Course summary

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies. Criminology Prepare yourself for a career in one of the largest growing areas of employment as you explore the relationship between society, the individual, crime, punishment and victimisation. On this dynamic and diverse course, you will gain an extensive understanding of a range of case studies, and learn how criminology can help us examine the various harms, crimes and injustices that occur domestically and internationally. Explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. Learn about explanations for crime and antisocial behaviour, and how the police and courts deal with such matters. You will study the role of punishment and the secure estate, and investigate crimes of the powerless and crimes of the powerful. The issue of human rights is integral to our analyses. Through our wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise, and in ensuring a rich interdisciplinary approach, we work to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. We encourage you to engage in independent learning and thought, and we equip you with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analyse an array of materials, such as expert-led research, personal testimonies and documentaries. Across the Department we have an emphasis on being student-centred. This includes students being assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and highlighted drop-in times for you to visit lecturers. Forensic Biology Explore the fast-moving and exciting science behind criminal investigation through the study of biology and practical forensic applications. This course offers a combination of forensic aspects with a thorough grounding in the traditional science of biology, in particular the molecular biology techniques and DNA profiling. The techniques you will learn are transferable to other biological disciplines and provide a solid foundation for a wide range of graduate employment. You will gain practical experience in teaching laboratories and crime scene sites, and you will work on projects independently and as part of a team to encourage exploration of cooperation. Teaching is delivered by an experienced and committed team of lecturers, supported by practising experts from many forensic disciplines, and you will have the opportunity to involve yourself in a range of practices, from crime scene to court. Emphasis is placed on the development of key broad skills, equipping you with the necessary theoretical basis and practical experience to enter many areas of employment in both forensic and biological sciences.