At Chester we offer you a dynamic and diverse programme. When studying Combined Honours Criminology with us, you will explore the relationship between criminological theories and criminal justice policies and practices. You will look at explanations for crime and antisocial behaviour and how the police and courts deal with such matters. You will also study the role of punishment and the secure estate, and investigate crimes of the powerless and crimes of the powerful. Additionally, you will examine the processes of criminalisation and de-criminalisation. For us here at Chester, the issues of civil liberties and human rights are integral in our analyses of the topics that we deal with, whether we are talking about policing or punishments, or international issues such as torture, war crimes or genocide. Our critical approach to criminal justice, exploration of social harms and engagement with relevant policy debates within the Combined Honours Criminology has some natural connections with other programmes such as Counselling Skills, Politics and Sociology. Combining Criminology with subjects such as these provides excellent opportunities to develop critical and reflective skills. As students move through their degree programme, there are a variety of modules to choose from including opportunities to learn about mentally disordered offenders and how criminal justice and health institutions process such offenders. Also, we offer you the opportunity to evaluate the myths and realities contained within still and moving representations of victims, villains, superheroes and law enforcers. From beginning to end we try to expand your criminological and victimological imagination. Our approach blends into our wider Departmental Philosophy of enriching and enhancing the student experience. As a team of dedicated researchers and educational practitioners we are committed to: * Helping students to become confident independent learners. * Creating the best university experience by offering personalised support. * Encouraging a vibrant and engaged student community * Clearly stating expectations of staff through a Partnership Agreement * Working closely with library and online services * Challenging students through innovative and inclusive assessments Colleagues with a wide range of backgrounds and experience make significant contributions to the programme. This facilitates a rich interdisciplinary approach. We greatly encourage our students to engage in independent learning and independent thought and we equip our students with the skills needed to find, retrieve and analysis an array of materials. In practice, we use a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, debates and also make use visual representations such as film, drama and documentaries. Across the department staff undertake their work with an emphasis on being student centred. This includes a Personal Tutor system, drop in times that are clearly provided on lecturer’s office doors and we organise social events and extra-curricular activities. Criminology students have also initiated a Facebook page in which students can become involved. When arriving at Chester, students studying Criminology are provided with a Partnership Agreement, this details the joint responsibility attached to the student learning experience. Students value knowing what is expected of them and they appreciate being informed of their lecturers role and commitment to them and their student learning experience. We also have many avenues through which students can provide feedback to us on their experience and where appropriate we act on this to improve the content and delivery of the Criminology programme. As well as attending taught sessions, a key part of studying Criminology is reading and researching. Recently the University’s library has undergone a major refurbishment and we have an excellent user-friendly virtual learning environment which houses a vast amount of Criminological sources of information and electronic resources including e-books, journal articles and relevant web links including audio and visual sources. Prospective students often ask us about assessment. As well as traditional forms of assessment we also assess students in numerous innovative ways- for example the students particularly enjoy participating in a group poster presentations and writing up of case studies. Please take the time to explore our department, programme pages and staff profiles, and take advantage of our open days to find out more about Criminology Single Honours and Combined Honours

The course will prepare you for a wide range of jobs including: Jobs directly related to your degree: * Community development worker * Police officer * Prison officer * Probation officer * Social worker * Solicitor Jobs where your degree would be useful: * Adult guidance worker * Further education lecturer * Housing manager/officer * Local government officer * Social researcher * Youth worker You will be equipped with transferable skills which are valued by employers such as: * research skills using a range of sources, including verbal questioning; * written and oral communication; * IT; * time management; * lateral thinking and problem-solving skills; * working to deadlines; * working productively both in a group and autonomously. If you are studying this course on a combined basis you should look at options with both subjects. For further information please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/careers