Program Overview

Criminologists use theory to explore some of the most contentious issues in contemporary society, working to understand the causes of crime and the way in which criminal justice agencies respond to offenders.

Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln aims to give students the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social, cultural, and political responses to crime and deviance. Students are asked to apply their knowledge to real-life issues, and have an opportunity to analyse the different social constructions of everyday life in order to better understand the diverse groups and structures that make up modern society.

How You Study

The course enables students to advance their discipline-specific knowledge. It provides the opportunity to develop a range of cognitive, practical, and transferable skills that may be relevant to further academic study and employment.

Academic staff undertake research in a broad range of areas. They work closely with local criminal justice agencies and professionals, such as the police and youth offending services, to enable students to access and learn from real-world knowledge and practices. Students are encouraged to build links with employers and develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.

The first-year Applying Research module is designed to develop skills in independent learning, research, and analysis. As the course progresses, students can shape their learning around their own interests and career aspirations by choosing from a range of optional modules influenced not only by sociology and criminology, but also social policy and politics. In the third year, they can go on to consider punishment theory and practice alongside the mechanisms of social policy making. Students may choose to specialise in diverse optional topics drawn from across the School, including the study of policing, work, human rights, genocide, and civil society.

The course aims to combine aspects of both directed and independent learning. Each module is usually delivered by means of a weekly lecture and seminar. Seminars are a space for students to discuss and debate the issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings relating to such issues. Further methods of delivery include visits from practitioners and guest speakers, collaborative workshops, and IT sessions.

Students also have the opportunity to meet with tutors for individual tutorial sessions to explore in greater detail their own individual learning needs. As well as this directed study, students are expected to undertake independent learning utilising traditional library material as well as a wide range of electronic resources.