Criminology Courses – Degrees and Career Prospects

Are you fascinated by Sherlock Holmes’ wit and his sharp eye for details? Do you want to pursue an unconventional career line that presents you with the uncommon blend of thrill and fame? Then a career in Criminology is what you can aim for! Not just limited to Policy and Market analyst, the Scope of Sociology, when it comes to Criminology is immense. Not only do such courses offer opportunities to explore the mystery of human behaviour, but also have immense prospects for growth. In this blog, we will learn more about the key aspects of this field and explore a range of Criminology courses available across the world. 

What do Criminology Courses Entail?

Criminology is the scientific study that involves understanding the various aspects like causes, implications, prevention, and laws pertaining to criminal cases. Studying the social and domestic implications of criminal behaviour and crimes in general, the degree in Criminology is aimed at stimulating your deductive reasoning skills which form the core of the profession. Being an interdisciplinary field, there are a wide range of topics that you will study throughout the journey of the course. The key concepts covered in the Criminology courses include:

• Principles of Criminology
• Human Behaviour
• Human Rights
• History and Theories
• Legal System
• Criminological Thought Schools
• Juvenile Justice

Eligibility

Students who wish to pursue their studies in a Criminology course must fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

• Candidates must have an aggregate of 50% marks in their 12th class or equivalent.
• Candidates who have taken a Science or Arts stream for their higher secondary education are preferred.
• Students can also appear for entrance exams through which they can get admission in a UG & PG programme. The exams include AILET 2021, AIBE 2021, LSAT 2021, AP LAWCET 2021, TS LAWCET 2021, etc.

What Skills do you Need for Criminology?

Solving criminal cases with utmost precision needs a skillset. This can be developed either by pursuing Criminology courses or through work experience. Enlisted are the important skills that one must possess in order to progress in this field:

• Understand criminal behavior
• Strong Analytical Reasoning
• Excellent Research Skills
• Familiarity with Crime Techniques
• Legal Knowldege
• High level of Integrity and Ethics
• Strong communication skills coupled with observational skills

Criminology Courses After 12th

If you are looking for the courses after 12th class then the field of Criminology has a lot to offer. The courses in the field of Criminology at the bachelor’s level are offered in the form of a diploma, certificate, and full-time degree courses. Tabulated below are some of the popular Criminology courses:

Course Title	University	Duration
Diploma of Criminology	Bond University	1 year
Specialist Certificate in Criminology [Forensic Disability]	The University of Melbourne	1 year
BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice	University of Maryland	3 years
BA in Criminology	University of Florida	3 years
BA in Criminal Justice	George Washington University	3 years
BSc Criminology	University of Surrey	3 years/4 years with training
BA Criminology	University of Sheffield	3 years
BA Criminal Justice	The University of Winnipeg	3 years
BA Criminology	Ryerson University	4 years
Bachelor of Criminology(Hons)	Flinders University	4 years
Bachelor of Social Science(Criminology and Criminal Justice)	Western Sydney University	3 years

Masters in Criminology Courses

Masters degree programs in this field are more specialized and intensive in nature. Spanning over 2 years, the postgraduate Criminology courses are aimed at giving you an in-depth knowledge of the subject while focusing on electives. Below is the list of some of the postgraduate courses offered by various universities across the globe: 

Course Title	University	Location	Duration
Master of Forensic Science	University of Technology	Australia	1.5-3 Years
Master of Science in Criminology	University of Pennsylvania	US	1 Year
Masters in Criminology & Criminal Justice	University of Maryland, College Park	US	1 Year
M.Sc Global Criminology	Birbeck University	UK	1 Year
M.Sc Criminology with Forensic Psychology	Middlesex University	UK	1 Year
Master of Criminology	Macquarie University	Australia	1 Year
Master of International Criminology	Western Sydney University	Australia	2 Years
M.A Criminology	Saint Mary’s University	Canada	2 Years
M.A Criminology	University of Ontario Institute of Technology	Canada	2 Years
M.A Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy	University of Guelph	Canada	2 years
M.A Criminology	University College Cork	Ireland	1 year
M.A Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice	Maynooth University	Ireland	1 year

Subjects in Criminology Courses

Based on the education level and the specialisation you choose, you will study a plethora of subjects in this field. Here are the major subjects in Criminology courses which are taught in various programs across the world.

• Laws of Crime and Minor Acts
• Police Administration
• Forensic Medicine
• Criminal Psychology
• Cyber Crime
• Penology
• Forensic Science
• Police Administration and Procedural Law
• Laws and Jurisdictions
• Research Methodologies

Note: This is for an indicative purpose. The syllabus and subjects can vary from one university to another.

Where can you Study Criminology Courses in India?

If you are wondering “How can I study criminology in India?” then you must know that there are scores of universities and colleges that offer a diverse range of specialization courses in India. Given below are the name of some universities which offer Criminology courses right from a diploma to doctoral level:

• LNJN National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science
• Punjab University
• Tata Institute of Social Science [TISS]
• University of Jammu
• Mangalore University
• IGNOU
• Mansarovar Global University
• University of Pune

Criminology Courses Online

There are several ways to get online criminology course certificates. However, it is preferred that you pursue a full-time course if you wish to have a full-fledged career in criminology as it can enhance your thinking, build on your skills, and also give your real-life training. Online courses for criminology are suitable to gain extra knowledge in the subject or if a person wishes to explore the subject. The following are the criminology courses you can find online.

Course Name	Institute/Website
Advanced Certification in Forensic Sciences and Criminology	International Forensic Science Institute
Advanced Certification in Cyber Forensics, Cyber Crimes, Cyber Security & Cyber Law Integrated	Institute of Education Technology, Bhagwati Educational Trust
The Psychology of Criminal Justice	EdX
Introduction to International Criminal Law	Coursera
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination	Coursera
IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization	Coursera

Specialization Programs

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Since the Criminology courses fall under the subset of Sociology, there is a multitude of specialization courses at both bachelors and at the masters level. Some of which have been listed below: 

• Criminal Justice
• Criminal Law
• Penology
• Cyber Crime
• Global Criminology
• Forensic Criminology
• Criminalistics
• Feminist Criminology
• Biocriminology

Career Prospects

Criminology courses whether pursued at bachelor’s or at masters level offer a promising career with an array of opportunities. Mostly, criminologists work at advocacy and consulting firms, law enforcement agencies, private investigation firms, universities, etc. Some of the work profiles available after obtaining a degree in Criminology includes: 

• Detective
• Police Officer
• Crime Scene Analyst
• Prison Officer
• Probation Officer
• Criminal Intelligence Analyst
• Community Development Worker
• Drug Policy Adviser

FAQs

Hopefully, with this blog, you are now aware of various Criminology courses and career opportunities offered after the degree. A career in Criminology lets you explore the mysteries behind the crimes. By advancing your deductive reasoning skills, the career encourages you to unleash your investigative genius. If you are planning to kick-start your career in this field but are not sure about how to get started with it then the experts at Leverage Edu will assist you in choosing the university using our revolutionary AI Course Finder and help curate a list of options suitable for you.