Criminology and Sociology | BA (Hons)

Course Overview

Criminologists use theory to explore some of the most contentious issues in contemporary society, working to understand the causes of crime and the way in which criminal justice agencies respond to offenders.

Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln aims to give students the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social, cultural, and political responses to crime and deviance. Students are asked to apply their knowledge to real-life issues, and have an opportunity to analyse the different social constructions of everyday life in order to better understand the diverse groups and structures that make up modern society.

Why Choose Lincoln

Subject is ranked in the top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction*

Options to study abroad for a year

Undertake voluntary placements in local councils

Conduct research alongside our expert academic team

Choose from optional modules to suite your preferences

*Guardian University Guide 2023 (out of 81 ranking institutions)

How You Study

The course enables you to advance your discipline-specific knowledge, and provides the opportunity to develop a range of cognitive, practical, and transferable skills that may be relevant to further academic study and employment.

Academic staff undertake research in a broad range of areas. They work closely with local criminal justice agencies and professionals, such as the police and youth offending services, to enable students to access and learn from real-world knowledge and practices. Students are encouraged to build links with employers and develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.

In your first year, you can develop skills in independent learning, research, and analysis. As the course progresses, you'll be able to shape your learning around your own interests and career aspirations by choosing from a range of optional modules influenced not only by sociology and criminology, but also social policy and politics. In the third year, you can go on to consider punishment theory and practice alongside the mechanisms of social policy making. You may also choose to specialise in diverse optional topics drawn from across the School, including the study of policing, work, human rights, genocide, and civil society.

The course aims to combine aspects of both directed and independent learning. Each module is usually delivered by means of a weekly lecture and seminar. Seminars are a space for you and other students to discuss and debate the issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings relating to such issues. Further methods of delivery include visits from practitioners and guest speakers, collaborative workshops, and IT sessions.

You will also have the opportunity to meet with tutors for individual tutorial sessions to explore in greater detail your own individual learning needs. As well as this directed study, you are expected to undertake independent learning utilising traditional library material as well as a wide range of electronic resources.

Modules

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2024-25SOS1004MLevel 52024-25In Applying Research you will learn about, propose and practice using different research methodologies in the social sciences. The module is divided into three distinct learning blocks. The first block addresses key philosophical issues that shape social science research and the major methodologies and data analyses techniques used in qualitative research. The second block focuses on quantitative methodologies and the analyses and presentation of quantitative data to a variety of audiences such as potential employers, policymakers, and other academics. The third block concentrates on the application of qualitative and/or qualitative methodologies to create a plan for a small research project that will guide your 3rd year independent study.CoreCrime and the Media 2024-25CRI1151MLevel 42024-25The module seeks to explore popular images of criminal justice, and contrasts these depictions with an informed examination of a number of the central pillars of this system. You will have the opportunity to examine the complexities and contradictions which exist within the so-called ‘system’ of criminal justice. You will also study the relationship between images of crime and the resulting criminal justice response which form the basis of this module. It is hoped that this introduction will encourage you as new students to consider the extent of the so-called ‘problem of crime’ and the limits of current criminal justice ‘solutions’.CoreKey Social Science Concepts 2024-25SOS1005MLevel 42024-25This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of key social science thinkers and concepts pertinent to all of the disciplines taught within the School. Throughout, students will be encouraged to think critically about the ideas presented and to examine social problems in the light of a range of academic perspectives.CoreSociological Imagination 2024-25SOS1006MLevel 42024-25This module is designed to introduce students to sociology by offering the opportunity to consider some of the key themes, theories and concepts which are important to the study of this subject. Students can explore the historical development of sociology, including the role of the early important sociologists such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, George Herbert Mead and C. Wrights Mills, amongst others. The different and significant sociological perspectives will also be examined and discussed alongside some of the major themes explored within sociology.Core(Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I 2025-26SOS2007MLevel 52025-26This module aims to analyse some of the seminal works which have been significant to the academic development of sociology. Students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of classical and contemporary texts, with the aim of providing them with an in-depth understanding of sociological themes and theories across time.Core(Re)reading the Sociological Canon II 2025-26SOS2008MLevel 52025-26This module aims to analyse some of the seminal works which have been significant to the academic development of sociology. This module will seek to examine a series of articles and books which are of sociological significance and have emerged from the late 20th Century into the 21st Century.CoreApplying Criminology 2025-26CRI2068MLevel 52025-26The aim of this module is to provide you with an opportunity to develop a student-centred grasp of 'crime' and our responses to crime through the application of diverse criminological theory. Applying Criminology will enable you to consider the variety of ways in which Criminology can be constructed and used. Through the application of criminological theory to real world and simulated scenarios you will develop the ability to both critically evaluate theories of crime and deviance and to analyse contemporary policy and practices of crime control.CoreResearching in Social Science 2025-26SOS2012MLevel 52025-26Building on the level 1 module Applying Research, this module seeks to systematically scrutinise examples of research undertaken in the subject area of Social Policy/Sociology. The module has two main aims. First, to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Social Policy/Sociology and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. Second, the module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.CoreApproaches to Quantitative Data Analysis 2025-26SOS2010MLevel 52025-26OptionalComparative Criminology Virtual Exchange: Criminal Justice Policy Analysis in the USA and UK 2025-26CRI2011Level 52025-26Policies help to provide guidance to criminal justice officials. Whether in the UK or the USA, policy can help to inform decisions where there may be higher levels of discretion in sentencing guidelines, or where there are important and complex issues that require attention. In this course, you will work alongside students in the UK and the USA to compare criminal justice practices and theory informed by policy. You will learn policy analysis skills, and apply these to understand how criminal justice policy is made, and how it can be used to solve issues across different countries. This module is delivered online, in collaboration with staff and students from Clemson University, USA.OptionalComparative Politics in the 21st Century 2024-25POL1105Level 42024-25How is it possible to compare government in different states in international politics and what can such an exercise tell us about global politics? This module invites students to address this question. In doing so, the module introduces students to the central themes, theories, concepts, and questions of the study of global comparative politics in the 21st Century. he module introduces students to the central themes, theories, concepts, and questions of the study of global comparative politics in the 21st Century. The module begins with a consideration of the development of comparative approaches and the different levels of analysis at which we compare. It then moves on to discuss the core concepts and elements of comparative politics in the modern world such as, democracy, autocracy, parliaments, electoral systems, political parties, bureaucracies, political culture, and political communication and compare those elements across different political systems from around the globe.OptionalConceptualising Sex Work 2025-26SOS2003MLevel 52025-26This module aims to explore the cultural, practical and theoretical developments relating to sex work, drawing upon national and international examples. Taking a comparative approach, this module seeks to understand how scholars conceptualise sex work within different competing feminist frameworks and how these ideas reflect, or are at odds with, popular public and political discourse.OptionalCrime in Literature 2025-26CRI2003MLevel 52025-26This module aims to explore the subject of crime through a range of literature. Crime and criminals have prompted some of the most innovative literature in history and by attempting to examine a few of these students will have the opportunity to think about crime in a new way, to engage with fiction and the opportunity to understand crime and criminality from a humanistic and philosophical perspective.OptionalDebating Welfare States 2025-26SOP2012MLevel 52025-26This module aims to enable students to analyse the priorities and developments of welfare states over time, and through analysis of these developments, equip students with the tools to interpret key contemporary social, political, and economic trends.OptionalIdeology into Practice 2025-26SOP2001MLevel 52025-26This module aims to examine the impact (and sometimes the lack of impact) of ideology on practice in social policy. Whilst the focus of the module is on the experience of the United Kingdom, comparison with other states will be made where appropriate.OptionalMedia, Culture and Power 2025-26POL2012Level 52025-26OptionalMedical Law and Ethics 2025-26LAW2165MLevel 52025-26OptionalModel United Nations 2025-26IST2003MLevel 52025-26This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy at the United Nations. It will also provide students with an introduction to issues of international organization and international law and treaty-making. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a “diplomat” at simulated United Nations General Assembly.OptionalOrganised Crime in Global Perspective 2025-26CRI2013Level 52025-26In the Organised Crime in Global Perspective module, you will delve into the complex and evolving world of organised crime. You will be challenged to critically reflect on the definitions and meanings of organised crime, both in academic discussions and in public discourse. This module guides you through the international nature of organised crime and lets you explore the various social and economic factors that influence it. By the end of this module, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the intricate issues associated with organised crime and its impact on society. You will also develop robust critical thinking and analytical skills to address these challenges. If you are interested in deepening your understanding of the global impact of organised crime and its relevance in contemporary society, this module is an excellent choice for you.OptionalPolicing Crime and Deviance: UK and Beyond 2026-27CRI2012Level 62026-27In the "Policing Crime and Deviance: UK and Beyond" module, you will explore the diverse forms of policing and the crime control worldwide. This course will provide an in-depth understanding of key policing concepts and how they differ across various global contexts. You will examine a wide range of topics, including the significance of plural policing and the role of private security operations internationally. The module also offers a comparative analysis of race-related policing issues, with specific focus on the UK and the US, and explores vigilante actions in regions like the Global North and the Global South, particularly Latin America. Moreover, you will look into the use of technology in policing, including the study of algorithmic strategies in places such as China. This module provides a valuable opportunity for you to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills and to gain a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding policing and crime in contemporary societies.OptionalPsychology in the Criminal Justice Process 2025-26CRI2005MLevel 52025-26This module is designed as an introduction to how psychology might contribute to our understanding of the various actors and organisations within the criminal justice process. You will critically compare and contrast the theories and methodologies employed in creating psychological knowledges with those commonly used in the discipline of criminology, and in this context will be expected to recognise both the contributions and problems presented by the use of psychological knowledges in the criminal justice process. You will also be expected to undertake your own research project around a psychological theme and present (individually) on how your findings might impact on a relevant criminal justice issue.OptionalSocial Engagement 2025-26SOP2011MLevel 52025-26This module encourages students to undertake one or more external activities relevant to their programme of study, and to engage in a critical reflection of the nature of this activity and how it relates to society as a whole and to their personal development as individuals. Relevant activities may involve significant interaction with an organisation outside the University providing an appropriate experience additional to the student’s programme of studies, such as voluntary work or mentoring within a service-providing organisation. Please note that students will be expected to play a significant role in initiating and arranging their programme of experience and to take responsibility for the frequency and form of experience. There may be additional costs in the form of transportation and accommodation depending on where students wish to pursue experience. The experience will be required to consist of a minimum of 30 hours.OptionalSociology of Education 2025-26SOS2019MLevel 52025-26This module will introduce students to a range of key themes, theories and perspectives that critically reflect on the nature and purpose of education. The module will provide students with an overview of the history of education (formal and informal), including the development of education policies in the UK, but also extends beyond this to consider a range of international perspectives. The module will also introduce students to a range of sociological theories and perspectives that examine the nature and purpose of education in society. The module will also engage with issues of (in)equality in education and will examine concepts such as class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability citizenship and intersectionality. Furthermore, the module will also explore alternative approaches to education globally, including informal education provision, digital education, the home schooling movement and more liberatory, critical and popular pedagogies.OptionalSociology of Law 2025-26SOS2013MLevel 52025-26OptionalSociology of Religion 2025-26SOS2014MLevel 52025-26OptionalStudy Abroad 2025-26CRI2009MLevel 52025-26OptionalThe Vigilant State: intelligence and national security 2025-26POL2007MLevel 52025-26This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the study of intelligence. It focuses on the basic concepts in intelligence by establishing first what is meant by intelligence, before examining the various elements of intelligence - collection, analysis, counterintelligence and associated activities such as covert political action.OptionalTransnational Security Studies 2025-26IST2018MLevel 52025-26This course aims to provide students with an advanced and comprehensive overview of transnational security in the 21st century. Specifically, it seeks to understand the issues, actors and solutions that drive security agendas in various parts of the world. Through a detailed study of key debates and key issues in the study and practice of security, the module engages with the following three questions: Security for whom and from what?; Security by whom?; Security of what and where? Emphasis will be placed on the philosophical and political connotations of certain security problems, the impact of security actors in the meaning and practice of security, and the ‘constructed’ nature of our understanding of certain contemporary security challenges.OptionalUnderstanding Domestic Abuse 2025-26CRI2010MLevel 52025-26This module will critically examine the nature, extent and impact of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Taking a criminological approach, the module will explore a wide range of academic, policy and practitioner perspectives. Students will explore the recent development of domestic violence and abuse as a criminological problem within a changing political landscape. This will include understanding a survivor’s journey in the context of victimology and examining the legal, criminal justice and community responses. The module will also explore the emerging literature on primary and secondary prevention perpetrator programmes.OptionalUnderstanding the City 2025-26SOP2009MLevel 52025-26Over half the planet’s population now lives in an urban area and urbanisation across the globe looks set to continue spreading inexorably. The histories of this process are vast and characterised by wealth creation and uneven industrial development, technological transformation and environmental degradation, empire and colonial legacy, social advance and exclusion alike. Cities therefore are contradictory sites of human development patterned by opportunity, inequality, exploitation and conflict. These traits pose challenges for the meeting of human welfare needs and for our understandings of contemporary life within cities. This module aims to enable students to analyse the emergence of cities across time and space, and through analysis of the city, enable students the opportunity to develop the tools to interpret key contemporary sociological, political and policy trends.OptionalUnderstanding the European Union 2025-26IST2013MLevel 52025-26This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the history, institutions, policies and general workings of the European Union.OptionalWelfare Policy and Work 2025-26SOP2010MLevel 52025-26The module is designed to examine the ways in which the state, through its social security and labour market policies, has affected the lives of those in paid work and those outside it. A particular focus of the course is on the emerging all-party consensus on welfare policy, in which mainstream politicians agree that benefits should no longer be paid to people of working age who refuse work or training, and that governments must ensure that jobs pay more than out-of-work benefits.OptionalWork and Society 2025-26SOS2015MLevel 52025-26This module seeks to explore the relationship between work and society, drawing on different classical and contemporary sociological theories of work. It aims to examine key areas within the sociology of work such as concepts of work, work-place inequalities, resistance and the reality and challenges of engaging in paid work in the 21st Century.OptionalWorking in Criminology and the Criminal Justice System 2025-26CRI2002MLevel 52025-26This module focuses on the organisations that make up the criminal justice system, and the experience of working in them. You will hear what it's like to work in these jobs from practitioners themselves, and will gain a stronger understanding of how government policies and other pressures can affect the organisations' day to day work. You will also begin to prepare yourself to work in this sort of role, developing a career plan and hearing from organisations with paid and volunteering opportunities.OptionalYouth Justice 2025-26CRI2006MLevel 52025-26This module provides an exciting opportunity for you to learn about the youth justice system in depth, through our partnership with Lincolnshire Youth Offending Service. By engaging with practitioners in the classroom you will see how theories about young people's offending shape contemporary policy and service structures, and how professionals work in practice with young people in the criminal justice system.OptionalYouth, Deviance and Society 2025-26CRI2020Level 52025-26This module will prompt you to reflect upon contemporary examples of 'youth deviance' utilising theoretical ideas from the sociologies of youth and deviance. Through a reflection upon contemporary narratives of young people as 'deviant', 'dangerous' and 'out of control', the module encourages critical reflection upon the construction of these narratives. Through engagement with sociological approaches to understanding youth and deviance, you will be introduced to explanations for young people's engagement in activities regarded as 'deviant'. The module will focus upon contemporary examples, such as, youth violence, recreational substance use, and young people's engagement in differing forms of protest movements.OptionalContemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2026-27SOS3007MLevel 62026-27This module aims to further develop the students’ knowledge about contemporary sociological research and social theory by drawing upon ‘cutting-edge’ developments within sociology. The themes of this module will reflect the current research being undertaken by contemporary sociologists.CoreIndependent Study (Social Science) 2026-27SOP3009MLevel 62026-27This module is designed to be the capstone of the research skills training developed in students’ programmes. It aims to build their capacity for independent research: thinking and problem solving, design of an independent research project, selection of an appropriate topic and methodology, and writing up of results in a substantial dissertation. Guidance will be provided throughout by a designated supervisor. To support students with an applied and practical interest in the subject matter, the module coordinator and supervisor may decide to allow students to base their research project on a negotiated work placement, whether arranged independently by the student or through the University, where the learning outcomes will be demonstrated by a work-placed project along with a reflective report on their experience that engages with relevant academic literature.CoreInternational Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2026-27SOS3152MLevel 62026-27This module is designed to introduce students to human rights at both the conceptual and practical level. It aims to explore the theoretical arguments around the source of human rights and identifies some of the problems and possibilities which emerge from such readings.CorePenology and Penal Policy 2026-27CRI3073MLevel 62026-27In this third-year criminology module, you will gain an in-depth understanding of penology and penal policy within the wider context of social control. The module combines historical and theoretical perspectives with contemporary practices, equipping you with the knowledge to critically analyse and understand the complexities of punishment and social control. You will study the foundational theories of punishment, explore the philosophy of punishment including justice, deterrence, and rehabilitation, and engage with current debates in criminal justice.CoreAnalysing the Policy Process 2026-27SOP3005MLevel 62026-27Aiming to build upon Understanding the Policy Process, this module is designed to support students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme.OptionalBody Politics 2026-27SOS3002MLevel 62026-27This module aims to introduce students to different paradigms of the 'body' and 'embodiment'. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will seek to explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies.OptionalCare or control? Welfare institutions in Britain before the welfare state 2026-27SOP3035MLevel 62026-27This module focuses on welfare institutionalisation in Britain before the emergence of the welfare state. Through a series of case studies, the module explores why and how people entered welfare institutions and considers the extent to which they were caring and controlling. Students can benefit from an cross-disciplinary approach as this module addresses themes across Social Policy, Criminology, Sociology and Politics.OptionalChildren, Families and the State 2026-27SOS3004MLevel 62026-27This module aims to encourage critical thinking about the impacts of family policies on children and families through the application of sociological theories and concepts to develop critical explanations. Students who engage with this module will develop an understanding of the nature and complexity of family policies and their impacts; of family change and diversity over time; and how and why particular services and institutions might intervene in family life and shape social experiences and relationships.OptionalCommunity and Conflict 1 2026-27SOP3006MLevel 62026-27OptionalCommunity and Conflict 2 2026-27SOP3007MLevel 62026-27OptionalCounselling and Guidance Skills 2026-27HEA3031MLevel 62026-27This module aims to introduce students to a range of contemporary models of counselling and guidance practice. The aim is to give students the opportunity to develop skills and attitudes that can be of value in a variety of human service settings. A key feature of the module will be to allow students the opportunity to make judgements as to the appropriateness of using such techniques in different scenarios.OptionalCounter-Terrorism Studies 2026-27POL3085MLevel 62026-27Throughout this module students will have the opportunity to explore how state agencies respond to real and perceived threats of extremism and terrorism. This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the extent to which the state and the media frame extremism and terrorism.OptionalCrimes of the Powerful 2026-27CRI3076MLevel 62026-27This module critically examines the deviant activities of the powerful and their impact on the struggle for social justice. In contrast to much of orthodox criminology, which tends to focus its attention ‘downwards’, and onto the actions of the poor, dispossessed and relatively powerless, this module shifts the gaze ‘upwards’, and onto the harmful activities of states, corporations and similarly powerful collectives. Drawing from a myriad of human rights frameworks, a critical stance is taken towards the concepts of crime, power and legitimacy to understand and explain the deviant activities of these ‘elites’, and illuminate potential avenues for prevention, protection and redress.OptionalDecolonial Futures 2026-27IST3007MLevel 62026-27This module responds to calls for scholars of the social sciences - especially those working in areas such as international relations, development studies and transnational and globalization studies - to more fully understand and more critically engage with the complex dynamics that shape relations between the majority and minority worlds. At this outset, this involves identifying how these relationships are informed by the politics of representation and processes of knowledge production and dissemination. In doing so, the module draws upon contemporary debates surrounding postcolonialism and decoloniality. By analysing the complexities of representing diverse voices, experiences and cultures, the module investigates the ethical implications and challenges of speaking for others.OptionalDrugs and Society 2026-27CRI3001MLevel 62026-27This module considers the role and meanings of drugs in society. You will be asked to consider how we understand concepts such as 'drugs' versus 'medicines', what we mean by 'addiction' and 'harm', as well as the historical and political underpinnings to drugs policy. You will explore concepts such as drug 'normalisation', drug markets and norms of supply, different types of drug use, and the legalisation debate.OptionalEmotions in Everyday Social Life 2026-27SOS3005MLevel 62026-27This module seeks to emphasise the significance of emotions in everyday social life and to challenge some of the essentialist explanations of human emotion by exploring ‘emotions’ as social constructs. In doing so, the module aims to explore the role emotions play in social action, considering, for example, how we form personal relationships, make sense of death, dying and falling in love. Furthermore, this module will also consider how emotions are ‘gendered’, ‘racialised’ and explore the role they play in the workplace, and in laws and governance.OptionalExperiencing Prison 2026-27CRI3077MLevel 62026-27This module explores the varied and diverse experiences of imprisonment. The aim of the module is to empower you to critically consider both the intended and unintended effects of prison and to enable you to develop an independent and reflexive understanding of policy and practice within the prison environment.OptionalFamily Law 2026-27LAW3073MLevel 62026-27This module aims to examine the law in England and Wales relating to the family and in particular the law on marriage, divorce, cohabiting couples, financial and property rights, and rights and duties relating to children. This module seeks to provide students with an interest in this area the opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the practical law relating to the family and to examine ethical issues and the wider policy considerations that lie behind it.OptionalGender and Violence 2026-27SOS3006MLevel 62026-27This module explores the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in contemporary society. GBV is understood as behaviour or attitudes underpinned by inequitable power relations that hurt, threaten or undermine people because of their gender or (perceived) sexuality. The focus of this module is on understanding and reflecting on the experience of women and gender/sexual minorities. This module requires a level of personal reflection on these debates. The module starts by addressing the definitions and conceptual boundaries utilised in understanding GBV, and key theoretical perspectives on GBV, taking an in-depth look at debates in GBV scholarship, such as issues around intersectionality, patriarchy and patriarchal bargain, e.g., whether this is a useful concept and how far it can explain (global) gendered power relations. These issues will be developed through case studies of specific forms of GBV such as domestic violence and sexual coercion and rape. These case studies will explore specific forms of GBV in the context of the broader theoretical debates, as well as the current knowledge base on incidence, prevalence and responses to GBV. The module will also explore theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations when researching GBV.OptionalGlobal Civil Society 2026-27IST3004MLevel 62026-27This module will aim to address the historical origins of global civil society (e.g. the anti-slavery movement), together with diverse and competing contemporary meanings of global civil and ‘uncivil’ society.OptionalGlobal Governance 2026-27IST3005MLevel 62026-27This module explores the concept and practice of global governance. International Relations scholars are increasingly concerned with how international organisations work and how they might work better. Of particular interest is the governance of issues that are inherently global; that is, those that transcend national borders. Examples include migration, health, conflict, poverty, trade, finance, the environment and science and technology. The module begins with the historical development of international institutions and key theories that seek to explain how global governance operates currently. It then considers how global governance might be improved, in theory and practice. These ideas are then applied to a range of case studies.OptionalGlobal Health Governance 2026-27IST3008MLevel 62026-27In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governance of global health has become a major issue in world politics. Increasingly, health and healthcare issues cross national borders. Intergovernmental organizations (e.g. the World Health Organization), non-governmental organizations (e.g. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) and multinational corporations (‘big pharma’) play key roles in global health, as well as national governments and health systems. This module examines the key actors in global health and their contributions to the governance of a range of global health issues, such as infectious disease, reproductive health and medical tourism.OptionalGreen Criminology 2026-27CRI3079MLevel 62026-27OptionalLife After Prison: Reintegration and Rehabilitation 2026-27CRI3078MLevel 62026-27In this third-year criminology module, you will explore the complex journey of societal reintegration after incarceration. This module offers an in-depth analysis of the challenges and strategies crucial for successful reintegration, with a strong emphasis on the roles of support systems and rehabilitation. You will engage with diverse theories and practices related to desistance from crime, focusing on the transformative impact of relationships, identity, and community involvement. The module covers a wide spectrum of post-incarceration challenges, including mental health issues, social stigma, and legal obstacles, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence successful reintegration.OptionalMasculinity, Gender and Power 2026-27POL3001MLevel 62026-27Gender and masculinity are contested in contemporary academic and public debates. Polarised popular narratives construct masculinity as either inherently “toxic”, powerful, and damaging to women (and men), or, in stark contrast, as fragile, under siege, and in urgent need of reclamation. Critical masculinity scholars have scrutinised these claims, examining the role of men and masculinity in creating equality and/or reinforcing inequality in a world profoundly shaped by continuing gendered inequalities and power relations. The module draws on feminist, interdisciplinary masculinity studies to examine academic concepts of masculinity, notions of hegemonic (or ‘dominant’) masculinity, and intersections between masculinity and other factors (for example, race, culture, and sexuality, amongst others). It applies these concepts to understanding how constructions of masculinities function in different empirical contexts to reproduce power and inequalities and/or to provide opportunities for resistance. Students will be encouraged to develop their own critical, informed perspectives on how gender and masculinity shape social and political structures and everyday lives.OptionalNew Social Movements 2026-27POL3004MLevel 62026-27OptionalParliamentary Studies 2026-27POL3005MLevel 62026-27This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of how the UK Parliament works, in theory and in practice. It will aim to examine Parliament’s twin relationships with the Executive and with the citizen, and situate these within broader theories and debates about democratic accountability and the nature of representation. The module also aims to bring students into closer contact with Parliament through handling Parliamentary materials and by facilitating contact with Parliamentarians through, for example an external speaker series, and when possible an optional visit to Parliament. Please note that where opportunities arise to take part in a trip to Parliament, students are expected to cover their own transportation and meal costs.OptionalPolicing in Practice 2026-27CRI3005MLevel 62026-27This module looks at the way contemporary issues in UK policing affect Lincolnshire Police in practice. The module is run as a 2-hour workshop, exploring contemporary challenges in policing and how they play out in the operational realities of policing in Lincolnshire. You will be taught at least half of your workshops by policing professionals including serving police officers and other practitioners. Topics covered may include governance, armed police, public order, equality and diversity in policing, mental health, leadership, police culture and assaults.OptionalPolitical Transformations of Russia and China 2026-27POL3006MLevel 62026-27OptionalPsychology, Crime and Criminology 2026-27CRI3002MLevel 62026-27OptionalRace and Racism 2026-27SOS3155MLevel 62026-27This interdisciplinary module will explore the issues of race, racism, race relations, racial conflict, and practices of anti-racism in the contemporary UK and worldwide. Although the main focus of this module is on the UK, examples from different parts of the world and a comparative lens will enable us to examine these issues from a global perspective. Beginning with colonial discourses of the ‘racial other’ and the history of colonialism, slavery and indentured labour, this module will examine various theoretical and conceptual debates on race and racism, and critically assess how changing conceptualisations of race and racism arise in specific socio-political and historical contexts. The module will also provide students with the chance to assess the continued significance of race and racism in the contemporary world. Students can benefit from an cross-disciplinary approach that addresses themes across Sociology, Criminology, Politics, International Relations, and Social Policy.OptionalSociology of Health and Illness 2026-27SOL3002MLevel 62026-27OptionalTerrorism and Extremism in the United Kingdom 2026-27CRI3009MLevel 62026-27The aims of the module are to: 1. Introduce students to the historical, contemporary and contentious debates concerning how the British state has and should respond to terrorism and extremism. 2. Encourage students to apply criminological and other relevant subject knowledge generated in different contexts to the study of terrorism and extremism in the United Kingdom. 3. Enable students to practice and demonstrate transferable skills in critical thinking, presentation, and oral and written communication.OptionalThe Colonial Present 2026-27IST3006MLevel 62026-27This international relations module seeks to explore the ways in which the contemporary international order can be explained as deriving from the global experience of European colonialism and imperialism. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop a knowledge of the nature, politics and consequences of Western colonial expansion.OptionalUnderstanding Multiculturalism and Policy Practices 2026-27POL3003MLevel 62026-27The module explores political challenges, processes and debates around the presence of culturally diverse populations in the countries such as the UK, Germany, France and examines the role this presence plays in understanding of national identities.OptionalUnderstanding the Policy Process 2026-27SOP3004MLevel 62026-27This module is designed to focus upon the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It aims to provide students with an introduction to a variety of models of policy making and seeks to discuss the complexities of the distribution of power and decision making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy.OptionalWar Crimes and Genocide 2026-27IST3013Level 62026-27This module explores the origins of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It investigates a diverse range of reasons for mass atrocities and genocides through placing them historical, political, philosophical and social contexts to illuminate the origins of such harms and their impact on societies.Optional

What You Need to Know

We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

How you are assessed

A notable feature of Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln is the way in which the degree is both taught and assessed involving student-centred work. This might include group-based and individual research projects, multimedia presentations, case studies, auto-critiques, self-appraisal, vocationally relevant 'live' projects, oral examinations, and conferences.

You are encouraged to build links with employers and to develop skills in analytics, problem-solving, research methods, team-working, and public speaking.

In the final year, you have the opportunity to combine your skills and undertake their own chosen area of study in the preparation of an Independent Study. These methods of assessment are designed to enable you to develop a range of transferable skills.

Placements

You'll have the opportunity to apply for the voluntary, competitive work placements scheme which is run with a local council. This offers valuable experience of a professional policy environment and a chance to observe how policy is set by central government and executed by local authorities, including how competing priorities can result in different decisions about where to allocate resources. Please note, this opportunity is subject to the council’s ongoing commitment to the scheme, and that students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs while undertaking a placement.

Study Abroad Year

The degree offers opportunities to undertake voluntary, competitive work placements with a local council, providing experience of a professional policy environment. Please note that a limited number of places are available and placements are undertaken at the your own expense. You can also apply for a study abroad year at one of our partner institutions in the USA, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, or the Netherlands during the third year of their degree. Again, places are limited and allocated competitively, subject to academic criteria. During a year abroad, you won't need to pay a tuition fee to either the University of Lincoln or the host university, but will be responsible for covering travel, accommodation, and living costs and where applicable, visa costs.

The Great Central Warehouse Library

At the heart of student life is our library which offers access to more than 260,000 journals and 750,000 print and electronic books, as well as databases and specialist collections.

Learning Lounges

You can take advantage of our range of modern study areas located across campus, which include learning lounges that give you the opportunity to study alone or with your friends and course mates.

Computer Suites

A range of computer suites is available in buildings across our Brayford Pool Campus.

Features

The teaching team have excellent links with local criminal justice agencies, including the Lincolnshire Police, local youth offending service, local councils, policy makers, and the third sector. These provide opportunities for partnership delivery of modules, guest lectures offering professional insights, as well as volunteering, dissertations and additional student projects.

What Can I Do with a Criminology and Sociology Degree?

Graduates have gone on to positions in a a diverse range of areas, including roles in the probation and prison services, health and social services, police authorities, youth work, victim support, government policy, and education. Some students progress to further study at Master’s and doctoral level.

United Kingdom

112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications

A Level: BBC.

International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall

BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit or equivalent qualification

T Level: Merit

Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points

Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, which must include English. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may also be considered.

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, EPQ etc.

We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.

International

Non UK Qualifications:

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk

Contextual Offers

At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages.

Fees and Scholarships

Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.

Course Fees

For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. The University of Lincoln offers a variety of merit-based and subject-specific bursaries and scholarships. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

Find out More at an Open Day

The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to join us for one of our Open Days. Visiting us in person is important and will help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.

Book Your Place

Three students walking together on campus in the sunshine

BA (Hons)
Criminology and Sociology

Key Information

Duration

Part-time

Typical Offer

Campus

Validation Status

UCAS Code

Academic Year

The Great Central Warehouse Library

Learning Lounges

Computer Suites

United Kingdom

International