criminology degree

i told my mum i want to do a criminology degree and she told her sister who said criminology is one of the most useless degrees and is unlikely to get you a career afterwards so i researched it and found it was kind of. i was hoping to be a probation officer or something along those lines eg helping with offenders or in a prison etc
will criminology be useless for this? if it is what other degrees can i do that will help me?
im in year 12 studying psychology and religious studies. so criminology has always interested me, it kinda links to both but if i cant get a future career idk :/

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 1

Moose-er

12

Original post by Cheesecake101

im in year 12 studying psychology and religious studies. so criminology has always interested me, it kinda links to both but if i cant get a future career idk :/

Just out of interest what's your third subject ?

Reply 2

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Moose-er

Just out of interest what's your third subject ?

btec ict :/

Reply 3

Luwei

18

If you study criminology you can become a police officer/detective.

Reply 4

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Luwei

If you study criminology you can become a police officer/detective.

i read that you dont even need a degree to become a police officer and they’re not hiring a lot and havent been for years something to do with the government idk

Reply 5

Luwei

18

Work in anti-corruption; nobody ever wants to do that but it actually is quite cool

Reply 6

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Luwei

Work in anti-corruption; nobody ever wants to do that but it actually is quite cool

what is it about? i tried to search it but couldnt find anything useful

Reply 7

Luwei

18

Basically catching bent coppers.

Reply 8

Dannieo

7

I think generally you don't need a degree to be a prison officer but criminology would be good to give you some background.
I did psychology and I've got a new job lined up to be a probation services officer. My degree didn't help as such - I have to go back to uni as part of the course to get the specified modules but I know with a criminology background you can get it much quicker. If you look up PQIP - train to be a probation officer you'll be able to read up on it.

Reply 9

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Dannieo

I think generally you don't need a degree to be a prison officer but criminology would be good to give you some background.
I did psychology and I've got a new job lined up to be a probation services officer. My degree didn't help as such - I have to go back to uni as part of the course to get the specified modules but I know with a criminology background you can get it much quicker. If you look up PQIP - train to be a probation officer you'll be able to read up on it.

wow that is so helpful thank you so so much. i just searched it and it says i need a level qualification so that means i should do a criminology foundation degree and that would be enough?

Reply 10

Dannieo

7

You need a level 5 qualification, if you look on the FAQs it says what that includes. Maybe get in touch with them if you’re not sure. I’d probably say do a undergraduate degree anyway? The process is a long one so it can take quite a while to get into it, best to keep your options open :smile:

Reply 11

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Dannieo

You need a level 5 qualification, if you look on the FAQs it says what that includes. Maybe get in touch with them if you’re not sure. I’d probably say do a undergraduate degree anyway? The process is a long one so it can take quite a while to get into it, best to keep your options open :smile:

yeah i clicked on the level 5 qualification and it says foundation degree is one of them. i really dont know the differences between all the different types pf degrees.something i’d have to research

Reply 12

Dannieo

7

Original post by Cheesecake101

yeah i clicked on the level 5 qualification and it says foundation degree is one of them. i really dont know the differences between all the different types pf degrees.something i’d have to research

It's good to think about it in advance though. I just did a psychology degree without really thinking what I wanted out of it. The modules I have a choice in, I always chose the crime modules but maybe looking back I'd have done criminology or something

Reply 13

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Dannieo

It's good to think about it in advance though. I just did a psychology degree without really thinking what I wanted out of it. The modules I have a choice in, I always chose the crime modules but maybe looking back I'd have done criminology or something

i never really knew what i wanted to do i just picked 3 subjects that i did the best at at gcses for a levels. even though i dont like my subjects (i only like ict tbh). but i feel like religious studies and psychology kind of links together with criminology so ig thats what i was aiming towards even though everyone is saying a degree in it it worthless :/

Reply 14

Quick-use

20

Original post by Luwei

If you study criminology you can become a police officer/detective.

You can become all those things without a degree in Criminology. Heck, I don't think you even need a degree for that. My brother definitely didn't and he's a police officer.

Original post by Cheesecake101

i was hoping to be a probation officer or something along those lines eg helping with offenders or in a prison etc
will criminology be useless for this? if it is what other degrees can i do that will help me?

You don't need Criminology for this job. You actually don't need Criminology for any specific job... You could maybe consider doing Law and take some modules in Criminology? Or, Law with/and Human Rights etc? What about International Relations? Rather different but has a great number of topics on issues related to crime and the like.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 15

renaamz

17

Original post by Quick-use

You don't need Criminology for this job. You actually don't need Criminology for any specific job... You could maybe consider doing Law and take some modules in Criminology? Or, Law with/and Human Rights etc? What about International Relations? Rather different but has a great number of topics on issues related to crime and the like.

I think you need to have a 2:2 in an undergraduate degree to become a detective

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 16

renaamz

17

Any degree comes with transferable skills, many universities offer a placement year working in a prison for example. Having a degree as well as experience will put you above other candidates, I would suggest looking at the course content and seeing if it is actually something you would enjoy, it opens many doors if you go on to do further studies too.

However, if you feel you will not enjoy it and that you will go into something that will not need a degree then it's okay not to go to university.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 17

Quick-use

20

Original post by renaamz

you need a degree of 2:2 or above to become a detective

I imagine most detective training programs will grant you a degree at completion.

Reply 18

username5281360

OP

16

Original post by Quick-use

You don't need Criminology for this job. You actually don't need Criminology for any specific job... You could maybe consider doing Law and take some modules in Criminology? Or, Law with/and Human Rights etc? What about International Relations? Rather different but has a great number of topics on issues related to crime and the like.

i feel like law is a little competitive and i dont think its really for me :/ as in i wont find interest in it. actually i might consider doing human rights with criminology or international relations with criminology. will that be a good idea? also if i apply for two degrees together do i need to include both in one personal statement? sorry i’m a little clueless about going university :/ but thanks for that (: