‘Criminology aims to inspire all learners to be inquisitive, confident and analytical learners who can embrace challenges’

Subjects Offered: 

WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology

Criminology: the scientific study of crime and criminals.

An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology.

WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology is a qualification with elements of psychology, law and sociology
that complements studies in humanities. This is an Applied General qualification. This means it is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university.
It has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning for 16-19 year-old learners through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.

This qualification looks at the types of crime that take place within our society.

1. How do we decide which behaviour is criminal?
2. How do we explain why some people commit crime and how can we use different theories of criminality to explain this behaviour?

You will study real life cases to gain an understanding of the criminal justice system from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom and look at how social control is achieved within our society.

Year 12
Unit 1 – Changing awareness of crime.
Controlled Assessment – 8 Hours

● Understanding different types of crime
● Understanding how crime reporting affects people’s perception of criminality
● Understanding of how campaigns are used to elicit change
● Planning a campaign for change

Unit 2 – Criminological Theories.
 1 Exam – 1 Hour 30 minutes

● Understanding the difference between crime and deviance
● Understanding the theories of criminality (Biological, sociological and psychological)
● Were people born to commit crimes?
● Understanding the causes of different types of crime
● Understanding causes of policy change

Year 13
Unit 3 – Crime Scene to Court Room.
Controlled Assessment – 8 Hours

● Discover some of the techniques used by the police and follow the criminal justice process.
● Learn about the rules of evidence and the role of juries and magistrates.
● Focus on validity of information, including court cases, verdicts, and sentencing.
● Look at miscarriages of justice by exploring real-life situations.

Unit 4 – Crime and Punishment
Exam -1 Hour and 30 Minutes

● Focus on agencies in the criminal justice system such as the police, Crown Prosecution Service, probation and
prisons.
● Discover the way laws are made as well as studying the methods used by society to bring about social control.