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Criminology courses

14 Courses Available

Criminology courses

From Private Investigation to Criminal Psychology, our criminology courses offer an insight into the fascinating world of criminal investigation.

Whether you are a complete beginner or you already have experience within this field, we have a course level to suit you.

Know which course you're interested in?

What is criminology?

Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminal behaviour, examining why crimes occur, how they impact society, and what we can do to prevent them. It’s a multidisciplinary field, combining elements of psychology, sociology, law, and forensic science to understand the complex factors that influence criminal behaviour.

In a criminology course, you'll explore theories of crime, analyse criminal justice systems, and investigate the social, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.

Careers in criminology

A criminology course opens the door to a wide range of career paths, in fields including:

  • Law enforcement
    Serve as a police officer, detective, or investigator to protect communities and solve crimes.

  • Court & corrections
    Work within the judicial system as a probation officer, court analyst, or in victim support services.

  • Government agencies
    Apply your analytical skills as a crime analyst, policy advisor, or in intelligence roles.

  • Private sector
    Use your expertise in fraud prevention, cybercrime investigation, and corporate security.

  • Research & academia
    Contribute to the field through research, teaching, or consulting roles.

Our criminology courses

Our range of courses cover a broad array of topics within the wider field of criminology. You have the opportunity to study specific areas such as Forensic Science, Psychological Profiling, Private Investigation.

The majority of our criminology courses are Level 3; this means they provide a thorough understanding of the subject but, don’t worry, no previous qualifications are necessary to study at this level.

Our range also includes bundled packages where you can save money by combining related disciplines, such as Criminology and Criminal Psychology or Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science.

For those aiming to study at university, we also offer an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Law & Criminology. You’ll earn up to 144 UCAS points, providing a direct pathway to university, without the need to take any exams.

Study format

Our criminology courses are designed with your convenience in mind, offering complete flexibility so you can learn anytime, anywhere.

You'll gain in-depth knowledge in fundamental areas such as:

  • Crime Scene Evidence
  • Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
  • Identifying, Interviewing and Interrogating suspects
  • Treatment of Psychopathic Disorders in Prison
  • Role of The Police

Frequently asked questions

Yes, absolutely. Each of our criminology courses has the option to be studied entirely online, with all resources available to be accessed wherever and whenever you may need them. Studying an online criminology course is an ideal choice for newcomers to the field, as well as professionals looking to learn more about a particular area.

A career in criminology requires versatility and adaptability, as each day will present different challenges. To succeed in the field, you'll need a mix of hard and soft skills including analytical thinking, problem solving, and research ability.

Looking to speak to an adviser?

We are delighted that you are considering joining us to study and take pleasure in welcoming you to our family.

Open Study College is one of the UK’s leading distance-learning colleges. We provide professionally-recognised criminology courses that enable you to study at your own pace, in your own environment either online or via printed materials sent to your home.

We understand that choosing a course is a big decision. That’s why we have a team of friendly, knowledgeable education specialists who can help you choose the right criminology qualifications for you.

Over the past 17 years, we’ve enrolled over 130,000 people on courses that have improved their education and their career prospects!

Our education specialists can answer any questions you may have, talk you through our finance options and get you enrolled over the telephone.

As a family-founded college, we think of our learners as extended members of our family. We’re all here to help you achieve your goals in life, whatever they may be.

If you’d like to speak to an education specialist about our online criminology courses, simply complete the form here and you’ll get a call back at the requested time.

Get in touch

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