Back to our subjects

Curriculum Intent

In Criminology, we study why crimes happen and how the law works. You will learn about the reasons people break the law and follow a case from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.

The work is exciting and hands-on. You will look at real-life cases and decide if the justice system is doing a good job. This course helps you get ready for a great career helping society.

Entry requirements: You need five GCSEs at grade 4 or above. This must include English, Maths, and Science.

ks5: criminology

About the Course

The WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology is equal to one A-Level. It also gives you UCAS points to help you get into university.

How you are graded

You will be graded over two years using a mix of coursework and exams:

  • Units 1 and 3: Coursework tasks. You will complete these in class under timed conditions.

  • Units 2 and 4: Written exams.

Your final grade will be a total of the marks from all four units.

Your Future

This qualification is highly valued by universities. It is a great choice if you want to study Law, Psychology, or Sociology. It also prepares you for careers in:

  • The Police

  • Probation Services

  • The Court System

  • Unit 1 – Changing Awareness of Crime

    In this unit, you will look at different types of crime and why many crimes are never reported to the police. you will also explore how the media and the news change what people think about crime.

    • The Goal: You will learn how to plan your own campaign to help change how people see or react to crime.

    • Assessment: One coursework project. You will plan and design a crime campaign in class under timed conditions.

    Unit 2 – Criminological Theories

    Why do people break the law? In this unit, you will look at different theories to find the answer. You will use what you learned in Unit 1 to see how these theories are used to create new laws and rules.

    • The Goal: To understand the “why” behind criminal behavior.

    • Assessment: One written exam.

Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Courtroom

This unit follows a case from the moment a crime is discovered all the way to the final decision in court. You will learn the skills needed to look at evidence and decide if a court’s verdict was actually fair.

  • The Goal: To understand how the justice system works and how cases are won or lost.

  • Assessment: One coursework project. You will be given a case file and must write a report on it in class under timed conditions.

Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment

How does society keep people safe? In this final unit, you will use everything you have learned so far to look at how we punish criminals. You will study different ways of controlling behavior and decide if they actually work in the real world.

  • The Goal: To see if our laws and punishments are effective at stopping crime.

  • Assessment: One written exam.

Entry Requirements

To join this course, you will need five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. This must include a Grade 4 in English.