Drawing on leading research in the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at Leeds, this programme will allow you to develop an advanced, critical understanding of crime and criminal justice in contemporary society.
You will explore complex questions concerning the nature, causes and varieties of crime, different theoretical perspectives on crime and criminals, longstanding crime patterns and emerging forms of offending. You will examine the various contexts in which crime takes place, including the role of individual, social, historical, legal and political factors in shaping both crime and responses to crime. You will study the structure and operation of the criminal justice system and its constituent agencies, including the police, the criminal courts, prisons and probation, as well as the role of private and voluntary agencies in preventing crime and managing offenders.
Core modules on the programme will give you a firm grounding in the legal, substantive, methodological and theoretical components of criminology and criminal justice studies. Besides essential subject knowledge, you will gain the study and research skills required to analyse and interpret evidence and data critically, to produce original knowledge, to develop an assured, independent perspective and to communicate your thinking on key issues in contemporary crime and criminal justice. You will develop a range of transferable skills including organisation, time management, reflection and collaboration in addition to core scholarly skills at each level of study. The course offers a range of optional modules to allow you to focus on topics that suit your interests and career ambitions.
At the end of Year 2, you will have the opportunity to apply for a place on our BA Criminal Justice and Criminology with Quantitative Research Methods pathway. This pathway will help you develop advanced analytical skills, which are in high demand in public, private, and third-sector employment. You will learn statistical analysis techniques and their application to real data (e.g. survey data, countries’ statistical data) using statistical software. You will also write a dissertation in which you will analyse quantitative data to examine questions about criminal justice or criminology.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW1065 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW1129 | Criminal Justice Study and Research Skills | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LAW1138 | Understanding Crime and Criminology | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LAW1141 | Introduction to Criminal Law | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW1166 | Crime, Inequality and Social Issues | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
- Honours route candidates must pass 80 credits of level two compulsory modules and 20 other optional/elective credits in order to progress to Year 3 along the Honours route.
- Ordinary route candidates must pass 80 credits of level two modules overall including at least 60 credits of level two compulsory modules in order to progress to Year 3 along the Ordinary route.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW2091 | Criminology: Theories and Concepts | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LAW2095 | Transnational and Comparative Criminology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LAW2175 | Crime Prevention and Crime Science | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LAW2286 | Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (for undergraduates) | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study 20-40 credits of options from the following list:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOSS2002 | Social Sciences and Emergencies: Theories, Contexts and Approaches | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW2142 | International Human Rights Law | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW2146 | International Law | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW2420 | Youth Crime and Justice | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP2052 | Gender and Society | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP2146 | Crime, Race and Ethnicity | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates can study up to 20 credits of discovery modules which may include further LAW or SLSP optional modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
For Study Abroad Students
If you register for Study Year Abroad, you will select LAW9004 Study Abroad and you will be expected to select mostly Criminology/Criminal Justice courses at a non-UK University.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW9004 | Study Abroad: Criminal Justice and Criminology | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
OR
For Horizon Year Abroad Students
If you register for Horizon Year Abroad, you will take LEED9000 Horizon Year Abroad (100 credits) and you will also be required to register for MODL3150 Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship: A Critical Approach for the Horizon Year Abroad (20 credits). Both of these modules must be passed.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEED9000 | Horizon Year Abroad | 100 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| MODL3150 | Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship: A Critical Approach for the Horizon Year Abroad | 20 | 1 Jun to 30 Sep | PFP |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
- To be eligible for an Honours degree, candidates must pass at least 100 credits at level three. Additionally, they must gain an average of 4.0 across 240 credits in Years 2 and 3.
- To be eligible for an Ordinary degree, candidates must pass at least 160 credits of compulsory and optional modules at level two and three combined. Additionally, they must gain an average of 4.0 across 200 credits gained in Years 2 and 3.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW3035 | Long Dissertation (Criminal Justice and Criminology) | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| LAW3136 | Penology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LAW3160 | Policing | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study 20/40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOSS3002 | Social Science and Emergencies: Case Studies & Critical Analysis | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW3032 | Cyberlaw: Law and the Regulation of the Information Society | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW3055 | Disability Law | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW3100 | Evidence | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW3116 | Gender and the Law | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LAW3172 | Crime, Law and Social Change: Crime and Criminal Justice in Historical Perspective | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP3180 | Decolonising Disability and Development | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP3212 | Crimes of States and Powerful Elites | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP3231 | Global Terrorism and Violence | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SLSP3501 | Gender, Technologies and the Body | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates can study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 29/08/2025 12:05:52
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