Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour BSc (Hons)
UCAS code: C816
Study forensic psychology and applied criminology to develop an integrated understanding of offending behaviour on this multi-disciplinary degree. Explore the factors that contribute to crime and offending, the impact of crime on individuals and the rehabilitation of offenders.
Overview
| Course length: | 3 years full-time 5 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2022 September 2023 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Example offers: | BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria |
| Subject(s): | Criminology |
| Department: | Law and Criminology |
Why do people offend? What is the appropriate punishment or response to this type of behaviour? This degree integrates forensic psychology and applied criminology to answer these questions and develop your knowledge of offending.
We’ve designed this course to focus on crime at a national and global level. Analyse low level nuisance crime to terror, corporate crime and crimes against humanity. You’ll also learn about the wider social, economic and political contexts of offending.
Delve into the impact of offending on individuals and communities. Get to grips with current criminal justice practice and the careers in this interesting sector. You could see these roles in a real-world context during an optional placement in Year 3.
Study concepts such as risk and dangerousness, and offending behaviour from childhood to older adults. Unravel the mysteries of complex offending like working with mentally disordered offenders and those who repeat their behaviour.
Course features
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Sandwich Year Option Available
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Work Placement Opportunity
What you'll study
Study the legal frameworks and impact of offending. We’ll cover justice and the third sector (e.g voluntary sector, not-for-profit and community sector) to provide legal and psychosocial perspectives. Explore the wellbeing needs of offenders by focussing on the care, treatment and management of mentally disordered offenders. We’ll introduce other complex factors, such as substance misuse and alcohol. And we’ll give an overview of research methods and research applications that will be essential in your career.
Build on the issues studied in Year 1 and develop your knowledge of specific offenders such as women and young people in trouble with the law. Find out how to help offenders by enhancing your understanding of treatment, rehabilitation and inclusion approaches. How do psychosocial and political influences determine treatment? You’ll find out alongside methods of reducing the likelihood of repeat offending.
Prepare to reinforce your existing knowledge and critical analysis skills. We’ll dig deeper into the psychological, legal, political and international perspectives of offending. Your final year gives you the opportunity to get hands-on with a practical work-based placement in an area of your choice. You’ll also put your research skills to good use by designing and completing a primary or secondary research dissertation.
How you'll study
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops to more independent technology enhanced learning and personal development planning. The practical work placement in Year 3 of the programme provides a unique and stimulating opportunity for experiential learning. Some flexibility may be necessary due to the variable working hours of many placement agencies.
How you'll be assessed
A range of assessment methods will be used throughout the programme including written theoretical assignments, presentations, examinations, case studies and reflective assignments.
Who will be teaching you
The programme team comprises a range of clinically qualified, research active professionals with extensive experience of working in applied forensic settings. These include high security psychiatric hospitals, the prison service and community services, with both adult and young offenders. The core teaching team will be enhanced by the contribution of guest lecturers from across the criminal justice sector.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.
If you accept a formal offer from Edge Hill University you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure indicating that you meet the mandatory criteria of ‘Clearance to Work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults’. Further information will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.
Example offers
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A Level | BCC-BBC. |
| BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) | Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM). |
| T Level | Overall grade of Merit. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations. |
Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.
If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
If your current level of English is half a band or one band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.
How to apply
Apply full-time
Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.
Apply part-time
Complete our online application form if you want to study this course on a part-time basis.
International
Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
Did you know?
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
Discover our accommodation
Facilities
The £6million Law and Psychology building provides contemporary teaching and learning facilities for students in the Department of Law and Criminology and the Department of Psychology.
The Department of Law and Criminology is located on the first floor of the three-storey building which includes a 250-seat lecture theatre, seminar and tutorial rooms, and social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning.
Where you'll study
Law and Psychology
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,250
a year
UK Part-Time
£77 per credit
for 360 credits
International
£15,000
a year
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs. Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals should ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Your future career
You’ll graduate with a comprehensive understanding of crime and the psychology behind it. This degree is ideal for those interested in following a career in the prison, youth justice and probation sectors.
Our graduates also have the skills and know-how to transfer to related fields like journalism, crime policy, security and cyber security.
After completing our BSc Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour, you’ll be well-placed to apply for meaningful roles such as:
- Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP)
- Modern Slavery Caseworker Assistant
- Community Payback Supervisor
- Residential Childcare Worker
- Youth Offending Service Case Manager
- Query Management and Case Administrator, HM Courts and Tribunal Service
- Prison Officer
We’ve also seen graduates from this course continue their studies on postgraduate courses. Some also pursue professional qualifications in social work, probation, teacher training or psychology to build the career of their dreams.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
