Criminology

Course type: A level & Applied • Awarding/exam body: WJEC
The WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is equal to one A level; this course is taken alongside two other A levels or Applied Diploma courses.

How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? How do we explain why people commit crime? What makes someone a serial killer, or abusive to their own families?

Knowing about the different types of crime and the criminological approaches to theory will give you a sharper insight into the kind of thinking used by experts and politicians to explain crime and criminality. Public law makers are informed by theory and apply them to their own solutions to the problem of crime.

The Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology that complements studies in other humanity subjects. Learning is related to authentic criminal case studies.

Criminology is taken alongside two A level subjects.

Course Units

YEAR 1
Unit 1: Changing awareness of crime
Unit 2: Criminological theories
YEAR 2
Unit 3: Crime scene to courtroom
Unit 4: Crime and Punishment

Course Assessment

The course is 50% coursework (internal controlled assessment) and 50% exam (external 90-minute exam). 50% of grades are achieved in year 1 and 50% in year 2.

This Course Can Lead To…

An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work as well as; sociology and psychology.

Entry Requirements

To qualify to study 3 A level/ Applied subjects, you will need to achieve 6 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, preferably including English Language or Maths at grade 4 or above. 

In addition/ within those 6 GCSEs, for this subject you will need to achieve Grade 4 in English language.