Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) - Psychology with Criminology

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) - Psychology with Criminology

This Course at a Glance

• Learn about the internal and external influences that impact behaviour
• Explore factors that lead to criminal and deviant activities
• Get qualified to work with criminals and victims of crime
• Study a degree without A Levels
• 100% online learning
• No exams

About Your Diploma

The way we think and why we behave in the ways we do is something that a myriad of professionals from a number of sectors have been trying to understand for years, especially when it comes to deviant and criminal behaviour. By understanding what leads people to live life on the wrong side of the law, we can be better positioned to prevent these events from occurring.

By studying social science, we can spot influential elements and patterns in behaviour in those that commit these acts. When we combine social science with crime and psychology studies, we gain more of a comprehension of how criminal actions and deviant behaviour impacts society.

If you would like to work towards a career dealing with criminals, victims of crime and the related systems that exist around them, the online Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) Psychology and Criminology Pathway will help you on your way.

As an equivalent to three A Levels, it will enable you to study a degree, and with the range of modules covered, it will help you hit the ground running in university level study. You will learn all about the explanations, theories and perceptions of crime and deviance, the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour, the effects of imprisonment, and more.

Once you complete this course and a related degree, you will understand the many reasons people commit crimes, the knock-on effect of criminal and deviant activity and the importance of the rehabilitation process.

Getting Started

learndirect is the leading UK online course provider, helping thousands of students every year achieve their academic and career goals. This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) Psychology and Criminology Pathway, is a Level 3 nationally recognised qualification that is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

As an online course, you have the complete flexibility to tailor your study schedule around your existing commitments. So, no matter if you are looking to change careers and study outside of your current work commitments, or while you care for your children, you can comfortably complete the course that will help you reach your goal.

Once enrolled, you will have access to all the course materials required to complete the Access to Higher Education Diploma. You will also receive an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) outlining the submission deadlines for each of your assignments, to help you stay on track. Outside of these deadlines, you can move through the course at your pace, which is why despite having two years to complete the course, most of our learners are finished in 9 months.

Modules

Unit 1: Studying the Brain and Nervous System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and function of nervous system including key areas of the brain.
• Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons.

Unit 2: Theories of Criminal Justice

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand crime prevention models.
• Understand crime control theories.
• Understand how different political perspectives inform criminal justice theories.

Unit 3: Impact of Criminal Statistics in Criminal Justice

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how different crime statistics are sourced in the UK.
• Understand the reliability of criminal statistics on the understanding of crime.
• Understand factors that cannot be measured within criminal statistics.

Unit 4: The Prison System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the philosophical approaches of punishment and imprisonment.
• Understand prison categories and the relative costs.
• Understand the individual and societal effects of imprisonment.

Unit 5: Criminal Court Procedures, Personnel and Sentencing

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand a range of Criminal Court processes and personnel.
• Understand sentencing in the UK court system.

Unit 6: Biological and Psychological approaches to Stress

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand potential physiological and psychological stress responses.
• Understand research into the link between stress and illness.
• Understand an example of psychological and biological stress reduction strategies.

Unit 7: Introduction to Abnormality and Psychological Disorders

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the challenge of defining and diagnosing mental illness.
• Understand a range of explanations for a chosen psychological disorder.
• Understand the treatment of one psychological disorder.

Unit 8: Models, Research and Application of Cognitive Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand contrasting psychological perspectives and research evidence in one area of cognition.
• Be able to apply psychological research to real life.

Unit 9: Early Foundations of Social Policy

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the historical origins of social policy in the U.K.
• Understand the key influences on social policy in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
• Understand changes in the political order.
• Understand the role of poverty surveys in the development of social policy in the UK.

Unit 10: Foundations of the Welfare State

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand what is meant by the term Welfare State.
• Understand the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society.
• Understand early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society.
• Understand the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address.
• Understand the significance of the Beveridge Report.

Unit 11: Modern Social Policy in Context

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the current issues in social policy today.
• Understand how legislation can affect social policy.
• Be able to analyse social policy in the context of economics.

Unit 12: A Sociological Perspective of the Mass Media

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand power, ownership, and control of the mass media.
• Understand sociological perspectives of role of the mass media.
• Understand the concept of news as a social construct.
• Understand how the media presents stereotypes.

Unit 13: Education in Contemporary Society

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of education in socialisation of pupils.
• Understand the role of education in modern society.
• Understand the impact of labelling and stereotypes in education.
• Understand the meritocratic view of education in contemporary society.

Unit 14: Family Structure and Changes

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand changes in family.
• Understand a range of sociological explanations of the family.

Unit 15: Exploring Theories of Crime and Deviancy

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able explain of crime and deviance from a range of viewpoints.
• Understand the social structural theoretical basis of crime and deviance.
• Understand the media’s influence on perceptions of crime or deviance.

Unit 16: Resilience, Stress and Managing Emotions

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand resilience and mental wellbeing including threats and strategies.
• Understand the management of emotions and feelings and the impact of stress.

Unit 17: Exploring an Introduction to Psychological Research and Approaches

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand scientific research methods in the field of psychology.
• Understand different psychological approaches to explaining behaviour.
• Understand ethical issues connected with psychological research.

Unit 18: Planning and Writing an Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to select and assess appropriate source information in response to a task.
• Be able to reference sources used in a recognised style.
• Understand different reading strategies.
• Be able to take effective notes.
• Be able to plan, draft and produce a written assignment.

Unit 19: Writing and Studying Academic Texts

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write academically and with relevance.
• Be able to interpret and express ideas in a piece of academic work.
• Be able to analyse and summarise text, and appreciate the problems caused by plagiarism.

Entry Requirements

To study an Access to HE Diploma you must be resident in the UK and have a UK postcode.

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted. In many cases, to get started at university you will need: - A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade - A face-to-face interview at the university - Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university - Course-related work placements or work experience - GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.) It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

Access to HE Diplomas are designed to support students to progress to university who have substantial experience of life outside of formal education which they have gained since completing compulsory schooling.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, case study analysis, academic poster, timed test, journal article, experiment, portfolio, presentation (video and audio recording), academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Your work will be assessed through your end of unit assignments. These will provide you with the opportunity to check up on your knowledge and advance. After each assignment, your tutor will offer feedback to help you not only progress further but also improve your skills. This Access to Higher Education Diploma is a Level 3 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulated qualification.

To successfully achieve your qualification, you will need a total of 60 credits. Of these, 45 will come from graded units of academic content, while the following 15 will be drawn from ungraded units concerning study skills.

Skills & Education Group Access

On successful completion of the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) – Psychology with Criminology, (QAA ref = 40014721), you will receive a Skills & Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3. As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

With this Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) Psychology and Criminology Pathway, under your belt, and a related degree, you will be able to pursue professional opportunities in a number of important areas.

Studying these two different yet connected subjects will enable you to secure jobs related to criminal activity, psychology, the justice system, and certain ones in-between. You could work in the police force, victim and offender support, academic research, the prison service and other fascinating areas.

Some of the jobs you could secure include:

• Counter Fraud Intelligence Analyst
• Defence and Security Analyst
• Investigative Data Analyst
• Offender Case Administrator
• Police Officer
• Probation Officer
• Youth Offending Support Officer

Further Qualifications and Prospects

As the mind and behaviours are incredibly complex and varied, there are numerous ways you can continue to develop your knowledge. Mental health issues and enduring disorders are a large influencers of human behaviour. By gaining a detailed understanding of these conditions, you will be able to support people experiencing mental health issues and anticipate how they will act or react in certain situations.

learndirect provide online courses in:

• Mental Health and Social Care
• Mental Health and Counselling Level 3 Diploma (RQF)
• TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health
• TQUK Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health, and more

You can also take online courses to help understand certain behaviours, and provide more effective support to people who have experienced traumatic events.

• Anger and Aggression Management
• Grief and Bereavement Counselling
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Understanding Domestic Abuse and the Restorative Process

Frequently Asked Questions