Ever wondered why different people commit crimes? Or what happens during a criminal investigation? Who decides which laws to make and how does the media influence our perception of crime? Are you interested in a career in the police force, legal professions, or forensic sciences? Maybe you want to know more about the new exciting subject of Criminology. If any of these apply, then maybe Criminology is the course for you. Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals and combines elements of psychology, law, and sociology. WHAT WILL I STUDY & LEARN? Unit 1 – Changing Awareness of Crime Knowing about the wide range of different crimes and the reasons people have for not reporting such crimes will provide an understanding of the complexity of behaviors and social implications of crimes and criminality. You will also practice creating a crime-focused media campaign of your own. Unit 2 – Criminological Theories How do we decide what behavior is criminal? How do we explain why people commit crimes? Criminologists have produced theoretical explanations of why people commit crimes and in this unit, you will explore them and assess which are the most useful. Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Courtroom In this unit you will discover the investigative techniques available to investigators to help identify the culprit in a crime. You will examine the many stages of the criminal trial process and learn about the roles of the people involved. You will develop a clear insight into what happens from when a crime is detected to a guilty or non-guilty verdict is delivered. Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment For this unit you will explore how and why societies punish people. You will learn about the criminal justice system in England and Wales and how it operates to achieve social control.