Criminology

Degrees image

The Centre for Policing Research and Learning have identified a number of online Structured Honours Degrees (BSc or BA) that can be studied part-time or full-time, aimed at specific police-related subjects. Alternatively, police officers and staff can select specific modules of interest, that when combined can form an Open Degree Qualification that is unique for their interests.

Obtaining a Degree can enhance CDP and enable the learner to progress to higher levels of study, thus creating further career opportunities within the Police.

Structured Honours Degrees (BSc or BA)

BA (Honours) Social Sciences

In a fast changing world the social sciences seek answers to the big questions we face as a society. Those answers inform the work of anyone needing to base their decisions on the best available evidence – civil servants, policy makers, business executives and many more. Half of your studies will be interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in knowledge and ideas central to the social sciences. For the other half, you can specialise in criminology, economics, geography, politics, psychology, religious studies or sociology, or you can choose a combination of modules that most suits your interests. Whatever path you take, you will acquire valuable transferable skills opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

Duration: 6 year (Part time)
Course code: R23

BA (Honours) Criminology and Law

Crime, justice and the workings of the law are matters that affect us all and often dominate the news. This degree takes a critical and analytical view of the role and functions of the legal system, and examines its relationship with criminal behaviour. You’ll explore issues such as anti-social behaviour, poverty, discrimination, hate crimes, child labour, as well as global threats from cyber-crime, terrorism and human rights violations, and their implications for justice.

Duration: 6 year (Part time)
Course code: Q92

BA (Honours) Criminology and Psychology

How and why do different societies define specific acts as ‘crimes’ and certain people as ‘criminals’? Why do some people develop addictions, not others? Why do less equal societies have more crime? What is happening when a person tells a lie? Is crime best understood as the product of individual choices or social conditions? This qualification explores questions like these about how people behave and examines how governments determine what they will and won’t tolerate, and why.

Duration: 6 year (Part time)
Course code: Q98

News

DA Victim Engagement Research Report Released

The Victim Engagement Study was carried out between 2020 and 2023, led by Dr Lis Bates with colleagues from the Open University and funded by the Centre for Policing Research and Learning at The Open University.

12th February 2025