Criminology — Solihull Sixth Form College

Criminology

Why study Criminology?
  • Not all types of crime are alike. Are you interested in the different types of crime that take place in our society? Are criminals born or made? How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? What are the different roles of everyone involved when a crime is detected? Then perhaps you are interested to know more about this exciting course in Criminology.
  • Criminology is the study of the reasons why individuals commit crime. By understanding why a person commits a crime, we can develop ways to control crime or rehabilitate the criminal. This course will enable you to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and suggest ways of reducing crime.
  • You will also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.

Criminology

Why study Criminology at Solihull Sixth Form College?
  • This course is very popular amongst our learners, is very well resourced at the College and is led by a team of talented, creative and highly motivated members of staff.
  • We work closely with the nationally and internationally renowned Criminology department at Birmingham City University.
  • You will take part in sessions led by visiting speakers from local Universities and people working in the field such as the Police, Probation Officers and Social Workers.
  • You will visit local courts, attend relevant conferences and work with journalists in regional newspapers, radio and TV.
  • You will be working individually and in groups on projects such as ‘the organisation of a publicity campaign’ or ‘tracking a particular criminal investigation’.
  • Approaches to learning will be very active and varied. You will make use of information drawn from journal articles, websites, video clips, books, newspapers and leaflets.
Course Outline
Year 12

Unit 1 – Changing Awareness of Crime
You will explore how crime reporting affects the public perception of crime and criminals. You will then go on to study how campaigns are used to bring about change and plan a campaign of your own.
Unit 2 – Criminological Theories
You will discover and assess all the theories that have been put forward to explain why crime occurs.

Year 13
Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Courtroom
You will gain an understanding of the process of criminal investigations. You will then go on to learn about the prosecution of suspects and be able to review criminal cases.
Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment
You will study every aspect of the criminal justice system and the types and purposes of punishment in England and Wales.

Assessment

The course is divided into 4 units and therefore it is a modular structure. You will be assessed at the end of every unit. There are opportunities for assessment in December and May of each academic year.
Units 1 and 3 are internally assessed by your teachers in examination conditions on computers. Units 2 and 4 are both examined through a 90 minute external written paper.
Units 1 and 2 lead to an Applied Level 3 Certificate in Criminology, worth 50% of the final Applied Level 3 Diploma.
Successful completion of the 4 units, over the 2 years, leads to the Applied Level 3 Diploma, which is equivalent to an A-level, graded A * to U like an A level and carries the same UCAS points.
Examining Board – WJEC (EDUQAS).

Special Entry Requirements

The standard A level entry requirements apply.

Prohibited Options

None. The popularity of this course is growing rapidly nationally and students are combining it with a wide range of A-level subjects. For example, it could be taken in combination with other Social Science subjects such as Sociology, Psychology, Politics, Economics, Business and/or Law, or it might be an attractive option for learners focusing on 2 or 3 Science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

What do our learners go on to do?

This course is ideal for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in Criminology. This course can provide a route into Higher Education to study at degree level in a variety of areas such as Criminology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Psychology and Forensic Science. The course would also provide an excellent basis to anyone wishing to pursue a career within Social Work, Mental Health, the Police Force, Customs and Immigration, Prison Services, Court Services, Security Services, the NHS, Education and Youth and Community Services.

Cost Implications

You will be provided with all teaching resources on this course, but you may incur a small cost for local transport to attend organised visits from time to time and if you attend a conference with key-note speakers.

Complementary Subjects or Enrichment Courses

You have the opportunity to join the ’Social Sciences Academy’ and to complete an Extended Project Qualification, which will allow you to research a topic of genuine interest to you in depth. Alternatively, you may wish to join the CSI Solihull enrichment to explore the world of Criminology further.

This information is correct for September 2024 entry.

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