New course for 2024/25 in partnership with University of Worcester. Our Criminology course explores the criminal justice system and crime from a
critical perspective and with a focus on social justice. It holds a primary
focus on research and debated explanations for crime, victimisation and
deviance, and responses to those crimes, by societies and individuals. The inter-disciplinary nature of the subject is mirrored in the construction
of the criminology course. The core discrete criminological learning is
complemented by modules in Psychology, Law and Sociology, prompting shared
learning with students from other disciplines. It is an active and lively course that moves away from traditional teaching
of the social sciences to embrace the contemporary and innovative topics and
practices of 21st century criminal justice. The work-placement element ensures that you are prepared for the world of
work. The course is delivered at Birmingham Metropolitan College’s Matthew Boulton
site. Completion of the FdA Criminology, will allow direct access to Level 6 of the
BA Criminology Programme at University of Worcester, to complete a full honours
degree.
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Foundation Degree Criminology – University of Worcester
Level 5 - Professional & University
Foundation Degree Criminology - University of Worcester
New course for 2024/25 in partnership with University of
Worcester. Courses at BMet are informed by research and current developments in the
discipline and by feedback from students, external examiners and employers.
Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course
relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be
available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course.
If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module,
this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help
you choose an alternative.
Course Length: 30 Weeks
The normal minimum entry requirement for foundation undergraduate degree courses is:
* The possession of 4 GCSE’s (Grade C/4 or above) that must include Maths and English
* At least 32 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 1 A Levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications).
Teaching
You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, practical activities etc. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. They are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work.
In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year and three occasions in the second year of a course.
The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system, enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.
Assessment
he course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.
Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations.
The criminology course design has been informed by the University’s graduate attributes and as a result we provide learning opportunities within and around the course for students to become graduates who can:
1. Act ethically with global and social responsibility, being culturally aware;
2. Be curious, reflective and resilient lifelong learners;
3. Use their analytical, creative and evaluative skills to problem solve;
4. Be effective communicators and team workers, and
5. Use their digital capability to engage in the modern world of work by actively and responsibly working, communicating and collaborating online.
Criminology graduates have a wide range of potential work opportunities available to them, including direct entry into the employment market on completing their course of study. Our graduates have previously progressed to careers in:
* Probation;
* Prison services;
* Voluntary sector;
* Third sector organisations and social enterprises;
Law enforcement agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or the police;Further or higher education.
As highlighted by the cross disciplinary approach within the teaching content on this course, graduates also have the opportunity to develop a broader set of subject knowledge and transferable skills, and as such can also go on to further study or work in fields such as:
* Social work;
* Civil service administrator;
* International aid/development worker;
* Charity officer;
* Psychology;
* Law;
* Research;
* Advice worker;
* Local government administrator.
Year 1 – Modules
* Approaches in Criminology and Criminal Justice (30 credits)
* Skills for academic and career success (including work-based learning placement) (30 credits)
* Approaches to Social Justice (30 credits)
* Investigative skills for research (15 credits)
* Criminal Law and Policy (15 credits)
Year 2 – Modules
* Research Methods and Methodology in Criminology (30 credits)
* Probation, Penology and Rehabilitation in England and Wales (30 credits)
* Criminology Placement (30 credits)
* Criminology and Media (15 credits)
* Policing Approaches in England and Wales (15 credits)