Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 240 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
Why does crime occur? What makes people do harm to others? The DipHE in Criminology and Psychological Studies explores a range of fascinating issues to do with crime, criminal justice and psychology – including antisocial behaviour, surveillance, security, social justice, social welfare and environmental degradation. You’ll gain a broad understanding of a range of psychological and criminological theories and topics, such as how the mind works and the relationship between social welfare and crime control. As well as grasping the issues behind the news headlines and public debates, you’ll learn how to construct and analyse arguments; use published work across a range of issues; understand the contexts for statistical information; and apply concepts and ideas to the real world. You’ll have your own specialist, subject-based academic support for this diploma course, as well as opportunities to join in online communities of other social sciences students for teaching, learning and peer support.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you’re new to study with the OU we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1 and that you complete your Level 1 study before going on to Level 2.
As this diploma follows on from the Certificate of Higher Education in Social Sciences (C95) you should complete your Level 1 study and claim the certificate before going on to study at Level 2.
The modules listed can count towards this diploma after we have stopped presenting them for a maximum of twenty years for Level 1 modules and ten years for Level 2 modules. Because of the demands that the modules in the diploma will make on you we recommend that you study only one module at a time.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 80 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your diploma of higher education.
Career relevance and employability
Employers value the diverse skills associated with social science and psychology qualifications very highly. Combining psychology with criminology in this diploma course will provide you with a particularly strong set of transferable skills. These include the ability to:
- identify, gather, analyse and assess evidence
- present reasoned and coherent arguments
- write clearly in a range of styles such as essays, reports and policy reviews
- understand and analyse statistical information
- understand real world problems and situations
- plan and reflect on your own work and learning.
The DipHE Criminology and Psychological Studies is particularly relevant to a career within the criminal justice system, such as the police, prison and probation services, and organisations concerned with:
- the care and resettlement of offenders
- civil liberties
- human rights
- social justice
- victim support
- crime prevention
- community safety
- conflict resolution.
In addition, the psychological skills you’ll develop will be valuable to occupations in many other sectors, including: education, health, human resources, management, social services, advertising, and career counselling.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this 240-credit diploma you require:
60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Introducing the social sciences (DD102)
|
60 |
|
- Investigating psychology 1 (DE100)
|
60 |
|
- You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123)*
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued 60-credit modules D103, DD100, DD101, the discontinued 30-credit modules DD121, DD122, DD131, DD132, DSE141
*Can only be studied if you have already studied one of the discontinued 30-credit modules
And an additional 60 credits from the modules listed above or from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- An introduction to health and social care (K101)
|
60 |
|
- Discovering mathematics (MU123)
|
30 |
|
- English for academic purposes online (L185)
|
30 |
|
- Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)
|
60 |
|
- Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)
|
30 |
|
- Introducing statistics (M140)
|
30 |
|
- Investigating the social world (DD103)
|
60 |
|
- The arts past and present (AA100)
|
60 |
|
- Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124)
|
15 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A103, AZX103, A173*, A181*, B120, D103, D170*, D171*, D172*, K100, KZX100, MST121, MU120, SDK125, SK183*, T172, T175, TU100, U122, W100, Y151*, Y156*, Y157*, Y158*, Y159*, Y160*, Y161*, Y162*, Y163*, Y164*, Y166*, Y176*, Y177*, Y178*, Y179*, Y180*, Y181*, Y182*, Y183*, Y186*
*You cannot count more than 30 credits of short 10- or 15-credit modules towards this qualification
And 120 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary (DD210)
|
60 |
|
- Welfare, crime and society (DD208)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module DSE212
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Criminology and Psychological Studies, and be entitled to use the letters DipHE (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification