BSc (Hons) Criminology and Sociology

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to cater for all styles of learning. This includes:

• Lectures;
• Tutorials - usually in groups;
• Seminars - in groups and based on a lecture subject or allocated reading;
• Presentations - including those given from someone in the field;
• Student-directed study - where work is assigned and deadlines given;
• Site visits - where you can gain a working insight into criminal justice institutions

We place emphasis on the acquisition of individual transferable skills as well as the development of knowledge and skills important to those working in field.

We also have a virtual teaching and learning resource, called 'Blackboard'. We will post module handbooks, summaries of lectures, messages to students and any other relevant materials on Blackboard. You will be enrolled for modules on Blackboard, and can access the corresponding web pages, both on- and off-campus.

This course also offers additional opportunities and support. This includes:

Wordscope - This is an innovative course of ten 1.5 hour workshops, designed to improve the skill and accuracy with which you use language. It's not just for people who think they may need to brush up on their writing skills. It's also for good writers who want to be excellent. Our figures show that, on average, students who successfully complete the Wordscope course improve their grades by a whole degree class. This means that if a student was regularly achieving marks in the 2:2 range (50-59%), after completing Wordscope, their marks would rise to the 2:1 range (60-69%). Infact, a significant proportion of student achieving first class degrees successfully completed a Wordscope course during their time with us.

Personal Tutors – We have a strong record of pastoral and academic care for students. In addition to the academic curriculum, we operate a robust personal tutoring system which enables regular one-to-one contact with a tutor to discuss your progress. Upon your arrival at Salford, you will be allocated a personal tutor. The personal tutor is an academic staff member who acts as your first point of contact for any queries or difficulties that you may encounter in a personal or academic context. Personal tutors meet with you regularly throughout the year. In addition, they keep weekly office hours during teaching weeks, when they are available to offer support and advice. 

Erasmus and Exchange Programme – The exchange schemes with universities abroad provide opportunities to study overseas, and help create a cosmopolitan environment within the school. Foreign exchanges are optional, and students may spend one semester (half an academic year) or two semesters (a full academic year) at one of our partner institutions. Currently, we offer exchanges to the following places: Marie Curie University in Poland; the Turkish Police Academy; San Diego State University; Wayne State University in Detroit, USA; and City University Hong Kong. Exchanges take place in your second year of study and you do not need to be fluent in a foreign language: you will study in an English department, where the teaching is delivered in English. Our students report that study abroad provides a fascinating insight into how the subject is viewed and taught by other cultures, and in general, our students describe their exchange experiences very positively. These overseas opportunities are invaluable for helping our students get ahead in the jobs market, and guarantee that you will have something interesting to talk about in an interview! Grants and bursaries are available to help with travel expenses.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods will be used, these include:

• Essays
• Exams
• Presentations (both group and individual)
• Reports
• Dissertation (optional)