Criminology degrees have become increasingly popular during recent years where the focus is on crime, the law, and criminal behaviour. A degree in criminology often includes learning about the scientific study of crime, and what makes people commit crimes or other forms of deviant behaviour.
These studies often include theories for the prevention crime. The study of criminology is also highly associated with sociology and, depending on which topics your degree covers, you may find that there is some overlap.
Many individuals who decide to study for a degree in criminology are interested in a career in law enforcement, research, or social work. This means that you also have the option to pair your criminology degree with another course, such as law or psychology.
However, before you embark on any type of course, especially at degree level, it is important that you know exactly what to expect from the program, including the topics that will be taught. By having a clear understanding of the topics that are covered in a criminology degree, you will be able to ensure that it is the right degree choice for you.
Juvenile Delinquency
One of the most common topics that are often covered in a criminology degree is juvenile delinquency. This is one of the main areas of criminology, and a lot of time and research has gone into understanding why young people commit crime.
Modules based on this topic will include all types of crimes committed by children and young adults. This may include gang related violence and vandalism as well as preconceived ideas about youth crime across society. Through studying this topic, you can learn more about how juvenile delinquency can be explained, as well as understood and prevented.
Criminal Justice System
Many individuals who study for a criminology degree choose to do so because they are keen to get into the world of law enforcement and policy. However, to effectively uphold the law, you first need to understand it.
So, during a criminology degree you will look in depth at the court systems, laws, correctional institutes, judicial procedures, and even the criminal penalties that are in place for certain crimes.
This is a popular module for students studying for a criminology degree, especially for those who are looking to go into a career in policing. For example, if you are interested in this area of criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University offers a combined honors course in criminology and policing.
When studying the criminal justice system, you will receive some practical training, as well as develop an understanding of the criminal procedures in place from all perspectives - from the police to the courts, and even to the accused offenders themselves. You may also learn about miscarriages of justices that can exist due to flaws in the criminal justice system, and how you can ensure that you don’t make these mistakes in your professional career.
Law and Sociology
As we mentioned earlier, in some areas of criminology there is some overlap with other academic subjects such as sociology and law. This is because learning about criminology goes a lot deeper than simply understanding crime statistics and knowing the punishments for criminal offences.
Learning about the sociological factors that can affect why people commit crime is a crucial part of a criminology degree and will help you work more effectively in your future career. For example, an individual’s mental history, age, and academic ability are all factors that not only influence why they commit crimes, but also how they might be treated by the criminal justice system.
When studying the topic of law in relation to your criminology degree, you will likely cover information on jury selection, eyewitness testimonies, and how to assess a defendant’s sanity. These are all crucial skills that will help you when working within the criminology field.
Criminology and Research
Of course, the only way that we can understand and learn about crime is to research it. So, if you are interested in developing your research skills and are keen to develop statistics and theories about the world of crime then you are going to love this module.
From research methods, to analytics, and how to measure crime, you will learn everything you need to know about how criminological research is gathered. While the thought of carrying out your own research may feel a bit overwhelming, it is a great way to gain experience and develop your skills.
Common research areas in criminology include crime mapping, crime analysis, and crime problems. But you may also look at more traditional research theories that have influenced the criminal justice system and how the way crime has been dealt with differently over time.
Life After Prison
While most of a criminology degree focuses on crimes committed by individuals, why they commit them, and the subsequent reaction from the criminal justice, it is also important that you see what happens to individuals after they have served their time and left prison.
In a modern-day society, it is crucial that we look at rehabilitation just as much as we do punishment, otherwise we will have more people stuck in the vicious circle of crime.
Therefore, in this module you will learn about the importance of offender management both in prisons, and once they are released back in the community. This will also include developing your understanding of managing repeat offenders and those who are from ‘risky populations’.
You will also learn about the impact that prison sentences and crime have on the family unit and how having a parent sent to prison can hugely impact the life of a child. This in turn can then increase the risk of that child going to prison themselves in later life.
If you are considering studying a degree in criminology, it is crucial to know exactly what you will be studying. Learning about these modules will help you to develop your understanding of crime, the criminal justice system, and offenders. It is crucial that you take the time to appreciate all perspectives that make up criminology so that you can be fair and just when working within the field.
