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Ageing and the Life Course

What is ‘childhood’? How would you define ‘old age’? This module explores how childhood and old age are ‘socially constructed’.

You will explore the historical view of children as merely ‘mini adults’, the invention of the ‘teenager’, and the contemporary view of old age being defined as roughly 20 years older than the person defining it.

You will discuss how government policy has attempted to keep pace with changing social attitudes and ask questions about what kind of society we should grow up in.

Crime and Punishment

This module explores key issues and debates in criminology and gives you a solid foundation in these topics.

You will explore:

• The origins of crime
• Categorisation of crime
• Theories of crime
• Psychological frameworks of crime.

Crime and Society

This module examines how society manages crime and criminals and introduces you to the wider judicial and prison systems.

You will consider:

• The role of the media
• Moral panics
• Emerging crimes
• World approaches to crime.

Criminal Law I

This module introduces you to the different aspects of criminal law, which examines the theory underpinning criminal law and the elements of criminal liability, as well as providing an understanding of a range of criminal offences and the ability to analyse and evaluate related case law. You will also continue to develop legal reasoning, research and referencing skills.

Social Identities and Inequalities

Does family mean a place of safety, nurture and stability, or a site of oppression, conflict and turmoil? You will explore opposing views and perspectives of what it means to be a ‘family’, using sociological theory and contemporary research to develop your understanding of family and social change.

Why Sociology Matters

In this module, you will:

• explore key sociological principles and theories
• discuss the role of sociology in understanding the world we live in
• develop the knowledge and skills you need to ‘think sociologically’.

In addition, you will discover why sociology provides fascinating insights into so many aspects of our social world and develop your ability to provide supporting evidence for your views and opinions.

Analysing Social Problems

You will draw upon ethical principles to explore questions of ‘what is right and wrong?’ and ‘what should be done?’.

You will investigate how and why governments and other policymakers make decisions and, in doing so, gain deeper insights into how we, as individuals, view problems and make choices about the issues that affect our lives.

Human psychology will inform your discussions as you learn how people think and explore the common biases and mental shortcuts that can lead to prejudice and faulty decision making.

Being Human: Emotions and Behaviour in Social Life

What does it mean to be ‘human’? This question has puzzled humans throughout the centuries, and we often find answers in religion and philosophy as well as biology.

Recent advances in psychology, sociology and neuroscience have revealed the importance of emotions in shaping human behaviour, social attitudes and the social structures we experience every day.

Discussions in this module will aim to revolutionise how you see the world around you.

Criminal Law II

This module continues to develop your understanding of criminal law, including how to examine homicide and non-fatal offences, understanding a range of defences and developing your ability to analyse and evaluate related case and statutory law and proposed reforms.

Criminology Classics and Controversies

In this module, you will develop your critical knowledge of classic and contemporary criminological cases and your understanding of the role of criminology in understanding different forms of crime. You will have the opportunity to compare and contrast profiles of criminological cases.

Media and Society

In this module, you will consider key concepts in media theory, the representation and social groups (class, gender, race, age) and the changing forms of media in the digital age. In addition, you will explore the affects on and responses of audience within the media and popular culture sphere as you consider its power, agenda setting, and influence.

Mental Health and Forensic Psychology

This module is an opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of key constructs, theories, and research in mental health and forensic psychology.

You will examine the numerous ways that psychological research, methods, and expertise are applied to the study of criminal behaviour and the issues that psychopathology create within the context of the criminal justice system.

Researching Societies

The module introduces you to a range of sociological methodologies and research methods that will equip you to design a small-scale research project in an area of sociology in the following year.

You will participate in a series of activities, involving research techniques, where you will need to reflect on your own experience.

The “qualitative versus quantitative” debate will be examined. Ethical issues in sociological research will be examined and innovative methods for research and how to research social media will be explored.

Sex, Sexualities and Society

Although sexuality is a relatively recent concept, issues concerned with sexuality have a long history in cultures across the world. On this module, you will explore how our contemporary views towards sexuality have evolved and the social forces that shape current debates, questions and arguments.

A Dangerous World? Risk, Anxiety and the Media

In this module you will explore how society constructs notions of risk, danger and dangerousness.

You will understand how the media functions in creating heightened anxieties in the population and how and why politicians respond to these anxieties.

You will critically analyse stories in the media and form your own judgements about phenomena presented as being a risk to society, exploring the social impact of themes as diverse as Covid-19, crime, mental health, islamophobia and youth culture.

Aggression, Violence and Abuse: A Sociological Perspective

You will use a sociological perspective to investigate the causes and impact of aggression, violence and abuse. Drawing on historical sources, you will note how social attitudes evolve and discuss the influence of feminism and other social movements in framing current debates.

You will explore the life chances of victims of aggression violence and abuse as well as themes as diverse as

• Child sexual exploitation
• Domestic abuse
• Cyberbullying
• Harassment
• Hate crimes.

You will investigate implications of these topics for individuals, society and social change.

Independent Project

On this independent project, you will engage in in a longer-term analytical piece of research on a topic relevant to sociology and criminology.

You will conduct an in-depth investigation into an aspect of the course that particularly interests you.

You could undertake research that fits into a qualitative or a quantitative framework, complete a business-related project to consider the needs of students developing their own businesses, or choose a topic that prepares you for your future career.

Making A Difference: Preparation for Professional Careers

This module offers another opportunity to get involved in real social issues. You will develop your communication, problem-solving and other employability skills as you explore a topic of your choice.

Music, TV and Film in a Changing World

With a specific focus on the 21st Century and the latter part of the 20th Century, this module will take you on a journey through key social changes and movements as reflected and shaped by music, TV and film.

You will discuss a range of topics starting with the protest songs of the 1960s and explore how music has influenced and been shaped by key events and societal changes, and explore how film, TV and other media forms have highlighted society.

Sexual Offenders: Across the Life Course

This module will introduce you to the theoretical models that underpin sexually problematic behaviours perpetrated across the life course, while considering the typology of offenders in this cohort.

Young People and Crime

You will examine the factors that contribute to young people becoming involved in crime and consider crimes committed against them. You will explore the Youth Justice System in the UK and the interventions offered to young people to reduce their offending behaviour.