Criminology and Social Policy, BSc (Hons)

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Gain a wealth of knowledge and skills in two constantly developing areas

Key Course Details

UK/EU
International

3 Year Full Time

- UCAS Code MLF4
- Mode of Study Campus Based
- Start Date September
- Typical Offer (view equivalents) ABB-BBB
- Location Singleton Park Campus
- Tuition Fees Per Year £ 9,000

3 Year Full Time

- UCAS Code MLF4
- Mode of Study Campus Based
- Start Date September
- Typical Offer ABB-BBB - More Information
- Location Singleton Park Campus
- Tuition Fees Per Year £ 14,150

Course Overview

This joint honours degree in Criminology and Social Policy combines two exciting and rapidly-developing subject areas that each have an enormous influence on all of our lives.

You will explore key theories and debates relating to how societies meet the needs of their citizens and the ways that social policies are shaped by the causes and effects of crime on individuals and communities.

You will examine themes and values such as social justice, equality, fairness, and citizenship, alongside specific policy focal points such as crime, health, education, housing, disability, poverty, and the family, as well as gaining an in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system.

Throughout your joint honours degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and the ability to communicate your ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Why Criminology and Social Policy at Swansea?

Both elements of this joint honours have exceptional ratings for teaching quality and student satisfaction:

Criminology is 7th in the UK (Times & Sunday Times 2020)
Criminology is ranked 12th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2020)
Social Policy is ranked 9th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2020)

You will be joining a university that is in the UK top 10 for overall student satisfaction (NSS 2019) and the UK top 5 for career prospects (Guardian 2020).

Your Criminology and Social Policy Experience

Our flexible degree structure gives you the scope to tailor your studies to your particular interests, career goals, or ambitions for postgraduate study.

Based between the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and the College of Human and Health Sciences, you will benefit from two diverse and dynamic research environments with many opportunities to build connections across disciplines.

Criminology and Social Policy Employment Opportunities

A Social Policy and Criminology degree opens up a wide range of career and further study opportunities. You could move into:

Postgraduate study
Research posts in universities and private social research companies
Policy research roles in the public and third sectors
Community development
Roles in the criminal justice system, including the police, victim support, and prison and probation services
Social work
Teaching

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Welsh Medium Study

Modules

BSc Criminology and Social Policy structure.

Your early studies will introduce you to the key principles of law, criminal justice, human rights, and the sociology, history, and politics of social policy.

Later options allow you to focus on a range of topics including youth justice, extremism, offender management, drugs and alcohol, poverty and social exclusion.

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
ASC106	Period September-January	10	Victims and Victimology
ASC110	Period January-June	20	Law, Criminal Justice and Human Rights
ASC111	Period January-June	20	The Criminological Imagination
ASC113	Period September-January	10	Study Skills in Criminology
ASP106	Period January-June	20	The Politics of Social Policy
ASP111	Period September-January	20	The History of Social Policy
PPS111	Period September-January	20	Individuals and Society

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
ASC208	Period September-January	20	Research Methods in Criminology
ASP214	Period September-January	20	Health Policy
ASP220	Period January-June	20	Social Security, Poverty and Social Exclusion
ASP251	Period September-January	20	Housing Policy, Homes and Homelessness

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : If considering a Dissertation in a Criminology topic, you will need to select ASC222 Developing and Planning a Research Project Please ensure that modules are balanced over semester 1 and semester 2.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
ASC204	Period January-June	20	Penology and Punishment
ASC212	Period September-January	20	Criminological Theory: Content and Application
ASC214	Period September-January	20	Applied Offender Rehabilitation
ASC215	Period January-June	20	Crime, Drugs and Alcohol
ASC218	Period January-June	20	Media, Crime & Criminal Justice
ASC219	Period September-January	10	Leadership and Management in Social Justice
ASC220	Period January-June	10	The Criminal State: International Issues
ASC221	Period September-January	10	An Introduction to Policing
ASC222	Period January-June	10	Developing and Planning a Research Project	If you want to take ASC324 Dissertation in Year 3, you need to pursue this module.

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
ASP301	Period January-June	20	Principles of Social Policy
ASP305	Period September-January	10	Advocacy, Rights and Representation
ASP315	Period January-June	10	Social Policy in an Ageing World
ASP356	Period September-January	20	The Family and Children: Ethics and Policy

Optional Modules

Criminology Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : In order to select the ASC324 Dissertation, you must have taken ASC222 Dissertation Preparation in Year 2. Please ensure that modules are balanced over semester 1 and semester 2.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
ASC303	Period January-June	20	Young Offenders and Youth Justice
ASC316	Period January-June	20	Criminalisation of Sex
ASC317	Period September-January	20	Understanding & Countering Terrorism & Violent Extremism
ASC319	Period September-January	20	Social and Environmental Harms
ASC321	Period January-June	20	Sexual Crimes
ASC324	Period September-June	40	Dissertation	To select this module, you MUST have pursued ASC222 in Year 2.
ASC325	Period January-June	10	Delivering Social Justice Interventions: Entrepreneurial Criminology
ASC326	Period September-January	10	Homicide: Criminalising Death and Dying
ASC327	Period January-June	10	Understanding Desistance: The Role of Education	This module is running in Week 1 to 5 and available to a limited number of students. There is an application procedure for this module.
ASC330	Period January-June	10	Understanding Desistance: The Role of Education	This module is running in Week 7 to 10 and available to a limited number of students. There is an application procedure for this module.
ASC331	Period September-January	10	The Criminalisation of Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants
ASC332	Period January-June	10	Work, Crime and Punishment
ASC333	Period September-January	20	Critical Criminology of Sports and Leisure

Entry Requirements

Our standard offer for our criminology programmes is 3 A Levels at grades ranging from ABB-BBB or equivalent. Please also view our alternative entry requirements to learn more about qualifications such as the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate and Extended Project Qualification, as well as calculate your UCAS Tariff points. For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent).

We would be happy to discuss the grade requirements of your offer in more detail, and answer any queries. Please contact Glyn James, Recruitment Manager for the School of Law: 01792 602069 / glyn.james@swansea.ac.uk

How You're Taught

Year 1 consists of a set of compulsory core modules, which cover both Criminology and Social Policy.

Year 2 will comprise of four compulsory modules, but will also give you the opportunity to study another two modules of your choice.

By year 3, you will be able to shape your learning experience, choosing from a range of optional modules.

Teaching on your criminology and social policy degree is completed through lectures (which are recorded), seminars and tutorials. Assessments include a range of modern methods, from blogs and vlogs to writing policy, research proposals and portfolio work, resulting in a smaller number of exams.

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Meet Your Lecturers

Our Criminology & Social Policy degree will give you the opportunity to learn from industry experts with a wealth of academic and practical experiences. Together, the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and College of Human and Health Sciences offer an exceptional student experience and a progressive curriculum, which will help you to understand how crime can affect individuals and society.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on:

The School of Law’s staff pages.
The College of Human and Health Sciences’ staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2020/21 are as follows:

		UK/EU	International
BSc (Hons)	Full Time	£ 9,000	£ 14,150

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

Parking and travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Printing and binding
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

EMPLOYABILITY AT THE SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE COLLEGE OF HUMAN AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The School of Law and College of Human and Health Sciences both take a proactive approach to enhancing graduate employability, with dedicated Employability and Placements Officers. Together, they offer a range of local, national and international work placements, professional courses and the advice and support to help you develop the skills to achieve your ambitions.

Find out more about your opportunities on:

The School of Law’s employability webpage.
The College of Human and Health Sciences’ employability webpage.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Academic Support at the School of Law and College of Human and Health Sciences

Each student is assigned an academic mentor to help with:

Academic guidance
Personal development planning
Guidance on finding help with personal issues (which affect your wellbeing, attendance, and progress through University)

There are student representatives in each year of our law programme as well as a School representative for undergraduate students. The school also has a dedicated Student Information Office who will be able to offer academic assistance throughout your studies.

Global Opportunities

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

Additional Information

Student Societies

Meet your fellow students and take part in a variety of social opportunities by joining the Swansea Criminology Society, which is run for students, by students.

Contact Details
For further details on our undergraduate criminology programmes, please contact:

Ms Jess Hammett (Recruitment Officer)
Tel: +44 (0)1792 606341
Email: Jess

Mr Sam Hanks (Head of Undergraduate Criminology Admissions)
Email: Sam

General Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 295831
Email: Study

For EU/International Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602600
Email: International