Criminology Applied Diploma 

Qualifications 

Exam board: WJEC 

Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology 

Entry Requirements 

To study Criminology at Coombe Dean, you will be required to have an interest in the workings of the British criminal justice system. You will also need to be interested in current affairs and political developments.

It is recommended that students have a GCSE Grade 4-5 in English Language.

Skills required 

Budding criminologists will enjoy learning about different types of crime and will be able to assess the validity of criminal investigations and court decisions. They will have a critical mind and will enjoy pouring over case notes before they evaluate the effectiveness of methods used to identify crimes and apprehend criminals. They will be self-motivated as a large proportion of the course requires detailed course notes and independent work to prepare for the controlled assessments. 

About the course 

Criminology is a two-year course made up of 2 external examinations and 2 internal controlled assessments. 

Year 12 until Winter break: ​

Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime, internal controlled assessment sat in January. ​

​Year 12 until Spring break:​

Unit 2: Criminological Theories, examined assessment in June of Year 12.

Year 13 until Winter break: ​

Unit 3: Crime scene to courtroom, internal controlled assessment sat in December. ​

​Year 13 until Spring break:​

Unit 4: Crime and Punishment, examined assessment in June of Year 13. ​

The course considers a range of crimes and the impact they may have on the individual and society as a whole. Students will be expected to create a campaign to raise awareness of hidden crimes and will design materials to help with this. They will consider the role of the media in the presentation of crime and how this may impact the public perception of crime. They will also study reasons for crime which include biological, sociological and psychological explanations. Students will also spend time considering criminal investigations from the committing of the crime, through to the court case and sentencing. They will evaluate the effectiveness of all aspects of the investigation and the personnel involved such as the police, forensic scientists and the crown prosecution service.  

Student testimony 

“Criminology is such an interesting and diverse subject. Getting to study something that you haven't learnt about before is exciting and fun. It takes a deep dive into not just how people commit crime but also touches on why people commit crimes. This allows you to gain a deeper understanding of how society works and helps lays the foundation for a career in a mixed range of jobs, ranging from roles within the police all the way to being high profile lawyer. Criminology is for anyone with even a vague interest in society, crime, or psychology. Criminology is great as it is a nice blend of the other 2 social sciences whilst also coming into its own, to create an engaging workload which is spread out evenly over the 2 years you will study it. I couldn't recommend criminology enough to anyone!”

-Year 13 student

Career paths 

Criminology can lead to a variety of careers within the criminal justice system, such as the police, probation, lawyers and barristers and prison staff. It can also lead to a degree in criminology/criminal justice/sociology and psychology.  

Course outline/assessment 

Unit 1: The Changing Awareness of Crime  

Unit 2: Criminological Theories 

Unit 3: From Crime Scene to Courtroom 

Unit 4: Crime and Punishment 

Internal controlled assessment sat in January

Examined assessment in June of Year 12

Internal controlled assessment sat in December

Examined assessment in June of Year 13