Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this degree, you will have demonstrated:
- systematic and critical understanding of the key concepts, principles and theories relevant to the study of criminology and law
- critical awareness of the ways in which social interests, positions and values may impact on polices and practice in both areas
- substantial understanding of the complex ways in which the institutions, policies and practices relevant to crime and justice interact
- in depth, critical awareness of the relationships between criminological perspectives, research and policy
- understanding of the social, political, economic, historical and ethical dimensions of law.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- construct and present sophisticated arguments using appropriate concepts, models, theories and evidence
- critically select, interpret and use both quantitative and qualitative evidence, with a clear sense of how different forms of data are constructed
- synthesise, compare and evaluate different theoretical positions or arguments using both primary and secondary sources
- demonstrate an ability to apply critically relevant concepts to real-world examples and cases.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- independently plan, study and manage a sequence of work to an agreed timetable which includes the meeting of deadlines
- recognise and use relevant skills developed through learning to other contexts, such as the workplace
- engage with feedback received from previous work to reflect on own learning processes
- work with a group to find agreed solutions to set problems
- recognise, record and communicate skills and knowledge to achieve personal/career goals
- communicate knowledge and/or findings in an appropriate way for particular audiences
- employ evidence-based and logical reasoning to examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues and present arguable and reasoned conclusions.
Key skills
On completion of this degree, you will be able to:
- identify and ask questions appropriately to explore relevant issues or problems within criminology and law
- effectively communicate information accurately and appropriately to the subject, purpose and context, including using appropriate legal and social-scientific terminology and methodology
- select, summarise and synthesise information from different sources, including primary and secondary texts
- use electronic sources of information and online databases with appropriate discrimination and critical awareness.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
You will learn independently, using the following types of study material, provided by us:
- printed and online teaching texts
- multimedia packages, including the internet, and which may also include some audio-cast, CD-ROM, DVD and the Web
- directed readings which may be drawn from a wide variety of printed sources.
We will support your learning with:
- self-assessment questions and exercises, included in the teaching texts and virtual learning environment (VLE)
- feedback and guidance from a tutor
- tutorials, revision and day-schools
- email and online discussion forums
- study guides
- tailored support for each form of assessment, via a combination of the above methods.
We will assess your learning with:
- tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
- interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
- formal examinations
- end-of-module assessments (EMAs).