Course summary

Why do people commit crime? What is the role of policing in society? How is society’s perception of offenders shaped by ideas about subcultures, fashion and gender? Explore these pressing questions on our Criminology and Cultural Studies joint honours programme. In your first year, you study introductory modules on criminology, sociology, and cultural studies. You then learn how to conduct and apply qualitative and quantitative sociological research. In your second and final years, you can choose from a range of options covering topics like contemporary culture, youth behaviours, digital media and the sociology of imprisonment. There is also the option to take a dissertation module on a subject of your choice. This allows you to focus in detail on an area you are particularly passionate about. Our students have the opportunity to spend a year or a term abroad at one of our partner institutions in North America, Asia and Europe. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply. At Kent, Criminology and Cultural Studies are taught in the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research where you benefit from a large choice of specialist modules on race, social change, criminal justice, disability and the arts. Our academics are internationally recognised for their expertise in criminological theory and criminal justice policy. They are regularly asked by the government to provide insight on matters relevant for current policy developments. Criminology is also available as a single honours degree (UCAS code M902 at institution K24) and as a joint honours degree with Sociology (UCAS code LM39 at institution K24) or Social Policy (UCAS code LM49 at institution K24). You can also study Criminology with Quantitative Research (UCAS code L3GX at institution K24) to gain a combination of analytical skills and social sciences knowledge