Forensic Science with Criminology

Forensic science with criminology brings together two disciplines that are increasingly intertwined in the real world of criminal investigation and justice. Forensic science applies scientific methods to legal contexts, examining physical evidence in ways that can inform or challenge accounts of events in court. Criminology, meanwhile, situates crime within its social, psychological and structural context, asking why offences occur and how the justice system responds.

Together, they give you both the technical skills to analyse evidence and the analytical framework to understand crime as a social phenomenon.

This part-time degree at the University of Derby includes a foundation year, a sandwich year in professional placement, a year abroad and a work placement, providing a richly structured route through the subject with extensive opportunities for practical and professional experience. You will develop skills in forensic analysis and examination of physical evidence, while also engaging with criminological theory, the causes of criminal behaviour, and the legal and ethical dimensions of forensic practice. The course covers the court process and the role of expert testimony, exploring how scientific evidence is presented, challenged and evaluated in legal settings.

You will also consider questions about nature, nurture and human behaviour, gaining insight into the complex interplay of factors that shape criminal conduct.

Graduates from forensic science and criminology programmes pursue careers in forensic investigation, crime scene examination, laboratory analysis, the police service, the prison service, probation and youth justice. Many also work in research, science communication, policy and the voluntary sector. The combination of scientific and social science skills is valued by employers across a range of organisations, including government agencies, private forensic providers and academic institutions.

Postgraduate study in forensic science, criminology, criminal justice or forensic psychology is a common pathway for those who want to specialise further or pursue research careers.