BA in Black Studies - Criminal Justice
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 5 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: £13,980 per year
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Introduction
Black Studies is ground-breaking because it puts the experiences, perspectives and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora at the very heart of university education. The aim of this degree is to provide you with the context to understand the issues as well as the tools and experience to work to remedy major social problems.
More importantly, the aim of the subject is to break down traditional barriers and apply the work we do on campus to improve the conditions facing those who live off campus.
In creating the BA (Hons) Black Studies in Criminal Justice degree we have taken the strengths of the Black Studies programme and directly applied them to one of the most significant problems facing Black communities.
You will take Black Studies modules which explore the history, politics and experience of Black communities as well as examine the issues in society that produce such stark inequalities. Alongside these modules, you will take Criminology-specific modules that explore the basis of, and issues with, the criminal justice system. You will gain experience in the criminal justice system in the second year and be expected to use your learning and experience to create a final-year project that is applied to the real world.
For those interested in working in criminal justice the issue of race and racism is one of the most important given the inequalities in the system. The aim is for this degree to provide essential learning that can be applied to future careers in the sector.
Professional Placement Year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long professional placement as part of your degree course, ensuring you have the experience you need to make an impact in your chosen career.
- Our Black Studies team have links with some of the most respected academics in the field, including Patricia Hill Collins, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Gus John, Hazel Garby, Barnor Hesse and Joan Anim-Addo.
- Professor Kehinde Andrews was named one of the 100 Great Black Britons in 2020
- You will have the opportunity to connect to local, national and international connections that the department has to those working for racial justice in the sector.
- We work alongside many important social organisations, who help shape our course. These include the Black Studies Association, the Race and Ethnicity Group, and Unmuted.
- Don't meet the entry criteria? Our Foundation Year programmes offer a route to a full undergraduate degree at a lower entry tariff.
Gallery
Curriculum
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Introduction to Black Studies
- Black Intellectual Thought
- City, Community, Culture
- Crime, Punishment and Society
- States and Societies
- Researching Black Lives and Experiences
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 100 credits):
- Black Political Activism
- Race and Crime
- Black Studies Methods
- Black Feminism
- Black Studies Placement
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of optional modules.
- Experiencing Harm
- Crime in the City
- Youth, Crime and Justice
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Professional Placement Year (Optional)
In order to qualify for the award of BA (Hons) Black Studies (Criminal Justice) with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.
- Professional Placement Year
Final Year
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 80 credits):
- Black Arts Movement
- Blackness in Britain
- Black Studies Project
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of optional modules.
- Emotions in Crime and Criminal Justice
- Gender and Crime
- Cybercrime
- Everyday Surveillance
- Local to Global Organised Crime
- Hate Crime
- Harms of the Powerful
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Career Opportunities
The benefit of Black Studies is that as society becomes increasingly diverse, employers recognise the need to have a much deeper range of knowledge about society. It will also be an advantage because it demonstrates a wealth of knowledge on issues of race, inclusion and society.
As well as this, you will gain the transferrable skills that employers always crave such as skills in critical thinking, analysis and research.