Criminology and Sociology

This thought-provoking Criminology and Sociology degree teaches you to think critically about crime and how how people engage and interact with the world. This thought-provoking degree covers everything from addiction and criminalisation to human rights and climate change.

You’ll be at the forefront of the critical social debates defining the 21st century, learning how crime is defined, controlled and regulated in modern society. External speakers form a key part of the course. There’s a work placement option, giving you valuable work experience and networking opportunities. Plus you’ll develop a strong grounding in research methods.

Criminology and Sociology is a flexible degree. For the first two years, everyone studies the same curriculum. In years three and four our academics help you explore areas such as:

• Gender, crime and victimology.

• Race and ethnicity.

• The process of criminalisation.

• Human rights and politics.

After the first two years of study, you can choose to specialise in other areas or carry on studying this pathway.

You will receive a strong grounding in theory and research methods, along with training in specialist data-analysis software. This degree equips you to succeed in developing your critical thinking skills and enhancing your employability, opening up a wide variety of career options.

Our Criminology degree scored 85% for Teaching and Learning Resources in the 2020 National Student Survey.

Year 1 core modules (subject to change over time) - CRM101 Crime & Punishment; SOC101 Contemporary Social Issues; CRM103 Criminal Justice Processes; SOC120 Social Research in Action 1: Researching Scotland; SOC110 Media & the Digital Society; Abertay 101 Being Successful at Abertay.

You are also required to select three MySuccess modules of your choosing. For detailed module information please check our website.

You’ll learn through a blend of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, online discussion forums, video screenings, guest speaker presentations, directed and private study, and student-focussed group work.

Other assessment methods include supervised examinations, essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, project work, class and online tests, and reflective analyses. In your final year, you’ll design and produce a research project under the dedicated supervision of an academic staff member.

Around one third of the course is assessed through examination, although the exact proportion depends on your module choices.

Put simply, we aim to give you all the skills you need to move straight into a job or further study when you graduate.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS