Explore the justice system and the criminal mind to grasp the causes of crime in this free online criminology course.

The study of criminal behaviour is known as ‘criminology’. This course provides a comprehensive overview of crime and disorder trends and compares them to general social goals and dynamics. We begin by highlighting the role of science and the underlying philosophical principles that drive criminology. We discuss the role of criminology and its policies and theories in creating a progressive future.

Our course then outlines the history and evolution of the field of criminology and investigates its current state and potential future. We explain how advances in criminology drive improvements to the criminal justice system. While jurisprudence and criminology often overlap, we show you where they differ sharply. We also discuss the role of critical analysis to provide a clear idea of the elements of crimes and their evaluation and treatment in the justice system.

The course delves into the theories of criminology and describes their background and contemporary social relevance. We explain various research methods used in criminology before identifying the different types of crimes, their impact on society and the legal consequences facing those who commit them. Finally, we show you how these theories are applied to understand modern crime and the legal system set up to deal with them. This criminology course lays out the causes of crime and the theories that explain why people commit them. Sign up to learn about crime and punishment.