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Criminology at Kent examines the major political issues surrounding crime and explores the wider sociology and social policy context. Taught by staff with internationally recognised expertise in criminology and cultual studies. We work regularly with criminal justice agencies, and people from these agencies occasionally lecture on the course.
Overview
Cultural Studies at Kent is an innovative subject with distinctive perspectives on all forms of present day culture. You will explore significant connections between popular culture, the arts and everyday life by crossing traditional social sciences/humanities boundaries.
Combining these subjects gives a thorough, yet broad understanding of the surrounding issues, concepts and theories.
A term abroad
Students undertaking criminology joint degrees have the opportunity of spending the second term of their third year at San Diego State University in California as part of an international exchange programme. While at San Diego State, University of Kent criminology exchange students can select from a number of module options delivered by the well-respected School of Public Affairs, which offers courses in fields such as criminal justice and criminology, public affairs and administration, and urban and transborder studies.
Independent rankings
Cultural Studies programmes offer the best opportunity to combine modules right across the social science and humanities faculties.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, you may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Most modules involve a weekly lecture and small group seminar, each lasting an hour; you can always consult the lecturers for individual advice outside of formal teaching. Most modules are assessed by coursework (50%) and written examinations (50%). Some modules take the form of an extended dissertation. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks count towards your final degree result. Additionally, a wide range of study skills sessions are available to all students throughout each year of study.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- produce graduates with analytical and knowledge-based skills relevant to employment in the professions, public service and the private sector
- provide a broad knowledge and understanding of key concepts, debates and theoretical approaches in criminology and cultural studies, and the relationship between criminology and cultural studies, particularly the development in recent years of the overlap area of cultural criminology
- develop new areas of teaching in response to needs of the community
- promote an understanding of contemporary debates on cultural issues and the cultural aspects of political, economic and social issues
- provide an understanding of the historical processes that have shaped the distinctive peculiarities of modern western culture as it has emerged over the last two centuries, and the underlying patterns of meaning that can link what can otherwise seem to be very disparate phenomena
- understand the emergence of social problems (including crime) and the responses of welfare and criminal justice institutions, including analysis of the theoretical, political and economic underpinnings of these responses
- help students to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry and to identify and understand different ideological positions
- develop problem-solving skills and an understanding of the nature and appropriate use of research methods used in social science research
- teach students key writing, research and communications skills
- give students the skills and abilities to enable them to become informed citizens, capable of participating in the policy process and equipped for a dynamic labour market.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the principal concepts and theoretical approaches in criminology and cultural studies
- the ways in which images and popular stereotypes of crime are constructed and represented
- the principles that underlie criminal justice policy, how they have changed over time and how they relate to the workings of particular agencies of welfare and crime control
- contemporary issues and debates in specific areas of criminology and cultural studies, particularly where these overlap
- the main sources of data about crime and social welfare and a grasp of the research methods used to collect and analyse data
- distinctive patterns of modern culture and the historical development and consequences of the split between 'elite' and 'popular' culture
- interdisciplinary approaches to issues in criminology and cultural studies and the ability to use ideas from other sources.
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- problem-solving and the ability to seek solutions to crime criminal behaviour and other social problems and individual needs
- research, including the ability to identify appropriate research questions in criminology and cultural studies and to collect and interpret data to answer such questions
- evaluation and analysis, to assess the outcomes of criminal justice, crime prevention and social policy intervention on individuals and communities
- sensitivity to the values and interests of others and to the dimensions of cultural difference
- interpretation, to analyse a range of cultural material from image to text, and understand wider contexts and implications.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- the identification and use of theories and concepts in criminology to analyse issues of crime and criminal justice
- the identification, use and application of cultural theories and concepts to the analysis of cultural processes and products in everyday life
- seeking out and use of statistical data relevant to issues of crime and criminal justice
- knowing how to use methods of cultural analysis in examining the content and presentation of different media and art forms
- understanding the nature and appropriate use, including the ethical implications, of diverse social research strategies and methods
- distinguishing between technical, normative, moral and political questions.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- studying and learning independently, using library and internet sources
- developing an appetite for learning and being reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
- making short presentations to fellow students and staff
- communicating ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
- preparing essays and referencing the material quoted according to conventions in social policy
- using IT to wordprocess, conduct online searches, communicate by email and access data sources
- time management by delivering academic work on time and to the required standard
- working with others: developing interpersonal and teamworking skills to enable you to work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results.
Careers
Criminology
Kent has strong links with local probation and youth justice agencies, police and social services, which means that you get the opportunity to meet leading practitioners in the field at guest lectures and seminars. Through your studies, you gain key skills including getting to grips with challenging ideas, working independently and in a team, and expressing your ideas to others.
Recently, our graduates have gone into areas such as police forces, local authorities, criminal justice services, youth services, social services and the Crown Court, more general areas such as banks and financial services, or on to further study.
Cultural Studies
Cultural Studies provides a useful background for a wide range of careers. The skills you acquire, such as improved communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team and independently, the ability to analyse complex ideas and the confidence to offer your own innovative solutions, are all considered essential attributes by graduate employers. The programmes are especially good preparation for professional or postgraduate training in the media and cultural industries.
Our graduates take up careers in advertising and design, journalism, broadcasting, teaching, arts administration, publishing, public relations, research, information services, leisure industry management, tourism and heritage, personnel, local government, and the organisation of social and community projects.
For more information on the services Kent provides you to improve your career prospects visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
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A level | ABB including B in either Film, English Literature, Politics, Media, Geography or Philosophy (where taken) |
Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
As a guide only, the 2014/15 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
UK/EU | Overseas | |
---|---|---|
Full-time | ||
Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Exceptions may apply. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to support eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2014 financial support package includes a £6,500 cash bursary. Find out more about the support package, eligibility and terms and conditions on our fees and funding pages.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created a new scholarship, The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our funding pages.