DURATION
4 Years
Mode of Study
Online
Start Date
Overview
Does the rapidly expanding field of criminal psychology interest you? Do you want to learn more about the critical issues facing today’s criminal justice system? Take a deeper look inside the criminal mind with our degree.
This programme gives you the opportunity to study alongside fellow professionals and classmates to take part in thought-provoking modules covering topics such as offender profiling, risk management and offender rehabilitation.
Our course emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice along with the integration of psychological theory to understand, reduce and prevent offending behaviour. You’ll also study the core areas of psychology including cognitive, social and developmental psychology.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore fascinating topics including:
the study of the social factors that impact on individual’s lives
Completing this course will help you:
- crime from a psychological and sociological perspective
- understanding of the importance of forensic psychology within the Criminal Justice System.
- criminal liability and the key definitions associated with criminality
- the history and theoretical perspectives on victimology
Finally, you’ll be able to build on your research skills acquired during the programme through your final project on a criminal psychology topic that is of personal interest to you.
Please note: This programme is not accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). If you would like to study a BPS accredited course, please see our BSc (Hons) Psychology.
Why we’re great
- Our courses involve a range of technical competencies which can be applied immediately to the real world, making you an asset to any team or employer.
- Graduates of the course will have a holistic understanding of both business and psychology in addition to a wide range of transferable skills including critical thinking, research, self-motivation and communication.
- On this course you can choose optional modules to tailor your learning to your personal interests.
Learning Path
Programme Structure
The BSc (Hons) Criminal Psychology is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 360 credits.
Level 4 Modules:
- Fundamentals of Effective Learning in Psychology (15 credits)*
- Introduction to Social Psychology (15 credits)*
- Crime & Society (15 credits)*
- Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)*
- Introduction to Offender Profiling (15 credits)*
- Introduction to Research Methods (30 credits)*
- One optional module**:
- Dealing with Offending Behaviour (15 credits)
- Personality and Intelligence (15 credits)
Level 5 Modules:
- Biological Psychology (15 credits)*
- Advanced Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)*
- Individual Differences, Emotions and Behaviours (15 credits)*
- Quantitative Psychology (15 credits)*
- Psychological Development through the Lifespan (15 credits)*
- Forensic Psychology (15 credits)*
- Two optional modules**:
- Criminology (15 credits)
- Risk Assessment and Management (15 credits)
- Criminal Investigation (15 credits)
- Youth Crime and Justice (15 credits)
- Prisons and Penology (15 credits)
- Substance Misuse and Crime (15 credits)
- Probation and Community Justice (15 credits)
Level 6 Modules:
- Critical Social Psychology (15 credits)
- Developmental Science (15 credits)
- Criminal Behaviour and Deviance (15 credits)
- Investigative Psychology (15 credits)
- Victimology and Criminal Victimisation (15 credits)
- Final Psychology Project (30 credits)*
- One optional module**:
- Policing (15 credits)
- The Economics of Crime (15 credits)
- Criminal Justice in the Information Age: Cyber Crime and Security (15 credits)*
* These modules are core and must be passed in order to achieve the award.
** Optional modules become core once taken.
Teaching Methods
Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.
Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including:
- multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
- discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
- live Q&A sessions with your tutors
- a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
- support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team
To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.
Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, or by submitting longer written pieces.
We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways:
- Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent.
- You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme.
- You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform.
- There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work.
- You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise.
Our BSc (Hons) Criminal Psychology has an indicative study duration of 4 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.
It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.
Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.
All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.
On successful completion of your degree, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.
Our BSc (Hons) Criminal Psychology degree lends itself to most careers within the criminal justice, but the skills and knowledge obtained from studying the programme are also highly sought after by employers from a wide range of sectors including security, marketing, research, academia and business.
We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements.
Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within the first three weeks of the course in order to continue with your studies.
In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Criminal Psychology, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:
- three A-levels or equivalent
In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Criminal Psychology, you must meet the following criteria:
- GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent
- three years’ relevant work experience
As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0.
Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.
Are You Ready To Start?
Fees and Funding
Full tuition fee: £18,500
Monthly tuition fee: £385
Please note that a maximum of two discounts or scholarships can be applied. Find out more information about our discounts and scholarships here.
Our course fees are fully inclusive – all teaching materials and required reading are included, and there are no hidden charges for assessments or resits. We also charge the same fee for domestic and international students.
We want to give everyone the opportunity to experience a University of Essex Online course. We think you’ll love it! But if, within the first 21 days, you decide it’s not for you, you’ll receive a full refund.
Δ All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed during the payment process.
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