Course summary

Why do people commit crime? How should young offenders be treated? Can crime be prevented? What is the role of policing in society? As a Criminology student at Kent, you search for answers to these questions by examining the police, the courts, prisons and society as a whole. On this programme, you also develop valuable quantitative research skills which are in high demand by employers. Overview The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research is one of the best in the country for teaching and research. Our academics are internationally recognised for their expertise in criminological theory and criminal justice policy. Adding a quantitative research minor to your programme opens your mind to new ways of thinking. Starting with no assumed statistical knowledge, you graduate with an advanced package of practical quantitative skills alongside subject-specific knowledge in criminology and criminal justice. Our degree programme In your first year you take introductory modules on criminology, sociology and quantitative skills. You can also choose from a range of options covering contemporary culture, media and youth behaviours. You will also learn to think like a quantitative researcher, developing a critical eye for statistics and data analysis. In your second and final years, you deepen your understanding of crime and criminal justice. A wide range of options means you can focus on what interests you: areas covered include drug culture, forensic psychology, youth and crime, the sociology of imprisonment, and terrorism and modern society. You also move on to more advanced quantitative techniques, building on the foundations you have learnt in the first year. You develop an advanced skillset in quantitative methods that is extremely rare in graduates from non-mathematical disciplines. In your final year, you choose either a dissertation with a quantitative research focus or (providing you achieve the required academic standard by the end of Stage 2) a placement module where you can put your skills into practice. Workplace experience is highly valued by employers, and the placements offered through Kent see students completing meaningful, applied quantitative analysis for business and organisations across a range of sectors, giving you the opportunity to add concrete workplace achievements to your CV. Criminology is also available as a single honours programme without quantitative research. For details, see Criminology. Or, you can take Criminology as part of a joint honours degree with Sociology, Social Policy or Cultural Studies. Year abroad 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. Extra activities The Social Studies Society is run by Kent students for anyone with an interest in Criminology, Sociology, Law, Social Policy, Economics and Politics. Previous activities include the Criminal Justice in Action guest speaker series. There are events available throughout the year for students from the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. These may include: • research seminars and webcasts • career development workshops • informal lectures by guest experts followed by group discussion.