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Society, inequality, justice, and social change
Online or on campus
Sociology & Criminology examines how social structures shape opportunity, identity, and justice. You will study classical and contemporary theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and criminological perspectives on crime and punishment. Field visits and guest speakers from policing, probation, and community organisations connect academic study to practice. BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3 years full-time, and the credit total is 360. Students move from Introduction to Sociological Imagination through Introduction to Sociological Imagination; Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice; Social Research Methods & Study Skills; Contemporary Society & Social Inequalities; Culture, Identity & Socialisation; Youth, Crime & Subcultures, and finish on Honours Sociology & Criminology Dissertation. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result. Reading is a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. The artefact a marker expects is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Apply sociological theory to contemporary social issues Design and conduct ethical social research projects Critically evaluate criminal justice policy and practice Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Research methods training includes ethical fieldwork and data analysis using NVivo and SPSS.
Faculty spotlight
Professor Ruth Brennan leads Criminology; Dr. Aisha Khan researches urban inequality and youth policy.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study.
On-campus study
Prefer to learn at our Edinburgh campus? Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged. The published campus price is on each programme page.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociological Imagination Introduction to Sociological Imagination (SOC101) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Introduction to Sociological Imagination as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC102 | Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice (SOC102) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC103 | Social Research Methods & Study Skills Social Research Methods & Study Skills (SOC103) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Social Research Methods & Study Skills as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC104 | Contemporary Society & Social Inequalities Contemporary Society & Social Inequalities (SOC104) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Contemporary Society & Social Inequalities as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC105 | Culture, Identity & Socialisation Culture, Identity & Socialisation (SOC105) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Culture, Identity & Socialisation as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC106 | Youth, Crime & Subcultures Youth, Crime & Subcultures (SOC106) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Youth, Crime & Subcultures as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC201 | Classical & Modern Social Theory Classical & Modern Social Theory (SOC201) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Classical & Modern Social Theory as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC202 | Crime, Deviance & Social Control Crime, Deviance & Social Control (SOC202) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Crime, Deviance & Social Control as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC203 | Qualitative Research Methods & Fieldwork Qualitative Research Methods & Fieldwork (SOC203) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Qualitative Research Methods & Fieldwork as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC204 | Quantitative Methods & Social Statistics Quantitative Methods & Social Statistics (SOC204) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can define a measurable question, fit a method that can be checked, and report where it fails, using Quantitative Methods & Social Statistics as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a dataset description, a methods note, and one published evaluation. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a project note with the question, the method, the result, and the limitation. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC205 | Policing, Prisons & Penology Policing, Prisons & Penology (SOC205) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Policing, Prisons & Penology as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC206 | Race, Ethnicity & Migration in Global Context Race, Ethnicity & Migration in Global Context (SOC206) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Race, Ethnicity & Migration in Global Context as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC301 | Penology, Punishment & Justice Penology, Punishment & Justice (SOC301) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Penology, Punishment & Justice as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC302 | Victimology & Restorative Justice Victimology & Restorative Justice (SOC302) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Victimology & Restorative Justice as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC303 | Global Crimes, Human Trafficking & Organised Crime Global Crimes, Human Trafficking & Organised Crime (SOC303) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Global Crimes, Human Trafficking & Organised Crime as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC304 | Gender, Sexuality & Social Policy Gender, Sexuality & Social Policy (SOC304) is a 20-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 200 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Gender, Sexuality & Social Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
| 20 · 200 h |
| SOC305 | Honours Sociology & Criminology Dissertation Honours Sociology & Criminology Dissertation (SOC305) is a 40-credit course on BA (Hons) Sociology & Criminology, with 400 notional learning hours. By the end, students can apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result, using Honours Sociology & Criminology Dissertation as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone.
| 40 · 400 h |
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 3 years full-time. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Brigant. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. University of Brigant publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@brigant.uk.
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