Our BA (Hons) Criminology course is supported by our close links with local criminal justice organisations in the voluntary, public, and private sectors, including West Midlands Police Force.Make sense of the world of criminal justice by getting the big picture perspective on crime, punishment and victimisation.This course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the core schools of criminological thought, their historical and political foundations and practical application.Our curriculum offers you a variety of subjects, through which you will be able to develop your interests before focusing on specialised fields within criminology, such as homicide and harms of the powerful. This is an exciting and dynamic course that explores real-world problems, focusing on cutting edge and topical issues relating to crime and social justice.This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.Enhancing employability skillsThis course is suitable if you wish to embark on a criminal justice-related career, including jobs in the police, revenue and customs, probation, youth justice, community safety and the Prison Service as well as the voluntary sector. It’s also suitable for serving police officers and civilian support staff, customs officers, prison officers and those working in the Immigration and Nationality Service.PLACEMENTSYou’ll have the opportunity throughout your study to work with a number of organisations such as Centro Safetravel, Citizens Advice Bureau and Victim Support.Criminology student Leonie Folan is currently working on The Priority and Prolific Offender (PPO) Scheme, which is available to students who choose to take the third year Working in Criminal Justice module.