Criminology and Psychology
Criminology and psychology together address two of the most compelling questions in human life: why do people commit crimes, and how do minds work? Criminology provides the social scientific frameworks for understanding crime as a social phenomenon, examining how it is defined and distributed, how the criminal justice system responds, and what approaches to prevention and rehabilitation are most effective. Psychology brings the empirical tools to investigate individual behaviour, cognition, emotion, development and mental health, including the psychological factors that contribute to offending and the effects of victimisation.
The combination is particularly productive for understanding crime at the level of both the individual and the social system.
At Arden University this programme is studied part-time through distance learning, making it accessible regardless of your location or other commitments. You will engage with criminological theory and research alongside the core areas of psychological study, developing analytical and research skills that are applied to questions spanning both disciplines. The blended learning format combines structured study through the online platform with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, supported by a digital library and a full range of academic resources.
Graduates are well suited to careers in criminal justice, probation, youth work, social care, mental health services, community safety and the voluntary sector. The psychological dimension opens routes into counselling, forensic psychology support roles and research, while the criminological grounding is relevant in policing, policy and the legal sector. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in criminology, forensic psychology, counselling, social work or applied social research, moving into more specialist roles in the justice, health and welfare sectors.
The combination of disciplines reflects the reality that effective work in criminal justice and social care almost always requires understanding of both the individual and the structural.