Criminology and Law

In your Criminology studies, you’ll look at crime from a variety of angles and perspectives. Core modules focus on the main theories, debates, issues and research problems in criminology and criminal justice, while optional modules enable you to develop your particular interests.

Our Law modules will introduce practical skills such as case analysis, negotiation and alternative dispute resolution, drafting, interviewing and mooting. You'll have the opportunity to choose from a range of additional, interdisciplinary topics including business and sociology.

We’ll support and encourage you to gain practical experience in relevant fields through voluntary work and placements.

Year one
You’ll be introduced to the key concepts, theories and issues of criminology, criminal law and criminal justice agencies and institutions. In your Law studies, you’ll gain a broad understanding of English legal systems and the British Constitution. You’ll develop skills in case analysis and legal research methods.

Year two
You’ll study contemporary debates in criminology and criminal justice, including a specific focus on policing. You’ll further develop your legal understanding to include subjects such as contract law and EU and international law, and you’ll develop skills of negotiation, advocacy and drafting.

You can choose from a number of optional modules to create a programme tailored to your personal interests. You can delve more deeply into the social divisions associated with crime, and explore areas such as employment law, marketing and entrepreneurship. You'll also be supported and encouraged to take a work placement.

You can choose to take a Professional Placement Year between the second and third year.

Year three
You’ll undertake an original piece of criminological research in an area that interests you, along with comparative study of criminal justice and punishment in a global context.

You’ll have the chance to hone your practice skills with our range of law co-curricular activities, or undertake a law project. You’ll be able to select from a range of modules, a number of which highlight the global dimensions of crime and justice. 

We use a range of assessments to gain a comprehensive measure of your performance. Assignments may include essays, book reviews, examinations, portfolios, creative work, contributions to online resources, presentations, reports, in-class tests, reflective writing and individual and group projects.

Your Law studies will include a range of practice based assessments such as drafting, negotiating and mooting. 

You’ll learn through a wide variety of activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, one-to-one tutorials, and sessions with visiting speakers. You’ll participate in practical exercises and there may be fieldwork opportunities, such as court visits. Your learning will be supported by our VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). 

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of placement opportunities so you can apply your learning in the real world contexts of law and criminal justice.

Practitioners contribute to teaching in some modules and you can find out more from them about working in fields related to criminal justice.

Fieldwork opportunities, such as trips to local courts, will also provide opportunities to observe the legal system in action and learn more about potential careers.

We also have links with local criminal justice organisations including local police services.

A combined qualification in Criminology and Law will prepare you for a wide variety of careers in law and criminal justice, as well as closely-related fields such as social work, policing, crime prevention and security, probation and offender management, and community development.

If you choose not to follow a career in law or criminal justice, the course gives you a range of transferable skills which you can use in a number of other sectors such as health and social care, charities, marketing, HR, teaching and the media.

You may also choose to go on to further study. We offer postgraduate courses in Law through our LLM Law and Business or LLM Legal Foundations, should you wish to practise as a solicitor or a barrister. We also offer an MSc in Criminology, which you can complete on-campus or online.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

You'll be taught at our Newton Park campus, which is located on the edge of Bath and offers a blend of modern and eighteenth-century buildings, with good access to the city while being nestled in the countryside.

From your lectures, you’ll be able to visit the library, the Students’ Union, and access our student information and support teams, as well as many of our facilities.  

• Our Library offers a wealth of learning resources including books, journals, DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. Our Subject Librarians for Criminology and Law provide subject-specific support, including help with research.
• The Writing and Learning Centre provides support for your academic work, including feedback on written drafts and other help with academic writing.
• Our Virtual Learning Environment provides online access to learning materials such as lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources. 
• The Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your future options and the essentials of the job application process. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.
• You’ll have free access to thousands of business, design and tech courses online via LinkedIn Learning.
• If English isn't your first language, our English Language Unit can help you improve your English, reach your full potential and boost your confidence.
• Our Student Wellbeing Services are available to support you through your learning.