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Programme Information & PLOs
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Title of the new programme – including any year abroad/ in industry variants
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BA Hons Criminology
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Level of qualification
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Please select:Level 6
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Please indicate if the programme is offered with any year abroad / in industry variants Year in Industry
Please select Y/N		No
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Year Abroad
Please select Y/N		Yes
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Department(s):
Where more than one department is involved, indicate the lead department
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Lead Department Sociology
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Other contributing Departments: Social Policy and Social Work
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Programme Leader
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Ruth Penfold-Mounce
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Purpose and learning outcomes of the programme
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Statement of purpose for applicants to the programme
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Criminology is the study of crime and deviance within society. York's Criminology programme provides students with a critical understanding of the social construction of crime and deviance, and the differing theoretical approaches and practical applications to key criminological issues, such as victimisation, the representations of crime and offenders, boundary breaking and criminal justice responses. The programme at York uniquely reflects the multidisciplinary nature and vitality of criminology, as it combines the strengths of the two departments of Sociology and Social Policy. As a Criminology student, you will learn about the role played by inequalities in crime and deviance; how criminal justice institutions function; and the complexity of tackling criminal activity. As a graduate of the programme, you will be prepared for a range of careers in and beyond the boundaries of the criminal justice system as a consequence of the embedding of specific skills such as critical thinking, evaluating and analysing the merits of criminological theory and research; developing a critical understanding of the principles of ethical research in criminology; and the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills; evaluating and analysing complex criminological problems. You will have the opportunity to develop important skills of team work, written and oral communications, computing and digital skills. Criminology graduates will be in a position to contribute in creative, ethical and robust ways to thinking about the study of crime and deviance, criminological theory, social and cultural transgressions as well as social justice and social policy outcomes and they will be equipped for a range of employment and career possibilities.
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Programme Learning Outcomes
Please provide six to eight statements of what a graduate of the programme can be expected to do.
Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme. They should also be outcomes for which progressive achievement through the course of the programme can be articulated, and which will therefore be reflected in the design of the whole programme.
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PLOOn successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:
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1Interpret, explain and analyse offending behaviour through a critical understanding of criminological theory and criminal justice institutions, policies and practices.
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2Confront and analyse real-world social and crime-related problems via criminological debates and criminal justice institutions, agencies and policies to critically assess the complexity of societal transgressions.
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3Work creatively in teams by cooperating with others in a manner which is respectful of diverse views, values and the cultural position of others.
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4Design and undertake ethical criminological research projects which draw upon appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative skills to produce empirically rigorous analysis of social issues upon which future actions can be based.
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5Synthesise complex arguments about crime and deviance in order to challenge assumptions and misperceptions about offending behaviours and criminal justice system.
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6Critically communicate information and well-reasoned arguments in appropriate formats concerning matters of crime and deviance, using a range of media and digital technologies.
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Programme Learning Outcome for year in industry (where applicable)
For programmes which lead to the title ‘with a Year in Industry’ – typically involving an additional year – please provide either a) amended versions of some (at least one, but not necessarily all) of the standard PLOs listed above, showing how these are changed and enhanced by the additional year in industry b) an additional PLO, if and only if it is not possible to capture a key ability developed by the year in industry by alteration of the standard PLOs.
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n/a
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Programme Learning Outcome for year abroad programmes (where applicable)
For programmes which lead to the title ‘with a Year Abroad’ – typically involving an additional year – please provide either a) amended versions of some (at least one, but not necessarily all) of the standard PLOs listed above, showing how these are changed and enhanced by the additional year abroad or b) an additional PLO, if and only if it is not possible to capture a key ability developed by the year abroad by alteration of the standard PLOs.
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Criminology graduates who study for a year abroad will be able to: 1. Interpret, explain and analyse offending behaviour through a critical understanding of criminological theory and criminal justice institutions, policies and practices in different national and cultural contexts. 2. Confront and analyse real-world social and crime-related problems via criminological debates and criminal justice institutions, agencies and policies to critically assess the complexity of societal transgressions in different cultural contexts. 3. Work creatively in teams by cooperating with others in a manner which is respectful of diverse views, values and the cultural position of others. 4. Design and undertake ethical criminological research projects which draw upon appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative skills to produce empirically rigorous analysis of social issues upon which future actions can be based. 5.Synthesise complex arguments about crime and deviance in order to challenge assumptions and misperceptions about offending behaviours and criminal justice system, in culturally attuned ways and in different cultural contexts. 6. Critically communicate information and well-reasoned arguments in appropriate formats concerning matters of crime and deviance using a range of media and global digital technologies.
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i) Why the PLOs are considered ambitious or stretching?
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They are considered ambitious and stretching because the degree of independent learning, thinking and writing that our students engage in, from term one, supported by our encouragement, facilitates immersion in challenging debates and research and enables them to conceptualise and explain the subject matter of criminology, the links between criminal and social justice , put theories into operation and conduct and evaluate research. Criminology is a theoretical and empirical endeavour. Only by doing so, and avoiding the textbook approach, can our students graduate into critical thinkers that can apprehend the complexity of social worlds and crime, deviance and justice within society, and attune themselves to the ethical principles governing criminological research, the local, national and international contexts and socio- legal and policy responses too, as well as the impact of culture in the shaping of emerging economic, political and technological forces in how we live our lives.The programme requires that the students meet the PLOs through the diversity of assessments offered.
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ii) The ways in which these outcomes are distinctive or particularly advantageous to the student:
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Taken together, we are confident that our PLOs articulate the progression of our students throughout the degree to the point that they graduate as truly independent thinkers, with the ability to cogently analyse social dynamics, issues and situations in all their complexities. Our graduates leave with a diverse range of skills and a critical sensibility that transfer across disciplines and professions and can point to a host of varied empirically driven tasks and projects that demonstrate their flexibility to prospective employers. 4. Design and undertake ethical criminological research projects which draw upon appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative skills to produce empirically rigorous analysis of social issues upon which future actions can be based.
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iii) How the programme learning outcomes develop students’ digital literacy and will make appropriate use of technology-enhanced learning (such as lecture recordings, online resources, simulations, online assessment, ‘flipped classrooms’ etc)?
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This is most explicitly addressed in PLO 6. Our departments have, over many years, designed their programmes of study alongside considered use of technological developments - for example, both were early adopters of the VLE, and individual modules have been innovative in their use of the full functionality of the VLE (such as some lecture capture, wikis and library searches). As a programme we have made the move to online submission and online assessment in all modules. Both partner departments, supporting the programme, are interested in enriching technology-based/digital learning and as the provision is developed in each department we will audit the implications for the BA Criminology and continually look for opportunities to enhance the programme with respect to developing students' digital literacy.
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iv) How the PLOs support and enhance the students’ employability (for example, opportunities for students to apply their learning in a real world setting)?
The programme's employability objectives should be informed by the University's Employability Strategy:
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http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/staff/
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The programme as it stands is distinctive in that it reinforces the nature and extent of criminology as a both a theoretical and empirical subject, that is interdisciplinary in scope and allows us to address the PLOs in a robust way combining both applied and theoretical knowledge to understand real world social and crime related problems and issues. In the programme, contact with staff will propel student learning through a number of ways: a) by retaining the lecture, seminar and workshop formats as our core framework for delivering learning; b) enhancing the use of digital technologies across the programme; c) more effective and increased face-to-face contact throughout the programme - within the context of a group-work focussed and collaborative learning culture. Skills work is embedded at every level of programme. Transferable skills are also developed through our structured programme of support for students across all year groups, through their twice-termly supervision sessions with their personal supervisors (in recent years, we have developed more group supervision slots at particular points in the degree) and also through the now well established Sociology and Criminology Hour, a weekly session timetabled to be open to all undergraduate students that offers a sustained programme of talks and group activities on employability and the development of transferable skills across programmes. A programme of annual 'challenge weeks' run where students from all programmes and year groups work in teams to solve a problem set by a graduate employer. There are also opportunities to be involved in the department's established programme of summer internships for our undergraduate students, working with academics and management on departmental projects, or alongside partner organisations in the community. The new placements Officer in Sociology, Tom Coward (appointed in 2019) facilities establishing an employability consciousness in the student body and supporting students to take internships and placement years.
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vi) How will students who need additional support for academic and transferable skills be identified and supported by the Departments?
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This is monitored and supported, as currently, primarily through the supervisory relationship. In year one, student issues are often first raised through contact with GTAs, but we have established over many years good practices in following through particular needs and support through communications with personal supervisors. The increased integration of Careers, e-learning and other support staff makes sources of support outwith and alongside the department more visible - both within particular modules and also through our programme of events open across year groups (e.g. as part of the timetabled Sociology and Criminology Hour). We are keen to find opportunities wherever possible to learn from and introduce Sociology with Criminology students to the expertise held across the University in developing academic skills (e.g., through working with the Writing Centre and CELT) and transferable skills (e.g., Careers talks and teaching delivered to first year students and second year students, as part of their preparation for final year dissertations).

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vii) How is teaching informed and led by research in the department/ centre/ University?
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Staff teach students in every year on topics that they also research in - this is most apparent in the options offered to year 2 and year 3 students, with staff teaching in their area of research expertise, but it is also a focus of year 1 teaching too. The demonstrable link between teaching and research has been a long-standing strength across the programme and is appreciated by students throughout the degree, not only through the experience of research led teaching, but of being part of a student cohort in a programme with a strong culture of research, constituting a strong and multi-disciplinary criminological offer.
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Stage-level progression
Please complete the table below, to summarise students’ progressive development towards the achievement of PLOs, in terms of the characteristics that you expect students to demonstrate at the end of each year. This summary may be particularly helpful to students and the programme team where there is a high proportion of option modules.

Note: it is not expected that a position statement is written for each PLO, but this can be done if preferred (please add information in the 'individual statement' boxes). For a statement that applies across all PLOs in the stage fill in the 'Global statement' box.
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Stage 0 (if your programme has a Foundation year, use the toggles to the left to show the hidden rows)
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Stage 1
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On progression from the first year (Stage 1), students will be able to:
Understand core criminological theories and concepts, and engage with primary research in core criminological topics, contemporary issues and demonstrate that understanding and awareness of the academic field through a series of individual assessments and group activities.
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PLO 1PLO 2PLO 3PLO 4PLO 5PLO 6PLO 7PLO 8
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Use introductory core disciplinary concepts and theories to identify the criminological significance of contemporary issues.

Access and evaluate criminological literature on contemporary issues and cultural trends.Work creatively in teams by cooperating with others in a manner which develops awareness of the diverse views, values and the cultural position of others. Undertake ethically responsible research which draws upon appropriate empirical skills to
produce summary analysis of criminological issues.

Understand social and criminological situations effectively by assessing real-life interactions. Communicate sociological and criminological research and arguments to peers, via a range of media and digital technologies.
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Stage 2
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On progression from the second year (Stage 2), students will be able to:Consolidate their understanding of core and specialist criminological theories and concepts, engage with primary research in core and specialist criminological topics and use their understanding and awareness of the academic field, evidenced through a series of individual assessments and group activities, in order to plan their own independent research, develop their own analytical approach and demonstrate increasing confidence in critically evaluating real-life criminological issues and situations.
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PLO 1PLO 2PLO 3PLO 4PLO 5PLO 6PLO 7PLO 8
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Use core disciplinary concepts and theories to identify and interpret the criminological significance of a range of contemporary criminological issues.Access, evaluate and critically review empirical criminological literature on contemporary issues and cultural trends.Work creatively in teams by cooperating with others in a manner which is respectful of diverse views, values and the cultural position of others. Design responsible research projects which demonstrate awareness of appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative skills to produce empirically rigorous analysis of criminological issues.Interpret social and criminological problems and situations effectively by synthesising complex arguments and challenging common assumptions systematically. Communicate complex information and sociological and criminological arguments, in appropriate formats and via a range of media and digital technologies.
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Stage 3
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(For Integrated Masters) On progression from the third year (Stage 3), students will be able to:
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PLO 1PLO 2PLO 3PLO 4PLO 5PLO 6PLO 7PLO 8
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Programme Structure
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Module Structure and Summative Assessment Map
Please complete the summary table below which shows the module structure and the pattern of summative assessment through the programme.

‘Option module’ can be used in place of a specific named option. If the programme requires students to select option modules from specific lists these lists should be provided in the next section.

From the drop-down select 'S' to indicate the start of the module, 'A' to indicate the timing of each distinct summative assessment point (eg. essay submission/ exam), and 'E' to indicate the end of the module (if the end of the module coincides with the summative assessment select 'EA') . It is not expected that each summative task will be listed where an overall module might be assessed cumulatively (for example weekly problem sheets).

If summative assessment by exams will be scheduled in the summer Common Assessment period (weeks 5-7) a single ‘A’ can be used within the shaded cells as it is understood that you will not know in which week of the CAP the examination will take place.
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Stage 0 (if you have modules for Stage 0, use the toggles to the left to show the hidden rows)
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Stage 1
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CreditsModuleAutumn TermSpring Term Summer Term
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CodeTitle123456789101234567891012345678910
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30SOC00002CIntroduction to Sociological TheorySE
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30SOC00003CSociology of Crime and DevianceSE
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30SPY00021CIntroducing Criminal JusticeSE
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30SPY00002CIntroducing Social PolicySE
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Stage 2
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CreditsModuleAutumn TermSpring Term Summer Term
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CodeTitle123456789101234567891012345678910
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30SOC00003IDoing ResearchSE
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30SOC00002ICrime, Culture and Social ChangeSE
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30SPY00025IDebates in Criminal JusticeSE
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30VARIOUSOption (List A)S
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Stage 3
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CreditsModuleAutumn TermSpring Term Summer Term
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CodeTitle123456789101234567891012345678910
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40SOC00052HUndergraduate DissertationSEA
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20SOC00001HTheoretical CriminologySE
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20VARIOUSOption (from Soc) (List B)SE
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20VARIOUSOption (from SPSW) (List C)SE
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20VARIOUSOption (from Soc or SPSW) (Lists B and C)SE
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Optional module lists

If the programme requires students to select option modules from specific lists these lists should be provided below. If you need more space, use the toggles on the left to reveal ten further hidden rows.
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Option List AOption List BOption List COption List DOption List EOption List FOption List GOption List H
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Stage 2 (30 credits)Stage 3: Sociology (20 credits)Stage 3: Social Policy (20 credits)
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SOC00004I Popular Culture, Media and SocietySOC00034H Crime, Gender,and Sexuality (Autumn)SPY00039H - Vulnerability, Deviance & Social Control (Autumn)
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SOC00005IContemporary Political SociologySOC00035H Cinema, Cities & Historical Sociology (Spring)SPY00046H - Prisons & Penal Policy (Autumn)
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SOC00001I Gender, Sexuality and InequalitySOC00039H The Racial State (Autumn)SPY00052H - Sex Work: lived experiences, policies and perspectives (Spring)
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SOC000053I Sociology@WorkSOC00051H Crime, Media and Culture (Spring)SPY00011H - Criminal Justice & Policing (Spring)
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SPY00023I - Understanding Childhood & YouthSOC00048H Working in the Criminal Justice SystemSPY00012H - Illicit Drug Use (Spring)
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SPY00018I - Citizenship, Difference & Inequality
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SPY00016I - Victimisation & Social Harm
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SPY00002I - The Policy Process
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SPY00001I - Comparative Social Policy
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SPY00027I - Communities, Advocacy and Social Change
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SOC00007I Sociology of Health and Illness
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SOC00020I Divison and Inequalities: Race and Ethnicity, Class and Religion
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SOC00016I Nature, Culture and Technology
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SOC00006I Social Interactions and Conversation Analysis
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