Criminology and Forensic Psychology

Criminology and forensic psychology is a combination that examines crime from two closely related but distinct angles. Criminology is a social science that asks why crime happens, how it is distributed across society, how the criminal justice system responds to it, and whether those responses are effective or just. Forensic psychology applies psychological knowledge and methods to the legal and criminal justice system, examining how criminal behaviour is assessed and understood, how offenders are profiled and evaluated, and how psychological evidence is used in court proceedings and in the design of rehabilitation programmes.

At the University of Chichester this three-year BSc programme goes beyond explaining why people commit crimes to examine how criminal behaviour generates evidence, informs court proceedings, and shapes approaches to offender rehabilitation. You will study psychological theories of criminal behaviour, research methods, risk assessment, interviewing techniques, and the application of psychology in criminal justice contexts. You will also engage with criminological theory and the sociological dimensions of crime and justice, developing a comprehensive and critical understanding of the field from both social and psychological perspectives.

Graduates from criminology and forensic psychology programmes are well placed for careers in the probation service, youth justice, the prison service, police forces, social work, victim support, and the voluntary sector. Forensic psychology roles in the criminal justice and healthcare systems, including work with offenders in secure settings, require further postgraduate training and supervised practice, typically towards chartered psychologist status with the British Psychological Society. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in forensic psychology, criminology, or law, while others move into applied research, policy, or community work in the crime and justice field.