Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (Full-Time/Part-Time)
Course Overview
Also available as a Part-Time or Evening option – please select ‘Click here to contact us’ for more information.
Also available as a Part-Time option – please select ‘Click here to contact us’ for more information.The Level 3 Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of Psychology, Law, and Sociology that complements studies in humanities. This is designed for students who are interested in researching crimes, working as a criminologist, or becoming a scientist in the industry. This is located in the Sixth Form Academy (SFA).
This is a Level 3 qualification that is broadly equivalent to an AS/A level, where the Level 3 Certificate will be completed in the AS year and the Level 3 Diploma is completed in the A-Level year.
Criminology is the study of crime from a social perspective: the causes, the social impact and the people involved in crime. Studying criminology will help you understand what motivates people to commit crimes. Your work will generally be focussed on the study of: · Theories explaining Illegal and/or Deviant Behaviour · The Social Reaction to Crime · The Political Terrain of Social Control · The Effectiveness of Anti-Crime Policies During the first year of the course, you will complete a Level 3 Certificate and you will study the following. Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime – understanding the different types of crime and why some crimes go unreported. Unit 2 Criminological Theories – understanding why people commit a crime. During the second year of the course, you will complete a Level 3 Diploma and you will study the following. Unit 3: Crime Scene to Court Room – understanding of the criminal justice system and how to examine information for the case. Unit 4: Crime and Punishment: understanding the process of bringing the accused to court
Please note: If applying for this course, you will need to select two A Level courses in addition. Click ‘Apply Now’ on this course page and complete the online application form, where you will asked to specify your other two choices. Then book an Information Evening to meet the tutors and discuss your preferred choices.
A minimum of six GCSEs at Grade C or above including English. No prior knowledge of the subject is required
Is Criminology suitable for me?
This exciting new qualification will support learner’s progression onto higher education. It will compliment and support learners wishing to undertake humanities based subjects e.g. Law, History, Psychology and Sociology. It has been designed to offer experiences that focus on learning through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
Progression:
The main purpose of the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is to use the qualification to support access to higher education degree courses, such as:
- BSc Criminology
- BA Criminology
- BA Criminology and Criminal Justice
- BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology
- LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology
- BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology
- BA (Hons) Criminology
- BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology
- BSc Criminology with Law
Employment opportunities in Criminology include:
- Prison and Probation Service
- Courts and Tribunal Service
- Police Forces
- National Offender Management Service
What will I study?
Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime:
The first mandatory unit will enable the learner to demonstrate an understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported.
Unit 2 Criminological Theories:
The second mandatory unit will allow learners to gain an understanding of why people commit a crime, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1.
Unit 3 Crime Scene to Courtroom: The third mandatory unit will provide an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified to the verdict.
Learners will develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases.
Unit 4 Crime & Punishment: In the final mandatory unit, learners will apply their understanding of the awareness of criminality, criminological theories and the process of bringing an accused to court in order to evaluate the effectiveness of social control to deliver criminal justice policy.
Each unit within the qualification has an applied purpose which acts as a focus for the learning in the unit. The applied purpose demands learning that relates to authentic case studies. It also requires students to consider how the use and application of their learning impacts on themselves, other individuals, employers, society and the environment.
Assessment: A controlled assessment contributes to 50% of your final grade (8 hours supervised NEA each year) and 50% is from an externally marked examination for each year .
Qualification structure:
To obtain the full diploma learners must complete all units:
To obtain the certificate learners must complete unit 1 and 2:
Unit No. Unit Title Assessment
1 Changing Awareness of Crime Internal controlled assessment
2 Criminological Theories External exam
3 Crime Scene to Courtroom Internal controlled assessment
4 Crime and Punishment External exam
