International Business Degrees Online

Politics summary

Why study Politics? Politics has a major influence on our rapidly changing global society. You will study how different countries are governed and ruled, the relationships between nations, the prosecution or avoidence of war and be able to identify political issues and events and critically debate political processes and systems.

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies summary

Why is there so much crime? Why do some people commit crime while others lead law abiding lives? What is the impact of crime upon society? How can crime be reduced or prevented? What part do the different agencies play? These are just some of the questions that Criminology and Criminal justice Studies seeks to answer.

Criminology is a cross-disciplinary subject, drawing on a range of social scientific tools and methods which help to improve our understanding of the nature of crime, the workings of the criminal justice system and the society around you. It provides skills that are suited to a career inside or outside the community justice sector.

At Plymouth the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies course covers many of the same topics as those which we are developing for community justice professionals, particularly those working in such areas as probation, policing, youth justice, community safety and victim services. This means that students have an opportunity to sample elements of vocationally-oriented criminal justice education which will assist in a future career.

View the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies web page

Course highlights

In the second year of the course, there are opportunities to participate on International Student Exchange Programmes organised by the Department to the Czech Republic and Poland

What the students say

“I had a fantastic three years studying Politics at Plymouth University. Studying for a degree is, however, very different to anything I had done before and I am enjoying the challenge. The set up is very much geared towards the students.”
Penny Howard – Graduate
Career opportunities

Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills for employment/careers working in a variety of environments including local, national and European government administration, journalism and the media, management, financial services, law, politics and public relations.

The Department of Politics & International Relations has pioneered the introduction of graduate skills into this course, designed to enable graduates to take control of their own future career development, in a world of employment that is marked by rapid organisational and technological change.

Student may choose to continue studing after graduating. The Department of Politics & International Relations offers students the opportunity of taking a Masters (MA) in International Relations which can be taken on a full- or part-time basis.

Year 1
Politics

Study the main concepts and theories of British and European politics and understand questions like ‘what is politics?’ ‘what is power?’ and ‘what is a political system?’
Develop your computing and study skills and the basic concepts and practices of political research
Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Criminology and crime problems
An introduction to the criminal justice process in England and Wales

Year 2
Politics

Develop a theoretical and methodological knowledge of politics
Opportunity to undertake a student exchange programme in the Czech Repulic or Poland
Topics include Britain and the EU, modern liberal democracies, political analysis and strategy, public policy, international political economy and political ideologies.
Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Criminological and penal theory
Elective choice from a range available

Year 3
Politics

Study options include the EU, the new politics of East Central Europe, British politics, Third World politics, comparative politics, public choice, local government, electoral behaviour, and sub-state nationalism
Undertake a comprehensive piece of research on a topic of your interest for your final-year dissertation
Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Two elective choices from a range available

International Relations summary

International Relations looks at our rapidly changing world in terms of the political, economic and social issues that affect all our lives. You will be introduced to key events and debates in contemporary International Relations and have the opportunity to study a number of relevant themes and issues.

These may include International Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution, North-South International Relations, International Political Economy, the United Nations, Refugee Studies, Foreign Policy, Theory and area studies such as Africa, Middle East and South East Asia.

View the International Relations web page

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies summary

Why is there so much crime? Why do some people commit crime while others lead law abiding lives? What is the impact of crime upon society? How can crime be reduced or prevented? What part do the different agencies play? These are just some of the questions that Criminology and Criminal justice Studies seeks to answer.

Criminology is a cross-disciplinary subject, drawing on a range of social scientific tools and methods which help to improve our understanding of the nature of crime, the workings of the criminal justice system and the society around you. It provides skills that are suited to a career inside or outside the community justice sector.

At Plymouth the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies course covers many of the same topics as those which we are developing for community justice professionals, particularly those working in such areas as probation, policing, youth justice, community safety and victim services. This means that students have an opportunity to sample elements of vocationally-oriented criminal justice education which will assist in a future career.

View the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies web page

Course highlights

There are opportunities to participate on International Student Exchange Programmes to Canada, The Czech Republic, Finland, France and the USA

Career opportunities

Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills for employment/careers working in a variety of environments from peacekeeping, NGO’s the European Union, United Nations, civil service, local and central government to multinational/global corporations.

We want our graduates to be informed, detached, critical and sophisticated observers and analysts of contemporary international relations. The growing interdependency of our world means that such attributes are increasingly in demand by a wide variety of employers, including multinational businesses and both government and non-governmental organisations.

Students may choose to continue studying after graduating. The Department of Politics & International Relations offers students the opportunity of taking a Masters (MA) in International Relations which can be taken on a full- or part-time basis.
Entry requirements

A level/AS level: 240 – 280 pts (including a minimum of 160 pts from two A levels or a double award). Other combinations and non-A level qualifications considered.
Detailed entry requirements
Duration

Three years full time

Study the theories of the international system and the post-Cold War political environment
Develop your computing, study and research skills and gain a broad grounding of international relations
Topics include international institutions and regimes, sovereignty to global governance and contemporary international relations

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Criminology and crime problems
An introduction to the criminal justice process in England and Wales
Year 2
International Relations

Cover topics including international security, peace and conflict resolution, imagining global society, north-south relations and international political economy
Participate in an International Student Exchange Programme in the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, US or Australia

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Criminological and penal theory
Elective choice from a range available
Year 3
International Relations

Study options include peacekeeping and humanitarian intervention, refugee studies, arms control, European security, maritime studies, Asia-Pacific, Middle-Eastern and postcolonial studies
Undertake a comprehensive piece of research on a topic of your interest for your final year dissertation

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Two elective choices from a range available

COURSE INFORMATION
This programme is unique and innovative in its comparative and international focus. It addresses what is possibly the most significant political agenda of the day – international policing and the management of risk, security, crime and victimisation. The unique combination of modules encompass the main areas of policing structures and processes, security governance and comparative and international policing and criminal justice. Recent developments in issues around local, national, international and global policing make this programme essential for any ambitious and effective practitioner working in the fields of policing and security, criminal justice or community safety as well as graduates looking to develop a career in these proliferating areas. It offers a vocational, management-oriented and problem-solving approach that applies theory and research to practice. Students will study International Policing as reflective practitioners in a multi- and inter-disciplinary context.

Our staff
The Criminology team at Northumbria has vast expertise in policing and criminal justice. Staff work collaboratively with police forces and criminal justice agencies as well as engaging in a variety of research projects in the criminal justice sector. The provision at Northumbria utilizes and develops current expertise within policing and comparative criminology and is underpinned by staffs close links with the world of policing, criminal justice, community safety and security.

Learning and Teaching
The philosophy of these programmes is to guide students through their engagement in critical, analytical, historical, international, global and comparative studies of crime and all aspects of its management, control, regulation and prevention. The MSc in International Policing explores different critical perspectives and encourages reflexive thinking and reflective practitioners within a global context.

The programme of study is designed to facilitate a lifelong learning approach for those engaged in fields of employment related to the policing and criminal justice sectors. Students are encouraged to:
apply their knowledge and understanding to appropriate areas of criminology, governance, risk and security, criminal justice and social policy.
problem-solve, manage and interpret data in their field of study, and apply different research and evaluation methodologies, methods and strategies after careful critical evaluation of their efficacy and appropriateness.
demonstrate the ability to adapt a comparative approach to the study of key issues in crime management, control, regulation and prevention.

MODULE INFORMATION
To view the Module Information for this course click here

COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT
Assessment is specific to each of the modules and will be appropriately assessed through different methods that support intellectual rigour and encourage effective management techniques and the application of problem solving skills. The emphasis is to make the assessment process as relevant as possible to the process of learning and, where appropriate, to the workplace. Combinations of assessment methods may include: assignments, presentations, portfolios of evidence and an extended piece of independent research or a professional practice project/dissertation.

CAREERS
Recent developments in issues around local, national, international and global policing make this programme essential for any ambitious and effective practitioner working in the fields of policing and security, criminal justice or community safety and graduates looking to develop a career in these proliferating areas.

The programme will appeal therefore to those already employed as senior practitioners, heads of training and development, managers and those with career aspirations to become involved at these levels in the policing, criminal or community justice and safety sectors. It is simultaneously designed to attract students with their aims set on a career in police-related practice including public or private policing and security, the Immigration Service or HM Customs and Excise.

APPLICATION DETAIL
Applicants should complete a standard university application form available from the enquiries office listed on the right of this page.

Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies summary

Why is there so much crime? Why do some people commit crime while others lead law abiding lives? What is the impact of crime upon society? How can crime be reduced or prevented? What part do the different agencies play? These are just some of the questions that Criminology and Criminal justice Studies seeks to answer.

Criminology is a cross-disciplinary subject, drawing on a range of social scientific tools and methods which help to improve our understanding of the nature of crime, the workings of the criminal justice system and the society around you. It provides skills that are suited to a career inside or outside the community justice sector.

At Plymouth the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies course covers many of the same topics as those which we are developing for community justice professionals, particularly those working in such areas as probation, policing, youth justice, community safety and victim services. This means that students have an opportunity to sample elements of vocationally-oriented criminal justice education which will assist in a future career.

View the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies web page

International Relations summary

International Relations looks at our rapidly changing world in terms of the political, economic and social issues that affect all our lives. You will be introduced to key events and debates in contemporary International Relations and may have the opportunity to study a number of relevant themes and issues.

These may include; International Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution, North-South International Relations, International Political Economy, the United Nations, Refugee Studies, Foreign Policy, Theory and area studies such as Africa, Middle East and South East Asia.

View the International Relations web page

Course highlights

Contemporary Focus
Theoretical Grounding
Agency Collaboration
Social Justice

Career opportunities

Graduates of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies are very highly sought after by a range of employers, including statutory agencies such as the police, the probation service and the prison service.

There are also a variety of opportunities within the community justice sector, such as community safety, victim support, community mediation, youth justice or private security. Our graduates also attain a high level of transferable skills that could be applied to work in a range of other settings, including public service, or the private and voluntary sectors.
Entry requirements

A level/AS level: 240 – 280 pts, which must include 160 pts from two A levels or one double award. AS levels considered in combination with the above. Non-A level qualifications also considered.
Detailed entry requirements

Modules studied:
Criminology and crime problems
An introduction to the criminal justice process in England and Wales
Social research and study skills
Using social sciences

More information:
Studying criminal justice within a scheme of foundational skills modules
Establishing grounding in key areas of criminology and criminal justice
Learning about the main institutions of criminal justice in England and Wales
Developing an understanding of the ideas and theories that are used to analyse crime problems

International Relations

Study the theories of the international system and the post-Cold War political environment
Topics include international institutions and regimes, sovereignty to global governance and contemporary international relations
Year 2
Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Modules studied:
Criminological and penal theory
Social research: design and practice
Two elective choices from a range available

More information:
Developing research skills for the social sciences
Learning more about how theory is used to develop criminological ideas and how penalty is theorised to understand punishment

International Relations

Cover topics including international security, peace and conflict resolution, imagining global society, north-south relations and international political economy
Year 3
Criminology And Criminal Justice Studies

Modules studied:
Dissertation
Two elective choices from a range available

More information:
Applying knowledge of theory and method to crime matters
Specialising by choosing from a range of criminology and criminal justice modules covering subjects such as interpersonal violence, comparative studies, policing illicit drug use, anti-social behaviour and racism and criminal justice
The opportunity to complete a work based learning module
Completion of a research study that offers the chance to investigate a criminological issue of individual interest in great depth

International Relations

Study options include peacekeeping and humanitarian intervention, refugee studies, arms control, European security, maritime studies, Asia-Pacific, Middle Eastern and postcolonial studies