Students will acquire knowledge and skills necessary to undertake managerial and executive responsibilities in a wide range of professions, including policing, crime prevention, security services, correctional services, conflict resolution, social analysis, societal planning, marketing research, and the operation of non-governmental organisations. Ample opportunities are provided for students to develop an interest in discovery and innovation to benefit society through crime control and reduction, and societal development and improvement through the application of various sociological practices. Upon successful completion of this major, students should be able to: describe a range of key concepts, theories and professional values in criminology and applied sociology; identify and criticise the underlying assumptions of and devise interventions to address social problems and criminal issues with a particular interest in different types of informal and formal strategies; apply qualitative and quantitative research methods and analyse different sociological and criminological perspectives for explaining social problems and crimes; evaluate the applicability of sociological and criminological theories and develop innovative ideas for preventing crimes and creative ways of reducing re-offending in the local context; evaluate the function and operation of social institutions and law enforcement agencies in the criminal justice system; conduct independent research; analyse the impacts of social, technological, and environmental changes on individuals and society; present research findings clearly and systematically to the public; and provide creative suggestions and/or solutions for preventing crimes and other social problems; and design programmes, generate alternatives, invent ideas, and construct cost-effective means for sustaining social order and safety.

Applicants holding a 12-year school-leaving qualification or a partially completed sub-degree qualification may apply for admission to first-year studies in a Bachelor's degree programme. Applicants who have learned Chinese Language for less than 6 years while receiving primary and secondary education or learned Chinese Language for 6 years or more in schools but have been taught an adapted and simpler Chinese Language curriculum not normally applicable to the majority of students in local schools, can use the following qualifications to replace HKDSE Chinese Language level 3 to meet the entrance requirement for Chinese Language: • HKDSE Applied Learning Chinese “Attained” or above • GCEAL/AS Chinese grade E or above • GCSE/IGCSE Chinese grade C or above. Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained in a language other than English will need a satisfactory score in TOEFL, an IELTS, or other acceptable English qualifications.