Welcoming students wishing to study BA(Hons) Criminology or BA(Hons) Criminology with Cybercrime, Arden University has opened a new School of Criminal Justice.
Having formally opened this November, the new school will welcome its first cohort of students next year in April 2023.
Adopting a ‘digital-first’ focus, the Criminal Justice school’s courses are looking to meet the demands of a criminal justice system which is slowly becoming more of a technological-driven industry.
Students will also benefit from strong industry links and experience educational field trips to supplement their modules in order to assess how theory translates into real life and, therefore, their future job roles and subsequent careers.
'With Criminology being one of the fastest growing areas of study in social sciences, we wanted to offer a straight degree that is inclusive and employability-focussed, which will equip students for working within the criminal justice system correlated professions.’ said Dr Emma Winlow, who has joined Arden as Head of the School of Criminal Justice.
'Most types of crime now tend to have a cyber element to them – terrorist attacks are now live-streamed on the internet, and harassment and stalking have moved from the physical space to online platforms and social media – therefore we think it is vital our students are learning the up-to-date challenges today’s society is facing through a digital-first approach.
‘Our academics are experienced criminologists and sociologists, with many also having significant practitioner experience, in the prison service, probation, and policing and our Criminology course is a great entry degree for those who are interested in the wide variety of jobs within our criminal justice system.’
The new School aims to help fill a skills gap in the industry, with demand for cybersecurity professionals in the UK rising by 58% last year and the shortfall of available personnel has more than tripled.
The BA (Hons) Criminology degree will focus on the cause, patterns, consequences and responses to crime, equipping students with the applied skills for tackling wider social justice issues.
Meanwhile, the BA (Hons) Criminology with Cybercrime degree will focus on the cutting edge of modern crime, exploring contemporary areas such as the Dark Web, cyberstalking, organised crime, digital forensics, and terrorism.
Students will learn about key criminal justice institutions in the UK and globally, alongside key theories and research implications for policy and practice. Students will also develop their research and digital skills by undertaking independent research alongside being equipped to work in the industry.
Encouraging innovative teaching and assessment methods, students will be assessed via their skills developed throughout the years, as opposed to timed exams.
The School will also provide foundation year courses for each of the respective degrees available.
