Studying criminology will allow you to access a professional role that can lead you to make a significant difference in society.
Studying for a criminology degree is an interesting, engaging and rewarding route of study.
Studying a degree in Criminology can be the path to finding a meaningful career that allows you to make an important contribution. By studying criminology you gain knowledge about the social, personal and even political elements of crime. You will understand how to address and resolve them. We explain what criminology is, how to study it, what the access requirements are for a degree in criminology and what you can do once you obtain the degree.
What is criminology?
In essence, criminology is the study of crime and criminal behavior, how and why it can occur, as well as methods to try to prevent it. The subject covers the scientific analysis of both individual criminal behavior and broader social or sociological trends.
Criminology is a multifaceted discipline that draws on many other fields, such as history, anthropology, psychology, sociology and criminal law. Criminology offers a method to try to understand the causes of crime and what strategies offer solutions for its reduction and mitigation.
These are some of the UK universities where you can study criminology:
- University of Roehampton
- University of Nottingham
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Plymouth University
- University of Brighton
What is a bachelor’s degree in criminology?
Due to the multidisciplinary nature of criminology, criminology studies encompass a wide range of theories, topics, and ideas. What you study will also depend on whether you study a degree exclusively in criminology or if you combine this subject with another specialization such as law, psychology, criminal justice and social policy.
The modules you cover will also depend on where you study, however there will be some basic areas that you will need to master, including:
- Criminal behavior
- Legal context of crime
- Crime prevention methods
- Sociological scope of crime
- Social anthropology
- Quantitative analysis
- Social policy
- Criminal psychology
- Qualitative research skills
- Historical context of crime
- Physiology of crime
- Communication
- Gender and society
This is not an exhaustive list of all the topics that will be covered and you may find an area of expertise that particularly interests you. This may be useful in your final year or graduate studies, as you could write a thesis on the topic.
These are some of the institutions where you can study criminology in Canada:
- Carleton University
- University of Alberta
- Western University
- York University
What are the entry requirements to study criminology?
Bachelor’s degrees in Criminology are offered in both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) modality. Make sure you check what the university you want to go to offers and whether you can take a double degree combining criminology with a complementary subject.
Entry requirements for a criminology degree vary, but in most cases a minimum of an ABB result at A level or equivalent is needed. This translates into an SAT score of 1,290 and an international baccalaureate score of 32, with 16 points at a higher level.
It is also a requirement to demonstrate that you have the necessary knowledge of English, especially due to the nature of the degree, based on written evaluation. You will need an overall IELTS score of 6.5, or equivalent, with no score band lower than 5.5. Don’t lose hope if you don’t meet the English requirements, as you may be able to take an English course prior to the internship.
These are some of the universities that offer criminology courses in the United States:
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- State University of New York (located in New Paltz)
- De Paul University
Are there criminological specialties?
Studying a degree in criminology will open the doors to several areas of specialization, depending on your interests. These can be, among others:
- Forensic psychology
- Forensic Science
- Criminal law
- criminal justice
- Social policy
- Human rights
- Applied social sciences
You can also study criminology at both master’s and doctoral levels. It will depend a lot on your professional ambitions and the profession you want to pursue.
What can I do with a criminology degree?
Speaking of careers and professions, you’re probably wondering what you can do with a degree in criminology and what kind of jobs are available in this field. One of the advantages of earning a degree in criminology is that it equips you with some key skills that many employers value. These include:
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem resolution
- Creativity
- Analysis capacity
- Management
Some of the functions that you could perform after having completed the degree in criminology are:
- Social assistant
- security forces agent
- Detective
- Official
- Risk analyst
- Investigator
- Adviser
- Community development manager
The other good news is that it is unlikely that you will not find a job after graduating, as 84% of graduates work or continue studying. Your earning potential will also increase with experience, with starting salaries per year between $25,500 and $32,000, which can increase to $45,000 or $51,000 once you’ve been working for a while.
