Criminology Level 3 Applied Diploma
Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals, including the motivations and consequences of crime and its perpetrators, as well as preventative measures.
The Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system. The qualification will provide students with an introduction to criminal justice and to give a context for humanities learning.
Entry Requirements
This qualification does not require any prior knowledge of Criminology.
The general Thornleigh Sixth Form entry criteria will be applied.
What will I Study?
Unit 1 will enable students to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported.
Unit 2 will allow students to gain an understanding of why people commit crime, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1.
Unit 3 will provide an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified to the verdict. Students will develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases.
In Unit 4, students will apply their understanding of the awareness of criminality, criminological theories and the process of bringing an accused to court in order to evaluate the effectiveness of social control to deliver criminal justice policy.
Which exam board is used and how will I be assessed?
The exam board is WJEC.
Click here to access the exam board webpage for this specification.
The diploma is assessed using a combination of two internal and two external assessments.
Unit 1 (25%): Internal controlled assessment (Year 12 – January)
Unit 2 (25%): 90-minute external exam (Year 12 – June)
Unit 3 (25%): Internal controlled assessment (Year 13 – January)
Unit 4 (25%): 90-minute external exam (Year 13 – June)
The external exams comprise of a number of short questions, essay questions and scenarios to which you are required to apply your knowledge.
Where could this subject take me?
An understanding of Criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector and the qualification allows students 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, the Police Service or the National Offender Management Service.
Criminology also has great links to Sociology and Psychology and one of the main purposes of the diploma is to use the qualification to support access to higher education degree courses, such as: Criminology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Criminology and Psychology, Law with Criminology, Criminology and Sociology, Criminology, Psychology and Sociology, Criminology with Law.
How can I get ahead in this subject
Popular Criminology books include:
The Anatomy of Violence by Adrian Raine
The Art of Investigation by Bruce Sackman
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Criminal Profiling by Brent E. Turvey
Interesting websites include:
Places to visit include:
The local Crown Court
Shrewsbury Prison
Greater Manchester police Museum
Good podcasts include:
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