About the course
Criminologists investigate the causes, consequences and reactions to crime – and this course gives you experience of designing, analysing and evaluating criminal justice and crime control strategies.
With an interesting and varied curriculum, this programme has a very strong emphasis on applied knowledge and job market skills. This course is intended to create sophisticated criminological practitioners, able to navigate the realities of criminal justice and crime control, with superior experience, skills and knowledge of how to think, act and reflect criminologically.
This MA has a strong emphasis on communication, research, problem-solving, teamwork, and policy analysis. These skills will be developed through classroom discussion and debate, as well as through practical engagement with external criminal justice and community safety organisations. You’ll be taught by a team of expert criminologists from a variety of specialist backgrounds, including: law, sociology, psychology, history and politics.
What you'll study
Classes will be interactive, discursive, and task-based. There will be few traditional ‘lectures’, but plenty of workshops where you’ll be involved in planning, preparing and leading. With support from staff, you’ll have the freedom to shape the course of your learning and focus on your personal interests and career ambitions.
The course is flexible, teaching is blended between weekly two hour workshops interspersed with preparation and online support. Assessment is task-based and varied, and will include: Written essays, oral presentations, events organisation, engagement projects, research projects and problem-solving exercises.
You’ll be provided with a high level of support throughout your studies, and academic support tutors work with small groups to provide support and advice.
All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.
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Competing and Comparative Justice: Values and Ethics in the Criminal Justice Process
This module introduces the complexity of ethical problems that arise in the criminal justice arena, challenging preconceptions of what is “right” and “wrong” in a range of situations in the UK and abroad. You will critically analyse some of the key debates about values underpinning law-making and criminal justice.
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Communication Skills for Criminal Justice
Gain the vital communication skills that will be used across the rest of your degree and in your career. These skills will be honed by using online, spoken and written forms of communication to debate many of the most pressing criminal justice and crime control issues of the day.
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Crime Control and Community Safety Hub 1
Through regular workshops you will be introduced to key research methods and strategies for engagement with outside agencies and organisations. You'll have the opportunity to reach out and work collaboratively with local organisations and community groups to provide advice and research input about crime and community safety issues.
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Gender, Sexualities and Crime
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Doing Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Learn about the vital skills of doing research in criminology and criminal justice, concentrating on the different types and rationales of a variety of research methodologies. You will be taught by a combination of lectures and tutorials.
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Crime Control and Community Safety Hub 2
Gain the knowledge to devise, implement and evaluate crime control and community safety interventions. You will also have the opportunity to further cultivate strategic and personal networks with potential agencies and employers in the region.
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Criminal Justice and Crime Control Dissertation
You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up your own project on a topic you choose, supported by your dissertation supervisor.