn what extent individuals shape their own lives and how larger social structures such as gender, ethnicity or social class impact on them. The tabs below detail what and how you will study in each year of your course. The balance of assessments and overall workload will be informed by your core modules and the option modules you choose to study; the information provided is an indication of what you can expect and may be subject to change. The option modules listed are also an indication of what will be available to you. Their availability is subject to demand and you will be advised which option modules you can choose at the beginning of each year of study.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic we are currently unable to advise on the mode of teaching for September 2021, however we will keep you updated and provide more information as soon as we can. We continue to follow government guidance and your teaching and learning will reflect the restrictions in place at the time of delivery. We currently anticipate that you may experience a blended approach – this is a mix of face-to-face, on campus and online teaching and learning. You can keep up to date with teaching and learning at Leeds Beckett via our Covid-19 website. Updated course specifications will be available in August 2021. In the meantime, our existing course specifications are available.
What you'll learn
Focus on sociological theories engaged with the emergence and development of capitalism and modernity.
Explore the key concepts of criminological theories and the core expressions of explanatory and descriptive criminological theory. Theory is introduced as a sense making tool in the attempt to understand or explain crime.
Build on your understanding and knowledge on a broad foundational level concerning the problem of crime.
You will gain an understanding of both epistemological and methodological aspects of research process. The first part of the module introduces you to fundamental epistemological questions for the social and socio-psychological sciences. In the second part of the module you will focus on discussing key methods and techniques used in social scientific research, such as ethnographic method, semiotic and discourse analyses, and causal analysis.
Using an applied approach to sociological inquiries of and towards the city and urban contexts, you will develop your study skills, and focus in particular critical reading and thinking skills and both written and spoken communication skills.
Study the social construction of Crime and Deviance through an examination of the historical, socio-economic and political processes by which particular acts of behaviour, or particular social groups become defined, formally or informally as deviant' and/or 'criminal'.
What you'll learn
Study classical and contemporary social theory. You will focus on some important classical modern theorists such as Marx and Weber and then show how these theories have been developed by social theorists in the 20th and 21st century.
Explore sociological perspectives on the role of political and economic power in the creation of social class divisions. You will examine the role of culture, education and the state in maintaining and entrenching class divisions.
Focus on the study of children, youth and crime by examining patterns of offending and desistance from crime amongst children and young people. You will consider the ways in which notions of childhood and youth offending have been depicted in academic, political and popular discourses and assess the extent to which these various discourses have influenced the response of youth justice systems to address both children as offenders and also the victims of crime.
Trace the historical, economic and social contexts wherein 'race' and ethnicity come to be associated with crime, victimisation and disproportion in the criminal justice system. From individual racist violence to state crime, you will examine 'race' and ethnicity in relation to both visible and hidden victimisation and as a source of fears of criminality and threat to social order.
Study the varying relationships between the media and crime. Using an interdisciplinary approach by drawing on literature and research from criminology, sociology and film and media studies, you will critically examine the ways in which different types of media shape public perceptions of crime and justice, constructs deviance and impacts on responses to crime.
Gain a deeper insight into and training in a variety of social research methods. You will first consider the impact of values, politics and ethics on sociological research before moving on to examine a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods through in-depth examinations of specific pieces of sociological research.
What you'll learn
You will be encouraged to critically interrogate current social theory regarding the key features and characteristics of contemporary societies and their meaning and consequences. You will examine whether key social theories and models adequately describe contemporary societies or enhance our understanding of ongoing processes of social change.
Undertake an independent piece of original research that you will be expected to plan, implement and report with guidance from a supervisor. You will be expected to demonstrate the ability to search and evaluate relevant academic literature and data and apply the necessary and appropriate research skills for the production of a scholarly empirical or conceptual piece of work.
Critically explore a range of competing explanations for gendered violence with a particular focus on domestic violence. You will look at issues of gender, age, ethnicity and sexuality in this context. The main themes of the module are domestic violence, physical, psychological and sexual violence, policing and domestic violence, criminal justice and domestic violence, domestic homicide, so called 'honour' crimes, perpetrator programmes and multi-agency working.
Option modules may include
Engage with the development of criminal justice policies at a national and global level, drawing on sociological, social policy and socio-legal perspectives. You will investigate the complex inter-relationships between theory, policy and practice in the field of criminal justice. You will be encouraged to evaluate different sources of knowledge about crime and criminal justice, and focus on the role of academic research in shaping and evaluating criminal justice policies.
Look at the cultural and social relationship between tattoos and crime, including the symbolism of tattooing and criminal identity.
Explore the development of the British welfare state and examine it in terms of the divisions between public and private provision and the conflicting moral judgements that are applied. The ways in which these State interventions build upon and entrench class divisions are studied.
Explore how our identities, so often presented as a natural and eternal condition, are constructed for us by powerful forces of reproduction and representation, ones that blur the lines between fabricated and real, object and subject, outside and inside, in a process which at once helps to maintain social hierarchy and is largely beyond individual control.
Study the historical and socially constructed nature of freedom, crime and criminality within the law. You will look at examples of social movements that illuminate how the law itself is a field of contestation, including piracy, file sharing and poll tax rebellion.
Critically explore the complexities of the sex industry, with a particular focus on social control. You will consider the motivations of both those who purchase sexual services, and the sex workers who cater to these needs both on and off street. To do this, you will look at different theoretical understandings of sex work/prostitution and the way the industry in controlled in different geographical areas.
Develop your understanding of the nature of work and organisations in the contemporary global economy. You will build the critical skills needed to understand key theoretical debates regarding new organisational and work-management techniques, new and emerging forms of labour and employment, and the complex and changing relationship between production, consumption and identity in an increasingly globalised economy.
Gain a critical understanding of the lived experiences of individuals who are seeking support to stop offending and recover from substance abuse. You’ll explore the connections between theory, policy and practice, in order to support desistance and recovery, to reduce reoffending and improve resettlement.
Explore different theoretical approaches to understanding masculinities, including social construction and develop your ability to relate these theoretical approaches to a range of empirical topics.
Fees & Funding
£9,250
Home / EU 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £9250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£13,000
International 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £13000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees & Funding
£9,250
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £9250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Clinical skills suite with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary but the costs you will need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence.
- A research methods book to use across multiple modules
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships, follow the links below:
£13,000
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £13000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Clinical skills suite with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary but the costs you will need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence.
- A research methods book to use across multiple modules
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships, follow the links below:
This course will encourage you to question what we mean by ‘crime’ and ‘justice’. By studying Sociology and Criminology together – two disciplines that share common interests – you will develop your critical analytical and interpretive skills as you gain a deeper understanding of the causes of crime and its consequences for society.
Dr Darren Nixon
Senior Lecturer
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Student blog, Sociology student Lucy MacDonald Sociology student Lucy talks about her experience of studying Sociology
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