Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Sociology and Criminology

The BA (Hons) Sociology and Criminology with a Foundation Year is designed to provide an accessible route into higher education, with lower entry requirements leading to a full undergraduate qualification. The foundation year supports students who do not initially meet the standard entry criteria for Sociology or Criminology degrees, offering additional Level 3 study to prepare them for degree-level learning. It equips students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to progress confidently onto Level 4 and continue onto undergraduate programmes within the School of Social Sciences.

The Sociology and Criminology degree offers a critical and practical approach to understanding society and its complexities at both local and global levels. Students explore key social issues such as inequality, globalisation, and technological change, developing the theoretical and methodological tools needed to investigate complex questions and engage with evidence-based analysis.

The criminology component enables students to examine how societies understand crime and criminality, and how these are connected to broader social issues. Students analyse patterns of inequality, power, and social hierarchies, gaining insight into how definitions of crime are constructed and how they may evolve in response to emerging social challenges.

Throughout the course, students develop research skills, including data analysis and methodological approaches, supported by teaching from active researchers in areas such as inequality and social change. The city of Birmingham also serves as a dynamic learning environment, offering opportunities to engage with diverse communities and real-world social contexts.

Students benefit from hands-on projects, with opportunities for optional placements in public and third sector organisations, as well as an independent final-year research project. These experiences help build professional networks and develop key employability skills, including critical thinking and data analysis, preparing graduates to address complex societal challenges.