Criminology Applied Diploma
Qualification: Applied Diploma in Criminology WJEC Level 3
During Year 1 you will study for the Certificate, for Year 2 you will progress to the Diploma
Exam Board: WJEC; Specification
Course Entry Requirements: No specific course entry requirements.
Please make sure that you have understood the overall entry requirements to study at BHASVIC. These are available here and outline the GCSE grades you need to take up one of the Study Programmes at the college.
Length and size of qualification: 2 year single course
Timetable hours: 4.5 hours per week
Assessment method: A combination of internal and external exams
BHASVIC Department: Psychology
What will I study?
There are four areas to study: Unit 1 (year 1) Changing awareness of crime: At the end of this unit, you will have developed skills to differentiate between myth and reality when it comes to crime and to recognise that common representations may be misleading and inaccurate; the importance of changing public perceptions of crime; the skills to plan a campaign for change in relation to crime; for example to raise awareness, change attitudes or change reporting behaviour. Unit 2 (year 1) Criminological theories: At the end of this unit you will have developed the skills to evaluate some criminological theories (why do people commit crimes?) and know there are debates within the different theories. You will understand how changes in criminological theory have influenced policy. You will also have gained the skills to apply the theories to a specific crime or criminal in order to understand both the behaviour and the theory. Unit 3 (year 2) Crime Scene to Court Room: At the end of this unit you will have developed the skills to analyse evidence, review criminal cases and evaluate the evidence in the cases to determine whether the verdict is safe and just. Unit 4 (year 2) Crime and Punishment: At the end of this unit, you will consider such questions such as "Why do most of us tend to obey the law even when to do so is against our own interests?", "What social institutions have we developed to ensure that people do obey laws?", "What happens to those who violate our legal system?", "Why do we punish people?", "How do we punish people?" What organisations do we have in our society to control criminality or those who will not abide by the social rules that most of us follow?", "We spend a great deal of taxpayers' money on social control, so how effective are these organisations in dealing with criminality?"
Is this course right for me?
This level 3 Diploma is offered to students who have a keen interest in crime. You need to be non-judgemental, be very interested in people, society and crime, be able to work under pressure, look to make contacts outside of college, be innovative and really motivated. It is an intense two year course for 4.5 hours per week. There will be regular homework and assignments, you have to be happy to make presentations to the class and work in groups. The course is taught in the same way as A levels are taught, with the same expectations on students to achieve high standards in their work. Students may find some of the content disturbing given the nature of crime, although all topics are handled sensitively.
Where next?
UCAS points: An A* grade would receive 56 UCAS points. The main purpose of the WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is to use the qualification to support access to higher education degree courses, and would be especially useful if applying for; BSc Criminology, BA Criminology, BA Criminology and Criminal Justice, BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology, LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology, BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology, BA (Hons) Criminology, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology, BSc Criminology with Law. 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.
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