Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology

Full-time
Level 3
WJEC
Gorseinon
Two years
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Overview

The certificate is the initial year of the course, paving the way for students to advance to the diploma in the subsequent year. Spanning a duration of two years, this programme aims to provide you with a foundation of criminological theory and practical skills.  

Skills in criminology hold relevance across a wide range of professions within the criminal justice domain, including roles as police officers, probation and prison officers, and social workers. The critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills developed by criminology students make them highly sought after by employers beyond the criminal justice sector, such as those in social research and politics.  

This course is to be studied with other A Levels such as Law, Psychology and Sociology, enabling you to widen your knowledge base and enhance your prospects in various fields of study. 

Key information

Entry Requirements

  • Seven GCSEs at grades C or above
  • Including minimum grade B in GCSE English Language.

Course Delivery

Lessons on this course consist of practical (crime scene activities) and teacher-led sessions. 
 
Year 1 - Level 3 Applied Certificate in Criminology.    

Unit 1 - Develop a campaign to bring about change regarding crime. This unit explores various types of crime. It examines why people hesitate to report crimes they have experienced and why minor crimes can have connections to more serious offences.   

Unit 2 -The unit explores how society determines what constitutes criminal behaviour, and the reasons behind criminal actions. Learners examine various criminological theories, evaluating their relevance to different types of crime and their application to real-life scenarios. 

Year 2 - Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology.  

Unit 3 - Develop skills to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases by examining information. The unit explores the roles of personnel involved when a crime is detected, investigative techniques employed to identify offenders, and the process a suspect undergoes once charged by the police/Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Safeguards ensuring fair trials are also examined.  

Unit 4 - Focuses on why people generally comply with laws, the social institutions established to ensure compliance, the consequences faced by law breakers, the reasons behind punishment, and the mechanisms society employs to control criminal behaviour.  

Assessment/Grading criteria:  

Year 1:  

  • 50% 8hr Controlled Assessment – Changing Awareness of Crime  
  • 50% Exam – Criminological Theories.  

Year 2:  

  • 50% 8hr Controlled Assessment – Crime Scene to Courtroom  
  • 50% Exam – Crime and Punishment.

Level 3 Criminology has been awarded UCAS points and can be found on the UCAS website.

Progression Opportunities

Studying Criminology at Gower College Swansea, you could progress to the Foundation Degree in Criminal Justice

Many students also go on to university and pursue future careers within the probation service, police or criminal justice system. Other routes include various degree courses in: 

  • 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.

Additional Information

Extra curricular activities include:

  • Local CSI talk
  • CPS talk
  • Abi Carter – Forensic archaeologist
  • Ben Giles – Crime scene cleaner
  • Barrister / solicitor talk
  • Trip to local courts
  • Trip to London – Jack The Ripper Tour and The Krays Tour.
 

Interested in studying this course?

Apply now!