Foundation Degree in Crime & Criminal Justice

You will need 48 UCAS Points or have extensive, relevant work experience. Including GCSE Maths and Englihs at grade 4/C.

Here’s how to apply depending on your plans:

• If this College is your only choice, you can begin the process by selecting the “Apply” button at the top of this course page, which will take you to the online application form for a simple and direct experience.
• If you’re applying to multiple Higher Education providers, submit your application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) by the specified deadline for the relevant recruitment cycle. This ensures your application reaches all your chosen institutions efficiently.
• For detailed information on UCAS applications and deadlines, https://www.ucas.com/applying .

This course supports Sunderland College's vision for a career-focused curriculum and primarily focuses on the core principles of employability, digital skills and social justice.

Students on the course benefit from extensive academic and pastoral care and support, with a focus on the individual aspirations and the needs of every student. This will be assured through a range of teaching strategies and engagement opportunities. Sessions are interactive, taught digitally, and allow all students to acquire programme competencies.

Teaching on modules is active and learning will be done in a supportive classroom space, with clear intent and progression, delivered an experienced teaching team.

Students will get the chance to apply learning to their own interests and understanding of the world, whilst collaborating with peers on research tasks and project work. All sessions aim to enhance knowledge, skills and behaviours for lifelong learning. Group debates, problem-solving, interactive group presentations and collaborative research tasks all support an outstanding student experience.

Sessions in our Innovation Space - an industry-leading, immersive 360 degree projection area where students can be transported into warzones, crime scenes and prisons - give students the opportunity to experience role play policing scenarios in a virtual environment.

Each module seeks to include engagement outside of the classroom, with experience days to local, regional and national agency facilities, visiting lectures and masterclasses delivered by professionals and external stakeholders. Students will engage with their community in the collection, analysis and presentation of primary and secondary data.

Assessments are contextualised and carefully sequenced to allow for the continual progression of students via a ‘feed forward’ approach that challenges students to consistently set and maintain high standards.

Students are assessed via several methods, including data collection infographics, case study analysis, academic posters, presentations and podcasts.

Maths and English qualifications are preferred for entry onto the programme. If you do not currently hold these, you will be encouraged to study them alongside your course, as many careers within the criminal justice sector require a grade 4 or above.

While there are no formal placements within the programme, you will engage with guest speakers from across the Crime and Criminal Justice sector and may have the opportunity to take part in workplace visits. These experiences provide valuable insight into professional practice and career pathways. You may also be supported in applying for voluntary positions that can be completed alongside your studies, helping you to build experience and strengthen your CV.

We have a number of links to industry, including partnerships to provide an outstanding learning experience and ensure your are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to progress to a career in industry.

These include Northumbria Police, HM Court and Tribunals Service, HM Prison Service and HM Probation Service.

You will study for 12 hours per week, typically across two full days; however, this may be subject to change depending on timetabling. In addition, you are expected to undertake 2–3 hours of independent study per module each week, which should include reading, assessment preparation, and research to support your learning and progression.

The aim of this course is to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours in critical thinking, collaboration, digital literacy, communication and self-direction. This is with a view to propelling students to learn independently, explore their vocation with confidence and think critically, creatively and enterprisingly with a view to succeeding in an ever-changing society.

The Foundation Degree in Crime and Criminal Justice acknowledges the multi-disciplinary nature of the vocation, capturing ‘crime’ in its legal and criminological construct, and ‘criminal justice’ from the perspective of ‘harm’, ‘criminalisation’ and ‘victimisation,’ which distinguishes this programme regionally from traditional criminology and law degree pathways.

Course content is couched in a theoretical and empirical mode with practical application to reflect the current social, political and public climate, and prepares students for access to the growing criminal justice sector workforce.

This course suits students who are interested in a wide range of jobs, whether that be a career in the police, Level 6 entry to the Probation Service’s professional qualification in probation, or work in the prison service, youth justice, criminal justice charities and the Civil Service, to name but a few.

FdA Crime and Criminal Justice (Level 4) 120 credits

FDACCJ01 - Criminological Perspectives (40 credits) -
This core module introduces you to the foundations of criminology, exploring how and why crime occurs through a range of theoretical lenses. You will examine biological, psychological and sociological explanations of criminal behaviour, alongside key ideas such as conformity, obedience and group influence.

As you progress, you will begin to question what “crime” actually means, recognising it as a social and cultural construct shaped by time, place and perspective. The module also explores risk and protective factors, helping you understand how crime can be prevented as well as explained.

Through the development of a digital criminological profile and completing a professional discussion, you will apply theory to practice, building analytical, digital and communication skills. This module provides the essential theoretical grounding for the entire degree and supports your transition into higher-level academic study.

FDACCJ02 – Skills, Research and Reflection (20 credits) -
Designed to support your transition into higher education, this module equips you with the academic, personal and professional skills needed to succeed in criminology and criminal justice. You will learn how to design and carry out research, explore qualitative and quantitative data, and develop key skills in referencing, critical thinking and academic writing.

Working collaboratively, you will plan and deliver a group research project on a crime-related topic of your choice, gaining experience in teamwork, communication and project management. Alongside this, you will be introduced to ethical research practices and the importance of responsible data handling.

The module also places strong emphasis on reflective practice, encouraging you to evaluate your own development, recognise your strengths, and identify areas for growth. By the end, you will have built a toolkit of essential skills that underpin all future study and professional practice in the field.

FDACCJ03 – Criminal Law: Theory to Practice (20 credits) -
This module provides a vital introduction to the legal framework underpinning the criminal justice system. You will explore how the law defines crime, examining key principles such as actus reus (the guilty act) and mens rea (the guilty mind), alongside the role of causation, liability and defences.

You will study a range of offences, including fatal and non-fatal offences against the person, sexual offences and property crimes, while also developing an understanding of how courts and legal institutions operate. Through engagement with real case law, you will begin to apply legal principles to practical scenarios.

Assessment includes both a creative academic poster and a formal essay, allowing you to develop your ability to interpret legal sources and communicate complex ideas clearly. This module forms the legal backbone of the course and prepares you for more advanced legal study in later levels.

FDACCJ04 – Crime, Deviance and Society (20 credits) -
What counts as “crime” and what is simply “deviant” behaviour? This thought-provoking module explores the blurred boundaries between the two, encouraging you to critically examine how social norms, power and culture shape our understanding of wrongdoing.

You will engage with a wide range of contemporary issues, including social inequality, extremism, media influence, body image, and political and cultural conflict. The module also introduces key concepts such as victimisation, criminalisation and social justice, helping you understand who is labelled as deviant, and why.

Through case study analysis and applied research, you will explore real-world issues such as policing, discrimination and global perspectives on crime. This module develops your ability to think critically about society, challenge assumptions, and propose informed responses to complex social problems.

FDACCJ05 - Current Issues in Criminality (20 credits) -
Focusing on the rapidly changing nature of crime in modern society, this module explores the key debates shaping criminology today. You will examine contemporary issues such as globalisation and human trafficking, mental health and crime, corporate harm, and the impact of neoliberal policies on crime control.

Drawing on modern criminological theories, including cultural criminology, realism, and feminist perspectives, you will analyse how crime is understood and managed in late modernity. You will also explore influential ideas such as David Garland’s “culture of control” and changing attitudes towards punishment.

Through a journal article review and an audio presentation, you will develop the ability to communicate complex criminological ideas to a wider audience. This module encourages you to engage with current debates and prepares you to think critically about the future of crime and justice.

FdA Crime and Criminal Justice (Level 5)
120 credits

FDACCJ06 – Global Insecurities and Transitional Justice (40 credits)
This module takes your learning onto a global stage, examining crime, justice and human rights in an international context. You will explore how globalisation has reshaped crime and insecurity, and how states and international organisations respond to issues such as war, political extremism and human rights violations.
Central to the module is the concept of transitional justice, how societies deal with past atrocities and move towards reconciliation. You will study institutions such as the International Criminal Court, as well as debates around accountability, sovereignty and the protection of vulnerable populations. Through the analysis of real-world case studies, you will critically engage with complex global issues, including migration, structural violence and international conflict. This module challenges you to think beyond national boundaries and consider the role of justice in an increasingly interconnected world.

FDACCJ07 – Theories of Punishment (20 credits)
Why do we punish, and does it work? This module critically explores the purpose and effectiveness of punishment within the criminal justice system of England and Wales. You will examine key theoretical approaches, including retributive and utilitarian perspectives, alongside contemporary debates about fairness, proportionality and justice.
The module explores how punishment is applied in practice, covering sentencing, imprisonment, youth justice and community penalties. You will also consider alternative approaches such as restorative justice, as well as emerging issues including risk assessment, rehabilitation and the treatment of serious offenders.
By engaging with real-world case studies and policy debates, you will develop a critical understanding of how punishment shapes society. This module encourages you to question whether current approaches to justice are effective, ethical and fit for purpose in a modern criminal justice system.

FDACCJ08 – Contemporary Policing (20 credits)
Building on your foundational knowledge of criminal law, this module explores the evolving nature of policing in the 21st century. You will examine how policing has developed historically, while critically analysing the challenges faced by modern police services, including accountability, public trust, and the impact of emerging technologies.
Key topics include community and plural policing, cultural diversity, stop and search powers, counter-terrorism, and the policing of public order. You will also explore contemporary debates around misconduct, the role of oversight bodies, and the increasing involvement of private organisations in policing.
Through applied assessment, you will investigate real-world policing issues and reflect on how policing contributes to a fair, just and sustainable society. This module develops your ability to critically evaluate policing practice, bridging the gap between theory, policy and operational realities.

FDACCJ09 – Serious and Organised Crime (20 credits)
Serious and organised crime represents one of the most complex and pressing challenges facing modern societies. In this module, you will explore the nature, scale and impact of organised criminal activity, from drug trafficking and human exploitation to cybercrime and financial fraud.
You will examine how globalisation, technology and social factors have transformed organised crime, alongside the pathways that lead individuals into such networks. The module also considers the structures, motivations and methods used by organised crime groups, as well as the national and international responses designed to combat them.
Through case studies and a professional discussion, you will critically evaluate strategies, legislation and multi-agency approaches used to tackle organised crime. This module equips you with the knowledge to understand one of the most significant threats to global security and the complexities involved in addressing it.

FDACCJ10 – Small Scale Research Project (20 credits)
This module advances your research skills, preparing you for independent study at Level 6 and beyond. Building on earlier learning, you will deepen your understanding of research design, data analysis and critical evaluation, while developing the confidence to conduct your own research within crime and criminal justice.
You will explore both qualitative and quantitative approaches, learning how to formulate research questions, analyse data, and evaluate the strengths and limitations of different methodologies. Ethical considerations remain central, ensuring your work meets professional and academic standards.
Working collaboratively, you will design and carry out a small-scale research project, applying your knowledge to a topic of your choice. Alongside this, you will critically review existing research, strengthening your analytical and evaluative skills. This module is a key stepping stone towards your final-year dissertation.