Criminology – WJEC
Entry Requirements – Grade 6 in English
Why Choose Criminology?
You will develop an understanding of the theoretical explanations of why people commit crime. You will learn about the sociological, psychological and biological theories of crime and be able to use these explanations to analyse criminal situations. You will also gain an understanding of the criminal justice system. The way society defines crime and deviance is also explored during the course in conjunction with ways of finding out about crimes, including crimes that tend to be under-reported. In addition, you will also examine the reporting of crime in the media to see the impact this has on public perceptions of crime.
Course Content
Year 1
Changing Awareness of Crime
You will understand how crime reporting affects the public perception of criminality. You will then go on to realise how campaigns are used to elicit change and then plan a campaign for change relating to crime.
Criminological Theories
You will understand social constructions, theories and causes of criminality. This will then lead to a knowledge of the causes of policy change.
Year 2
Crime Scene to Courtroom
You will gain an understanding of the process of criminal investigations. You will then go onto the prosecution of suspects and be able to review criminal cases.
Crime and Punishment
You will learn about the different processes of the criminal justice system and the role of punishment and social control measures in England & Wales.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a combination of internally-assessed controlled assignments (units 1 and 3) and externally-set and marked assessments (units 2 and 4).
Methods of teaching, learning and assessment.
Criminology is the study of the reasons why individuals commit crimes. By understanding why a person commits a crime, we can develop ways to control crime or rehabilitate the criminal. This means there are lots of debated and controversial theories that try to explain the reasons for criminality which the course will explore.
Some attribute crime to the individual, who makes a conscious choice whether or not to commit a crime.
Others believe it is the community’s responsibility to ensure that their citizens do not commit crimes. This course will enable you to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy. You will also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.
Opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. We will take visits to courts to see cases in action and have external speakers from the police to discuss theories of crime with students.