About the course
This innovative new programme combines teaching, research and practical experiences that are linked by four ideas – Culture, Criminology, Creativity, and Community.
Graduates will display intellectual confidence and flexibility in several different academic disciplines.
This course takes the concept of incarceration as a focal point to spark discussion and analysis, underpinned by the four Cs of "big ideas" of incarceration: Culture; Criminology; Creative-Critical Practices; and Community.
Though incarceration is often associated with imprisonment in jail or prison, the word has a host of contexts including historical slavery, pandemic lockdowns, wartime camps, modern-day trafficking and even situations of domestic abuse. On this programme, you'll explore incarceration in a range of forms in the UK, US and other situations globally, far beyond the traditional prison context.
This course combines traditional seminar-style classes with unique environments outside of the classroom, whether working with ex-prisoners locally or organising an academic conference on campus.
Students on the MA in Incarceration Studies will be affiliated with the Cultures of Incarceration Centre at the University of Hull, which provides opportunities to attend talks, present at seminars, and network.
If you are a home (UK) student and want to apply for this postgraduate programme please contact admissions on 01482 466850 or pghome@hull.ac.uk.
What you'll study
All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.
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Incarceration Culture in Context: Research Methods and Theory in Interdisciplinary Studies
On this module, you will examine and scrutinise a broad range of texts that address incarceration. This may include poetry by African political prisoners, Orange is the New Black (TV), artwork from Guantanamo Bay, Caribbean memorials to slave rebellions, Native American captivity stories, modern slavery documentaries and photography documenting Northern Ireland.
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UK & US Prison Cultures; Redemption and Resistance
This module will analyse a range of cultural responses to the prison experience, from film to poetry to music, to understand and explain the US and UK prison systems as well as US/UK history and society more widely. The module will include guest speakers who have first-hand experience of living/working in US or UK prisons, and who can speak to the module’s interest in prison cultural texts.
All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.
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Crimes of the Powerful
Explore the crimes of the powerful between 1965 and 2022. The module will introduce you to relevant theories and case studies, which can then be applied and evaluated in terms of their ability to explain crimes of the powerful. This module will consider resistance to crimes of the powerful and the potential of criminology and social harm in both explaining and reducing harms of the powerful.
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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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Through the Prison Gate
This module explores the experience of the transition from prison to the community. In doing so, this module identifies and examines the often-challenging nature of the rehabilitation and reintegration process for people in the criminal justice system. It will consider relevant legislation, theoretical debate and the precariousness of life after prison.
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Immigration Control: Carcerality, and Confinement
This module is concerned with the immigration and asylum processes, and incarceration and confinement. The module seeks to interrogate and critically examine the immigration and asylum systems as a frontier of incarceration and carcerality. It will also encourage students to think critically and creatively about reform and social change.
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Writing Creative Non-Fiction: Reflecting Reality
On this module, you will be introduced to a wide range of non-fiction prose, including travel writing, true crime, narrative history and biography. You will produce a portfolio of non-fiction and reflective writings yourself and will also be expected to partake in guest talks/writing workshops with tutors who have taught for many years in prison and in other contexts of incarceration.