Criminology

Our specialities and aims

Our Criminology degree programme at LJMU takes our students on a thought-provoking and engaging critical exploration of the institutions which make up the criminal justice system. The degree explores the impacts of crime and other socially harmful activities on communities and individuals, as well as scrutinising the effectiveness of responses to the problem of ‘crime’. In broad terms, this means viewing criminal justice as more than just a set of discrete institutions, divorced from social divisions and power relations that operate in the wider society.

Our Criminology programme moves beyond typical definitions of what constitutes ‘criminal activity’. It critically evaluates claims to knowledge in this area - whether based on data, concepts or theoretical argument. Throughout our courses students will be encouraged to think about what is truly meant by the term ‘criminal’ and associated concepts including punishment and justice.

View our Criminology courses.