Criminology and Sociology

Criminology and sociology are disciplines that ask fundamental questions about social life, power, and behaviour. Criminology examines what counts as crime, who defines it, why it occurs, how it is responded to, and what the effects of criminal justice systems are on individuals and communities. Sociology provides the broader theoretical and empirical framework within which those questions are situated, asking how social structures, including class, race, gender, and institutions, shape our experiences and opportunities.

Together, the disciplines illuminate both individual behaviour and the social forces that produce it.

This three-year programme at the University of Salford engages directly with the big questions: what is defined as crime and who has the power to make that definition? What are the individual and societal causes of criminal and deviant behaviour? How does media reporting shape public understanding of crime?

How do social structures relate to the way people are treated by the criminal justice system? You will develop sociological and criminological methods of analysis, learning to examine evidence critically, construct arguments rigorously, and understand the political and ideological dimensions of debates about crime and social order.

Graduates with a background in criminology and sociology are well prepared for careers in the criminal justice system, probation, social work, youth justice, policing, the prison service, victim support, and related public and voluntary sector roles. The analytical and research skills you develop are also valued in journalism, policy, public administration, community development, and a broad range of roles that require the ability to understand and communicate complex social issues. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in criminology, sociology, social policy, law, or professional training for careers in social work and related fields.