College reports ‘boom’ in crime-related course after success of TV hit Sherwood
Nottingham College says it has seen a “boom” in interest for crime-related courses, following the success of Nottinghamshire-based BBC crime drama Sherwood.
The college says that students have been inspired to consider a career path in criminology, policing and law enforcement, as series two of Sherwood, starring local acting talents such as Robert Lindsay, Philip Jackson and Perry Fitzpatrick, aired over the past few weeks.
Interest in BA (Hons) Criminology has soared by 361.9%, during the period that Sherwood aired, with a spike in web traffic on 1st September – just as episode three was watched by thousands across the region.
BAFTA-winning Sherwood actor Robert Lindsay is also an alumni of Nottingham College, having enrolled on a drama course at the former Clarendon campus in the early days of his career.
Claire Barton, assistant principal of higher education at Nottingham College, said: “Watching fictional crime play out on familiar streets has really inspired our local budding criminologists of tomorrow here in Nottingham, and it has been fantastic to see.
“To reduce crime, we need to try and understand why it happens, how people feel about it, and the impact it has on individuals and society as a whole – these are exactly the sort of questions that our BA (Hons) Criminology students will be able to answer.”
Nottingham College offers BA (Hons) Criminology as both full and part-time options for students starting this month (September).
Open to both progressing learners already studying at Nottingham College and applicants who have previously studied elsewhere, the courses have been validated by the Open University, giving a seal of approval on the course’s content and delivery.
Criminology students will be taught in Adams Building, a former mill in Nottingham’s Lace Market, dating back to the 1800s. They will be introduced to the world of criminology, including the criminal justice system and foundations of law, sociology and psychology; moving on to more advanced topics such as criminological theories, white collar and corporate crime and cybercrime.
