Applied Psychology and Criminology BA(Hons)

• Overview

  Students gain an excellent grounding in psychology and criminology following the British Psychological Society's recommended curriculum, whilst learning to think beyond the textbook. You will learn to apply psychological knowledge to your own experiences, emotions and behaviours; understand the psychological dimension of contemporary society and the many personal, interpersonal and group processes that link individual and social problems. You will consider why some people adopt 'deviant' lifestyles or make criminal choices, how crime might be prevented, and acquire the interpersonal skills to work with offenders, victims and others in the criminal justice and community safety fields.

  Course duration

  Full-time: 3 years
  

  Part-time: 6 years
  

  UCAS code MC98

• Course content

  Course structure

  The course offers placement and independent study opportunities, international exchange, and an open choice of dissertation projects.

  Areas of study

  You will learn a range of theoretical perspectives underpinning psychology, landmark and contemporary research, practical aspects of tried and tested methods, and real-life applications. Key areas of study include developmental, cognitive, social and biological psychology, individual differences, conceptual and historical issues in psychology, and psychological research methods.
  
  The study of criminology will give you a cutting edge grasp on new theories, methods and approaches, crime prevention and its consequences. Criminology examines the explanations given for crime: its link to dangerous or irresponsible people and whether it is a consequence of deprived social circumstances. We consider the role and performance of agencies within the criminal justice system - including the police, courts, prison service and punishment in the community.

  Syllabus

  Year 1
  Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies
  Introduction to Psychology
  Contemporary Social Inequalities
  ICT for the Social Sciences
  Introduction to Research Methods
  Developmental Psychology
  Theories of Crime

  Year 2
  Criminologies of Crime Control
  Trans-cultural Issues in Crime and Justice
  Psychology, Cognitive and Social worlds
  Psychology, the Body and Individual Differences
  Empirical Psychology
  Placement or Analysis and Review

  Year 3
  Empirical Dissertation or Dissertation
  Contemporary Studies in Crime and Justice
  Critical Criminology and Criminal Justice
  Topics in Applied Psychology (eg ecopsychology, cyberpsychology, mental health)

  Psychology options:
  Psychology and Social Change
  Introduction to Critical Addiction Studies
  Therapeutic Relationships
  Placement

• Entry requirements

  Typical entry requirements
  individual offers may vary

  A-levels:
  BBB. Applicants with only two full A-levels or a double award will be considered on an individual basis.

  International Baccalaureate:
  32 points.

  QAA-approved access course:
  acceptable.

  GCSE (minimum grade C):
  at least three subjects including English language and mathematics or a science.

  Foundation degree/HND
  direct to year 2.

  For non-native speakers of English:
  IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

  Other:
  relevant professional experience.

• Location

  Location Falmer

• Career opportunities

  Psychology graduates work in diverse fields beyond the traditional psychological professions of forensic psychology, occupational psychology and clinical psychology.

  Visit the careers centre website.

• Fees and costs

  The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.

  The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.

  To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.

  Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

  BA(Hons) Applied Psychology and Criminology	[L1EA023]
  UK/EU (Full Time)	9,000 GBP
  Island Students (Full Time)	9,000 GBP
  International (Full Time)	12,500 GBP

• More details

  Excellent Facilities

  The School of Applied Social Science is located on the attractive Falmer campus, only four miles from central Brighton.  Facilities at Falmer include a state of the art computer centre, extensive library and a media resources centre for student use.

  Other student support services include the university’s careers centre, welfare service, a counselling service, chaplaincy and childcare provision.

  Research

  Our dedicated psychology and criminology lecturers are all involved in compelling research, with many books, journal articles and collaborative research projects published locally, nationally and internationally in the media.

   

  ·         SASS criminology professor quoted in the Wall Street Journal

  ·         Peter Squires: Straight shooter, The Guardian, October 2007

  ·         Crimestoppers UK

  Lecturers actively research crime and gender, environmentalism and sustainability, the relationship between self and social context, health, inter-personal violence, autobiographical memory, youth offending, sexuality, sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancy, mental health, firearms and culture, crime and policing, and psychotherapy.

  Ongoing research work informs our teaching, making it contemporary, innovative and dynamic. 

  Our degrees enable students to acquire the essential research skills needed for investigating experience and behaviour, supporting students to develop the ability to conduct research independently.

  Community participation and development

  Teaching and research within the School of Applied Social Science is supported by our links with local communities.

  The School’s close working relationship with the university’s Community University Partnership project (Cupp) allows us to offer our undergraduate students the opportunity to combine practical experience within a community or voluntary organisation with academic study. 

  The Community Participation and Development (CPD) module offers the opportunity to explore some of your personal values and aspirations while working for 30 to 50 hours on a relevant placement.  Staff and students provide their skills and expertise, working alongside community organisations to help them achieve their aims.  For example students on criminology courses may wish to work with a crime prevention organisation while sociology students may wish to work in a homeless shelter or a local pressure group.

  It is offered in 10- and 20-credit modules at levels 2 and 3, and assessment is based on reflective as well as analytical assignments which encourage you to look at your own personal journey as well as the policy and practice of the organisation in which your placement is based.

• Student views

  

  Stephanie Wilks-Wiffen, Applied Psychology and Criminology BA(Hons)

  I am the student representative for my course and having just finished my second year studying Applied Psychology and Criminology I am already looking forward to getting stuck in to my third year! Studying Criminology and Applied Psychology has really enabled me to get my teeth into current topics and debates, resulting often in some heated seminar discussions! The course staff are extremely supportive and friendly, which really helps make the fantastic university experience I have had at Brighton.

  What drew me to the University of Brighton was the fact that the School of Applied Social Science offers degrees that encompass two separate disciplines. This not only makes the course that much more interesting and diverse but also will give me an advantage when applying for jobs after leaving university.

  Being the student representative I feel has really enhanced my experience at the university as I have had the opportunity to give feedback on the things students are really enjoying on the course and see change on the few aspects of the course that students feel could be improved.

  Other things that also attracted me to study at Brighton were the fact that Brighton was in the top three friendliest universities in the country in 2006. It can be daunting leaving home for university especially when you're from a small town or village. However Brighton is friendly and welcoming, making the prospect of leaving home less overwhelming. There really is something for everyone in Brighton and I would recommend the university to anybody.

  

  

  Todd Thornback, Applied Psychology and Criminology BA(Hons)

  One of the modules I completed during the second year of my degree required me to talk topeople from all over the world in order to understand the views of people in other cultures in relation to crime. I found this very fulfilling. 

  I also had the opportunity to go on placement in a school this year.  I believe this vocational element of the course will benefit me in the future as I have gained some experience, as well as a degree, from my studies. 

  I am currently looking into applying for a teaching course when I finish my degree. However, I am also considering a career in sports psychology. I have never really known exactly what career path I want to take but my course will open lots of doors.

  

  

  Bethany Poole, Applied Psychology and Criminology BA(Hons), graduate 2011

  Did I enjoy this course, definitely!!   Of course there were some modules that I found more difficult than others, but I enjoyed it all the same. Brighton is such an exciting location for the university experience alone and I think the people, including the lecturers really made a difference to how much I enjoyed my experience there. Furthermore, given that my course was 2 half degrees, and although I think they complimented each other really well, there was quite a lot of variation in what we learnt – especially in the final year!

  The exchange to Sweden during my second year was one of the best things I have ever done.  I first heard about it when I went for the open day, and it was the reason I made Brighton my first choice of university. It was extremely scary and nerve-racking, but it was an experience I’ll never forget. I’ve made friends for life and now know people who live all over the globe because of it. I came back from the trip with a completely different perspective on life and my priorities had also changed – both of which were good things! I would tell anyone to just go for it if they had any doubts. Orebro is an exceptional university, and they look after you really well.  I learnt so much on the exchange, a lot of which will be helpful in the future.

  The time management skills and the ability to cope under pressure will always be useful in any environment, and not just in the work place.  I currently work for a charity in the fundraising department and so, although I haven’t actually gone on to use the degree since graduating I always know it’s there in case I ever decide to go back to it. I also tend refer back to things I’ve learnt during the course in my everyday life without even thinking about it so it’s definitely not been wasted! 

01273 643988
sassenquiries@brighton.ac.uk

The study of applied psychology will provide you with an academic grounding in psychology alongside an understanding of its relevance in contemporary society.

View our applied psychology and criminology course structure overview .

Visit our psychology and criminology pages for more information.

Visit the school or college site

More about this course

Related Courses

Applied Psychology and Sociology BA(Hons)

Open Days

Our open days provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about our courses.