<h2>Criminology</h2><p>Exam Board: WJEC</p><p>Applied Certificate in Criminology 1 year course January to January.</p>

<p>The course covers elements of psychology, sociology, and law. An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology. This is an Applied General qualification.&nbsp; This means it is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university.&nbsp; It has been designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system. The first mandatory unit will enable the learner to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported. The second mandatory unit will allow learners to gain an understanding of why people commit crime, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1.</p><h3>Assessment</h3><p>The WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Criminology is assessed using a combination of internal and external assessment.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Unit 2</strong></p>

<p>How do we decide what behaviour is criminal? What is the difference between criminal behaviour and deviance? How do we explain why people commit crime?&nbsp; What makes someone a serial killer, or abusive to their own families?&nbsp; Criminologists have produced theoretical explanations of why people commit crime, but which is the most useful?&nbsp; Are these theories relevant to all types of crime?&nbsp; What can we learn from the strengths and weaknesses of each?&nbsp; How can these theories be applied to real life scenarios and real-life crimes?</p>

<p>External assessment:</p>

<ul>
 <li>90-minute examination total of 75 marks</li>
 <li>three questions on each paper - short and extended answer questions, based on stimulus material and applied contexts</li>
 <li>each question will have an applied problem-solving scenario</li>
 <li>available in June of each year</li>
 <li>graded:&nbsp; on a scale of A to E</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Unit 1</strong></p>

<p>Not all types of crime are alike. What different types of crime take place in our society?&nbsp; What kinds of crime exist about which we know very little, or which are simply not reported to the police and the media?&nbsp; How do we explain people&#39;s reluctance to come forward about crimes of which they have been the victim?&nbsp; Some crimes which seem inoffensive, such as counterfeiting of designer goods, have been linked to the funding of more serious crime such as terrorism and people trafficking; so why do people turn a &lsquo;blind eye&rsquo; to these &#39;mild&#39; crimes?&nbsp; What methods have governments and other agencies used to raise social awareness of these crimes?</p>

<p>Internal assessment:</p>

<ul>
 <li>Units are assessed through summative controlled assessment (available electronically).</li>
 <li>Controlled assessments are for 9 hours &ndash; partial access to the internet is allowed</li>
 <li>Students will work to a brief given on the day &ndash; they may take in notes from class.</li>
</ul><h3>Requirements</h3><p>School Entry Requirements and a grade&nbsp;5 or above in English Language.</p><h3>Where can it lead?</h3><p>Criminology students have critical thinking, analytical and communications skills, which are vital for a range of jobs. One of the main strengths of studying Criminology is it incorporates so many other humanities subjects. An understanding of criminology is relevant to many job roles within the criminal justice sector, social and probation work and sociology and psychology.</p>

<p>Criminology students are well prepared for many degree courses. The most common are:</p>

<ul>
 <li>Law / Criminal justice&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Psychology&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Social Studies / Politics&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Social work</li>
</ul>

<p>Apprenticeships and employment in:</p>

<ul>
 <li>Policing</li>
 <li>Prison service</li>
 <li>Probation service</li>
 <li>Social work</li>
</ul>