Applied Criminology Level 3 Certificate
Course level: 3
Course code: Q3093
07/09/2026
Is this course right for me?
If you are interested in working in law, policing, teaching, counselling, mental health nursing, social work, the probation service or Crown Prosecution Service, a criminology qualification will enable you to develop skills and knowledge that will be vital for your future career.
You will learn about crime and the criminal justice system, how crimes are investigated – from crime scene to courtroom – and how miscarriages of justice occur.
You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to examine information, and review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases, as well as study crime and punishment and develop skills to evaluate the effectiveness of social control in delivering policy in practice.
Course details
Entry Requirements:
For external applicants:
To access this course, you are required to:
- Five or more GCSEs at Grade 5 or above including English Language and Maths
- Demonstrate how you have previously had good attendance and punctuality and a good attitude to learning
For internal progression learners (already studying with us):
Learners must be able to demonstrate that they:
- Have successfully completed a relevant course that naturally progresses onto this programme, achieving a good standard
- Have improved their English and maths grades since enrolment
- Have maintained good attendance and punctuality
- Show a consistently positive attitude to learning
What will I learn?
During the course you will study the following modules:
- Changing awareness of crime
- Criminological theories
- Crime scene to courtroom
- Crime and punishment
What skills will I gain?
By studying this course you will gain practical skills, knowledge and understanding of:
- How crime reporting affects the public perception of criminality
- How campaigns are used to elicit change
- How to plan for campaigns for change relating to crime
- Social constructions of criminality
- Theories of criminality
- Causes of criminality
- Causes of policy change
- Process of criminal investigations
- Process for prosecution of suspects
- How to review criminal cases
- Criminal justice system in England and Wales
- Role of punishment in a criminal justice system
- Measures used in social control
How will I be assessed?
Throughout the course you will be assessed through a combination of internal and external assessment:
- Changing awareness of crime – internally assessed assignment work (worth 25% of overall grade)
- Criminological theories – externally assessed through examination (worth 25% of overall grade)
- Crime scene to courtroom – internally assessed through assignment work (worth 25% of overall grade)
- Crime and punishment – externally assessed through examination (worth 25% of overall grade)
What can I do next?
Successful completion of the course will enable you to progress to higher level qualifications and related degrees in a range of subjects including:
- Criminology
- Sociology,
- Psychology
- Law,
- Criminal Justice
- Policing
Future careers
Undecided on your future?
Our Future Finder tool can help you explore options and match them to our courses. City of Wolverhampton College partners with employers and leading universities, ensuring our qualifications are relevant and designed to help you succeed.
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