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Sociology and Criminology (BA) (Full-Time, 2021 Entry)

If you would like to study at Warwick, there are other courses available for 2025 entry.

Explore our undergraduate courses for 2025 entry


UCAS Code
L314

Qualification
Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Duration
3 years full-time

Start Date
27 September 2021

Department of Study
Department of Sociology

Location of Study
University of Warwick


Why do people commit crime? Can crime be prevented? How should we respond to crime? If these questions fascinate you, this degree could be the right fit for you.


Course overview

This degree looks at how social divides like race, gender, and class relate to criminal justice.

What you'll learn

  • To apply key sociological categories such as class, gender, and ‘race’ to analyse various social problems and imagine creative solutions to these issues
  • How societies have changed over time and how key institutions within these have functioned
  • How we might explain offending behaviours and explore the effects of crime on individuals and communities.
  • How the criminal justice system operates and with what impacts
  • Search for answers to social justice issues by examining and questioning the role of the police, courts, prisons and civil society
  • Critically engage with theoretical and methodological debates in contemporary Criminology and Criminal Justice as well as in Sociology
  • Develop theoretical and conceptual knowledge and enhance your understanding of empirical research

This degree covers topics such as:

  • culture and ethnic identities
  • geo-political conflict
  • gender
  • environmentalism
  • social movements
  • sexuality
  • class and capitalism
  • social theory
  • state crime
  • terrorism and issues of security in global context
  • punishment and community justice
  • youth crime and youth justice
  • policing
  • prisons
  • inequalities
  • discrimination, racism, xenophobia
  • health and illness in society

Lectures and Seminars

Most modules are taught using a combination of weekly lectures and seminars. Lectures give an introduction to a topic to help prepare you for discussions in seminars. In seminars, you can engage in debates and share your views.

Learning support

You will have a personal tutor who you can speak to about any questions you may have. There are also regular feedback sessions and opportunities to speak to module directors and seminar tutors.

Contact hours

There are 10–11 hours of formal contact time available per week in year 1, to help you settle into University life. After then, 8 hours of contact time is available per week.

Class size

  • Seminars: 15–17 students
  • Lecture sizes vary

Combination of essays, reports, podcasts, reflective writing, and unseen exams.

In the final year, there is a 10,000-word dissertation.

Studying abroad will add one year to your degree, as you'll spend your third year abroad.

Immerse yourself in life in another country and grow as a global citizen. Explore other cultures, languages, and understand global connections and inequalities.


Countries students have visited;*


Europe

  • École Normale Supérieure de Cachan, France
  • Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
  • Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Germany
  • Goteborg University, Sweden
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
  • Universitat Autōnoma de Barcelona, Spain
  • Universitat Bremen, Germany
  • University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • University of Iceland

Worldwide

  • Monash University, Australia and/or Malaysia
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Western University, Canada
  • University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • Sun Yat-sen University, China
  • Tsinghua University, China
  • Xiamen University, China
  • Hokkaido University, Japan
  • Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

*Please note countries and institutions are subject to change.

General entry requirements

A level:

  • ABB

IB:

  • 34

BTEC:

We welcome applications from students taking BTEC qualifications, either alone or in combination with A levels. Our typical BTEC offers are as follows:

  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate plus 2 A-Levels: D plus AB
  • BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus 1 A-Level: DD plus A
  • BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: D*DD

Additional requirements:

You will also need to meet our English Language requirements.


International Students

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

Find out more about international entry requirements.


Contextual data and differential offers

Warwick may make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances. These include students participating in the Realising Opportunities programme, or who meet two of the contextual data criteria. Differential offers will be one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer (to a minimum of BBB).


Warwick International Foundation Programme (IFP)

All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme (selected courses only).

Find out more about standard offers and conditions for the IFP.


Taking a gap year

Applications for deferred entry welcomed.


Interviews

We do not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on your UCAS form which includes predicted and actual grades, your personal statement and school reference.

Our modules

Core modules provide a detailed understanding and strong foundation in politics. While optional modules allow you to design your degree to specialise in a chosen area.

Core modules

  • History of Sociological Thought
  • Criminology: Theories and Concepts
  • Researching Society and Culture
  • Crime and Society
  • Introduction to Social Analytics in Social Inequalities Research

Optional modules

  • Race and the Making of the Modern World
  • International Perspectives on Gender
  • Life of Media: Past, Present and Future
  • Sociology of Education

Explore our modules in more detail.

Core modules

  • Designing and Conducting Social Research
  • Modern Social Theory
  • Gender, Crime and Justice
  • Advanced Theory in Criminology and Social Justice
  • Gender, Crime & Justice
  • Advanced Theories in Crime

Optional modules

  • Transformations: Gender, Reproduction, and Parenting in Contemporary Society
  • Commercial Cultures in Global Capitalism
  • Educational Inequalities
  • Relationship and Family Change: Demographic and Sociological Perspectives
  • Becoming Yourself: The Construction of the Self in Contemporary Western Societies
  • Media, Audiences and Social Change
  • Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Design and Data Collection
  • Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Analysis and Reporting
  • Cultures of Diaspora
  • War, Memory and Society
  • Social Theory Of Law

    Explore our modules in more detail.

    Core module

    • Dissertation

    Optional module

    • Social Movements and Political Action
    • Racism and Xenophobia
    • Ethnography and the Anthropological Tradition
    • Transnational Media Ecologies
    • Race, Resistance and Modernity
    • Sociology of Knowledge, Science and Intellectuals
    • Beastly Sociology
    • Multivariate Secondary Analysis of Data
    • Punishment, Justice and Control
    • Feminist Pedagogy Feminist Activism
    • The Sociology of Urban Life
    • Postcolonial Theory and Politics
    • How Sociology Can Save the Environment
    • Queering Sociology
    • State Crime, Human Rights & Global Wrongs
    • Advanced Quantitative Methods
    • Experiments in the Social Sciences and Humanities

    Explore our modules in more detail.

    Tuition fees

    Find out more about fees and funding.


    Additional course costs

    There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course. Students who choose to complete a work placement or study abroad will pay reduced tuition fees for their third year.


    Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021

    We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your Undergraduate degree course.

    Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021

    Helping you find the right career

    Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant to support you. They offer impartial advice and guidance, together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

    Find out more about careers support at Warwick.

    Where a Sociology & Criminology degree can take you:

    • Professional roles in various national and international NGOs, civil society and charity organisations
    • Civil service careers
    • Researchers and research analysts for state and independent bodies
    • Professions in various criminal justice institutions
    • Accounting and Finance careers
    • Academic careers and doctoral scholarships for further study
    • Teaching Careers
    • Social Work
    • Careers and Employability Assistant
    • Customer Representatives and HR Graduates
    • Directorate Administrators
    • Event Administrator
    • Resident Tutors
    • Management Trainees
    • Marketing & Development Coordinators
    • Senior Sales Consultants

    Graduates have gone on to work for employers such as:

    • Cambridge Judge Business School
    • Centrica PLC, Choice
    • Spotify
    • Common Vision UK
    • Credo Care
    • Girlguiding
    • Hawkins Esate Agents
    • Holmfirth Junior and Infants
    • Imperial College London
    • National Counties Building Society
    • Oslo University Hospital
    • Qualia Analytics
    • Teachfirst
    • Orange Tree

    Anna's story

    "The specialisms drew me to the sociology department at Warwick. I always had an interest in social inequalities and public policy, and was optimistic that this course would allow me to study many modules on the subject suite of optional modules to cater for a myriad of interests.

    I’ve learned about gender inequalities, how we remember war, and even the criminal justice system, whilst still being able to zone in on an area I feel incredibly passionate about. "

    Anna, current student

    About the information on this page

    This information is applicable for 2021 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.