Social Science

Course summary

As an Applied General qualification, each unit within the qualification has an applied purpose which acts as a focus for the learning in the unit. The applied purpose requires that learning be related to authentic case studies. Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behaviour and the criminal justice system. Criminology is an increasingly popular subject for students who are interested in a career in criminal justice or studying criminology at university. The subject explores why people commit crime, drawing on explanations from psychology and sociology, along with how society tackles crime through the law, policing and punishment. Students learn about different types of crime, how people’s perceptions of crime are shaped and how crimes are investigated. The qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation service, the courts and tribunal service or the National Offender Management service.