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Criminology Applied Diploma (Level 3)

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Criminology Applied Diploma Course Outline

Advanced Level 3
Awarding Body: WJEC 

Study Criminology

Criminology is the study of the reasons why individuals commit crimes. By understanding why a person commits a crime, we can develop ways to control crime or rehabilitate the criminal. This course will enable you to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy. You will also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases. 

Entry Requirements

The General entry requirements for Advanced Vocational Programme courses are five GCSEs at grade 4 and above (4-9), including English Language.

Grade 4 English - 4 in Maths

Content

We follow the WJEC exam board: 

We have no AS exams. 

There are 4 units, 2 in each year. 

Year 1:  

  • Changing Awareness of Crime 
  • Criminological Theories 

Year 2:

  • Crime Scene to Courtroom 
  • Crime and Punishment 

Assessment

External:  

Units 2 (Criminological Theories) and 4 (Crime and Punishment) are exam assessed. 

Both exams are 1hr 30 minutes written May/June and consist of short and extended answer questions out of a total of 75 marks 

Internal:  

Unit 1 (Changing Awareness of Crime) and Unit 3 (Crime Scene to Courtroom) are internally assessed units. 

You will be given a brief to work through, and are done over 8 hours, which will be organized by the class teacher. 

Progression

There are many avenues for progression, depending on what you want to do. 

Most students will take up laces in vocationally relevant areas such as:  

  • Probation                                   
  • Social Work                      
  • Youth Offender Teams                                          
  • Youth Work 
  • Further Education Teaching                    
  • Prison Service (including fast track)                 
  • Police Officers (including fast track) 
  • Police Research                       
  • Victim support                    
  • Safer Cities Programmes                          
  • Legal Services Commission 

Some students may wish to continue their studies at university. This is an extended certificate. 

Student Testimonials

"Criminology has helped me improve by understanding some people’s behaviour and why they are acting in some ways. In addition, Criminology is a great subject because it helps you see the world in a different perspective. Our teacher is very helpful and has an important role in our learning as he is always patient with us and he is always taking his time explaining and evaluating all the topics." 

"I enjoy studying Criminology because it is an intellectually stimulating subject that allows people like me that want to know how to identify, apprehend and rehabilitate criminals, to thrive. My teachers come from a psychological and a legal background, which is helpful because psychological theories can be applied to crime and my teacher knows the ins and outs of the court system. This makes me comfortable asking them any questions about it." 

Extra Curricular

  • https://www.edology.com/blog/law-criminology/10-important-criminologists/ 
  • https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2019/jun/07/university-guide-2020-league-table-for-criminology 
  • https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-can-you-do-with-a-criminology-degree-974613 
  • https://www.edology.com/blog/law-criminology/10-important-criminologists/ 

Department Staff

  • Mr Ellis 
  • Ms Ogunfidodo 
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