BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice and Social Policy in Bangor United Kingdom | Bangor University

About This Course

Social Policy can be pursued as a joint honors program alongside Criminology and Criminal Justice (50% each). This interdisciplinary social sciences program offers comprehensive knowledge in both Criminology and Criminal Justice as well as Social Policy. The curriculum explores crime theories, offender and victim dynamics, while analyzing diverse approaches to crime response and the functioning of the justice system. By examining issues like healthcare disparities, economic hardship, social exclusion, and discrimination, students investigate the roots of societal challenges and potential remedies.

Social Policy encompasses the broad study of welfare systems, analyzing different models of welfare provision, funding, and regulation across nations. Criminology focuses on crime-related theories and evidence concerning offenders and victims, while Criminal Justice examines responses to crime - from community initiatives to formal legal interventions - and evaluates the entire justice process from law enforcement to incarceration.

This program is also available as a Welsh-medium joint honors course combining Social Policy with Sociology (BA Sociology and Social Policy).


The program equips students with fundamental knowledge about policy development and crime management. Integrating both disciplines enables students to comprehend major challenges in addressing criminal behavior and understanding social policies that shape communities.

The criminology component provides practical understanding of justice system operations while exploring sociocultural influences on criminal behavior. Students examine broad crime patterns while specializing in complex behavioral areas like substance misuse, violent crime, and organized criminal networks.

Social Policy investigates societal structures that enhance welfare, analyzing poverty and inequality causes globally and locally. The program fosters self-awareness and societal understanding, offering optional work placements and international study opportunities.

Career Prospects

Graduates can pursue diverse careers in justice sectors (policing, corrections, probation, youth justice) or policy fields (public administration, healthcare, education, nonprofit work). The degree develops transferable analytical skills valued across industries, cultivating a "sociological imagination" - the ability to understand diverse social perspectives. Many graduates continue their studies through our postgraduate programs.