About this course

This course is aimed at those seeking a future career in the criminal justice sector, sociology, social and probation work. It has a mixture of internal and external assessments over 2 years and is equivalent to 1 A Level in terms of UCAS tariff points.

The course will consider the following topics: Changing Awareness of Crime; Criminological Theories; Crime Scene to Courtroom, and Crime and Punishment.

What you will study

1st Year
Unit 1 – Changing Awareness of Crime.
This will enable the learner to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported. It will be internally assessed through a summative assessment.

Unit 2 – Criminological Theories
This will enable the learner to apply their understanding of the public perceptions of crime and campaigns for change studied in Unit 1 with criminological theories to examine how both are used to set policy. Theories to be explored are within the broader groups of:

Biological theories
Individualistic theories
Sociological Theories

It will be externally assessed in a 1 hour and 30 minutes written paper.

2nd Year
Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Courtroom
This will enable the learner to develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases including violent crime, e-crime and property crime. It will be internally assessed through a summative assessment.

Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment
This will enable to develop skills in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the process of social control in delivering policy in practice. This unit will also consider forms of Social Control, such as rational ideology, tradition, internalisation, coercion, deterrence as well as forms of punishment, incarceration, community service and financial. It will be externally assessed in a 1 hour and 30 minutes written paper.

Entry requirements

Individual Subject Entry Requirement GCSE Math and English Grade C

Important points

The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.

Key information

Start date

Location

Maps & directions

Course code

Qualification

“CAVC is a great place to study A Levels – the teachers, the support, the facilities and social experience has been so good – I’m delighted to have gained all A’s in my AS exams. The support to apply and prepare for university is brilliant and I’m looking forward to progressing after college.”

Kuba Lewandowski

A Levels

500

Fantastic university progression routes! With hundreds of students gaining places at Oxbridge, Russell Group and other leading universities. In fact, this year more than 500 students achieved their firm or insurance choice through UCAS, with nearly 100 being Russell Group universities!

This course will enable progression onto university courses such as BA/Sc Criminology as well as LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology.

Alternatively, the qualification allows learners to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider employment within some aspects of the criminal justice system, e.g. the National Probation Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service or the National Offender Management Service.

Criminology – Certificate