Key information for BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies

Code: SE406 | Level: 8 | Duration: 3 years | Delivery: Fulltime | Credits: 180

Location for BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies

Location: Waterford | Campus: College Street

Application Information for BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies

Next Intake: Rolling Intake | Application Status: Open | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/undergraduate-fees

International Applicants information for BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies

International Application Status: Closed | Application Information Link: https://www.setu.ie/global/study-at-setu/applying-to-setu | International Fees Link: https://www.setu.ie/current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/global-fees

What modules are taught in BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies?

Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Applied Criminal Justice Studies. | Year 1: Sem 1: Critical Thinking and Academic Skills | Sem 2: Applied Forensics, Sem 1: Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies | Sem 2: Introduction to Research, Sem 1: Introduction to Psychology | Sem 2: Irish Fundamental Rights, Sem 1: Introduction to Sociological Problems | Sem 2: Irish Law and Governance 2, Sem 1: Irish Law and Governance 1 | Sem 2: Irish Social Policy, Sem 1: Social Policy, Poverty and Social Exclusion | Sem 2: The Sociology of Contemporary Ireland | Year 2: Sem 3: Applied Criminal Law 1 | Sem 4: Applied Criminal Law 2, Sem 3: Child and Family Protection Law | Sem 4: Criminology 2, Sem 3: Criminology 1 | Sem 4: Criminological Research, Sem 3: Foundations of Ethics: Philosophical and Theological | Sem 4: Policy and practice of youth justice in Ireland, Sem 3: Human Rights Law | Sem 4: Prison Law, Sem 3: *Elective | Sem 4: *Elective | Year 3: Sem 5: Introduction to Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | Sem 6: Criminal Trials, Sem 5: Personal and Professional Development for Criminal Justice | Sem 6: Independent Study for Criminal Justice, Sem 5: Psychology and Crime | Sem 6: Policing and The Police, Sem 5: Social Ethics | Sem 6: Prisons, punishment and society, Sem 5: Victimology | Sem 6: Probation, Sem 5: *Elective | Sem 6: *Elective, Sem 5: | Sem 6: *Electives are chosen from a selection of Law modules offered at the discretion of WIT

SE406 Waterford

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Criminal Justice Studies

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Programme Overview

The BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies is a multidisciplinary three-year degree designed to provide students with broad academic knowledge, critical analytical skills, and transferable abilities focused on the core themes of criminal justice. Specifically structured for those aspiring to work within the justice sector, the course addresses the specific educational and practical requirements needed to pursue careers across various criminal justice professions.

Practical Learning & Applied Route

Students have the option to extend their degree into a four-year pathway—the BA (Hons) in Applied Criminal Justice Studies. In this option, students spend Year 3 undertaking a dedicated criminal justice placement as part of the academic year, allowing them to apply multidisciplinary theories directly in real-world professional environments and build valuable sector connections.

Coursework

The curriculum draws from multiple academic disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legal, social, and institutional aspects of the justice system:

Multidisciplinary Foundations: Interdisciplinary study incorporating key concepts from criminology, law, sociology, and social policy.
Criminal Justice Systems & Institutions: Analysing the policies, practices, and operations of key agencies within the justice sector.
Applied Professional Skills: Developing research, legal reasoning, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making skills tailored for justice professions.

Career Opportunities

The degree prepares graduates for a wide range of roles across the justice, legal, community, and public service sectors:

Criminal Justice & Probation Services
An Garda Síochána & Law Enforcement Agencies
Community Rehabilitation & Youth Justice Organizations
Victims' Rights & Advocacy Agencies
Postgraduate Study & Advanced Criminological Research

Upon completion of the degree, graduates are equipped with both specialized knowledge of criminal justice systems and versatile academic skills, leaving them ready to enter the professional workforce or pursue further academic research.

Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Applied Criminal Justice Studies.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Critical Thinking and Academic Skills	Applied Forensics
Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies	Introduction to Research
Introduction to Psychology	Irish Fundamental Rights
Introduction to Sociological Problems	Irish Law and Governance 2
Irish Law and Governance 1	Irish Social Policy
Social Policy, Poverty and Social Exclusion	The Sociology of Contemporary Ireland

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Applied Criminal Law 1	Applied Criminal Law 2
Child and Family Protection Law	Criminology 2
Criminology 1	Criminological Research
Foundations of Ethics: Philosophical and Theological	Policy and practice of youth justice in Ireland
Human Rights Law	Prison Law
*Elective	*Elective

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Introduction to Comparative Criminal Justice Systems	Criminal Trials
Personal and Professional Development for Criminal Justice	Independent Study for Criminal Justice
Psychology and Crime	Policing and The Police
Social Ethics	Prisons, punishment and society
Victimology	Probation
*Elective	*Elective
	*Electives are chosen from a selection of Law modules offered at the discretion of WIT

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies:

Completion of a level 8 programme will also enable students to undertake taught Masters programmes or Masters degrees by research at SETU Waterford or other third-level colleges

Graduates from the BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies may find employment in fields such as:

The Probation Service
The Security Industry
The Civil Service
An Garda Síochána
The Prison Service
Research
Journalism
Non-Governmental Organisations
Banking

CourseCast Podcast

Listen to our CourseCast Criminal Justice Studies episode to hear real insights from students and lecturers about this course, what you’ll learn, and where it can lead.

CourseCast 11 Jun 2026

Criminal Justice Studies

The BA in Criminal Justice Studies is degree course designed to equip the student with general knowledge and transferable skills while focusing on the broad theme of criminal justice. It is a multidisciplinary course. In this episode of CourseCast, the guests were: Donal Keating, Programme Lead; graduate Andy Ryan (who is now working in probation services) and fourth year student Liam Flanagan, who is hoping to join An Garda Siochána.

Listen on podcasts.setu.ie