Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
- Awarding Institution / Body
- Teaching Institution and Location of Delivery
Preston Campus
- University School/Centre
- External Accreditation
- Title of Final Award
- Modes of Attendance offered
Part-time, daytime only
- UCAS Code
- Relevant Subject Benchmarking Group(s)
- Other external influences
Skillsmark
- Date of production/revision of this form
June 2013
(July 2013 – minor change)
Updated September 2013
Updated July 2014
- Aims of the Programme
- To foster the development of skills that will help in further academic and vocational training, and in subsequent employment
- To develop knowledge and learning ability in students to prepare them for a career as crime investigator in the police service or one of the other investigative bodies in the public or private sector
- To provide education in: criminal law and criminal investigation; forensic science; and specialist policing and police practice. These elements are tailored to the needs of the investigative bodies
- To make careers in criminal investigation accessible to people with disabilities that preclude them from police service
- To develop critical and analytical thought
- Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A.Knowledge and Understanding
A1.Describe and apply crime scene science, forensic science and evidence gathering relevant to crime investigation
A2.Describe and apply criminal law
A3.Evaluate the English legal system and the roles of the people in it
A4.Evidence the skills required of a modern criminal investigator employed by the police or other investigative organisation
A5.Describe and evaluate the structure and functioning of the police service in England and Wales
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures (internal and invited speakers), tutorials and seminars; role-play sessions and simulations of crime scenes and incidents, practical demonstrations. presentations and exercises.
Assessment methods
Assessment: essays, short notes, reports (e.g. practical reports), formal unseen written examinations, partially seen examinations, assessed role-plays, assessed seminars, presentations and dissertation.
B.Subject-specific skills
B1.Apply a range of practical techniques in the recovery, preservation and documentation of scientific evidence
B2.Critically evaluate evidence within the law of evidence and relate it to substantive law.
B3.Apply knowledge of major concepts and principles of law.
B4.Apply knowledge of the terminology, nomenclature and classification of law and criminal investigation.
B5.Organise and conduct investigative interviews.
B6.Communicate, observe and work in a team.
B7.Assess and examine crime scenes and recover physical evidence.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, tutorials, practical exercises, role-play, group work
Assessment methods
Examination, dissertation, assessed seminars, written assignments ,assessed presentations
C.Thinking Skills
C1.Select and analyse information from written, electronic and interview-based sources;
C2.Formulate hypotheses and lines of enquiry and execute critical evaluation of these in the light of specific evidence.
C3.Present the results of investigative studies.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Tutorials, academic guidance sessions, dissertation support, role-play sessions and simulations.
Assessment methods
Assessed role-play , group presentations, oral presentation, written assignments and examinations
D.Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1.Manage time and learning/work activities
D2.Work individually and in a group to solve ‘real world problems’
D3.Learn independently, making use of written, electronic and human sources of information
D4.Communicate effectively
D5.Management of people and situations, such as crime scenes and incidents
D6.Analyse problems and generate a dissertation plan
Teaching and Learning Methods
Role-play, practical exercises, presentations, use of IT based assignments, evidence of appropriate IT sources; evidence of use of the library and literature searching; oral work in discussion and presentation; numeracy and statistics in association with problem solving. Students are given guidance on the development of keys skill by their personal tutors
Assessment methods
Written reports; oral and visual presentation skills. Presentation of group work, dissertation
13.Programme Structures* / 14.Awards and Credits*
Level / Module Code / Module Title / Credit rating
Level 6 / FZ3940
FZ3047
FZ3041
FZ3042
FZ3046
FZ3049
FZ3050 / Police and Criminal Investigation Dissertation
Police Ethics and Accountability
3 of the following:
Major Crime Inquiries
Policing Cybercrime
Fraud
International Humanitarian and Criminal Law
Counter Terrorism / 40
20
20
20
20
20
20 / Bachelor Honours Degree in Policing and Criminal Investigation
Requires 360 credits at level 4 or above including a minimum of 220 at Level 5 or above and 100 at Level 6
Bachelor Degree in Policing and Criminal Investigation
Requires 320 credits at level 4 or above including a minimum of 180 at Level 5 or above and 60 at Level 6
Level 5 / FZ2030
FZ2045
FZ2046
FZ2047
FZ2048
FZ2049
FZ2130
FZ2145
FZ2146
FZ2147
FZ2148
FZ2149 / Criminalistics
Investigation Skills II
Pro-active Investigation Techniques
Contemporary Issues in Policing
A Further Investigation into Policing in England and Wales
Offences Relating to Property and Weapons
The following modules are options only for those students partaking in an Erasmus Exchange:
Aspects of Criminalistics
Interviewing Suspects and Witnesses
Drugs and Pro-Active Investigation
Modern Policing Topics
Quality of Service in Policing
Offences Relating to Theft / 20
20
20
20
20
20
10
10
10
10
10
10 / Diploma of Higher Education in Policing and Criminal Investigation
Requires 240 credits at Level 4 or above including a minimum of 100 at Level 5 or above
Level 4 / FZ1034
FZ1041
FZ1042
FZ1044
FZ1045
FZ1047 / Volume Crime Scene Science
Introduction to Law and Police Powers
Offences Against the Person and Public Order
Study Skills for Criminal Investigation
Police Organisation and Methods
Investigation Skills I / 20
20
20
20
20
20 / Certificate of Higher Education in Policing and Criminal Investigation
Requires 120 credits at Level 4 or above
15.Personal Development Planning
PDP is delivered and monitored through skills modules and the personal tutor system. Students are provided with a PDP handbook in electronic format and are introduced to the idea by their personal tutor (PT). Their PT will then guide them throughout their time at university, both in constructing their PDP and in making sure that they are developing the right skills, helping them to identify and address any issues.
Each student sees their PT six times a year (seven in year 1) for a small group tutorial where the PT and other students will discuss a particular skill or employability issue. Typically the student will have prepared a document or done a task in preparation for the meeting. Topics targeted at meetings include time management and vocabulary developing at Level 4, ranging up to psychometric testing and help with job applications at Level 6. These tutorials help students to identify and develop their skills and also encourage a culture of confidence between tutee and PT, so that if any specific problems arise with a student the PT will be in a position to assist.
The PT topics are constantly reviewed and updated in response to current practice in the workplace and to feedback from PTs and tutees. PTs insist on seeing a completed PDP before writing references.
16.Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications, together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Applicants will normally be required to have, one of:
BBC -ABB at A2, ND DDM.
In addition applicants will be required to have Maths and English GCSE at Grade C or equivalent.
Applicants will be required to have a minimum level of proficiency in English Language equivalent to IELTS grade 6 with no subscore lower than 5.5
Applications from individuals with non-standard qualifications, relevant work or life experience and who can demonstrate the ability to cope with and benefit from degree-level studies are welcome. If candidates have not studied recently they may be required to undertake an Access programme. APL/APEL will be assessed through standard University procedures.
Please consult the UCLAN admissions department for the most up to date requirements.
17.Key sources of information about the programme
- University web site (
- UCAS web site (
- School website (
- Course Leader
- Admissions tutor
18.Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Level / Module Code / Module Title / Core (C), Compulsory (COMP) or Option (O) / Programme Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding / Subject-specific Skills / Thinking Skills / Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B6 / B7 / C1 / C2 / C3 / D1 / D2 / D3 / D4 / D5 / D6
LEVEL 6 / FZ3041 / Major Crime Inquiries / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3042 / Policing Cybercrime / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3046 / Fraud / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3047 / Police Ethics and Accountability / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3049 / International Humanitarian and Criminal Law / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3050 / Counter Terrorism / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ3940 / Policing and Criminal Investigation Dissertation / C / √
LEVEL 5 / FZ2030 / Criminalistics / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2045 / Investigation Skills II / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2046 / Proactive Investigation Techniques / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2047 / Contemporary Issues in Policing / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2048 / A Further Investigation into Policing in England and Wales / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2049 / Offences Relating to Property and Weapons / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2130 / Aspects of Criminalistics¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2145 / Interviewing Suspects and Witnesses¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2146 / Drugs and Pro-Active Investigation¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2147 / Contemporary Policing¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2148 / Quality of Service in Policing ¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ2149 / Offences Relating to Theft¶ / O / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
LEVEL 4 / FZ1034 / Volume Crime Scene Science / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ1041 / Introduction to Law and Police Powers / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ1042 / Offences Against the Person and Public Order / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ1044 / Study Skills for Criminal Investigation / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ1045 / Police Organisation and Methods / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FZ1047 / Investigation Skills I / COMP / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
Note:Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
¶ These options are available only for students partaking in an Erasmus Exchange