Criminology MA

The module aims at fostering in-depth understanding, critical awareness and engagement with major theoretical trends and debates in contemporary criminology, with particular attention to critical criminological debates that have global relevance. The theories covered in this module will provide a foundation for thinking about and applying criminological theories to other core and optional modules students study on their courses.

This module aims to engage students in exploring criminological issues from a global perspective through a human rights lens. Moving beyond narrow definitions of crime and retributive criminal justice and viewing human rights as more than a legal framework, the module will explore social justice issues from a social harm-based perspective. By understanding contemporary human rights as a powerful moral discourse rooted in advancing social justice, students will explore how human rights can be a useful tool for addressing social harms in criminology.

The module will reflect on what putting issues such as power and rights at the centre of criminological practice might mean for social justice, focusing on how crime prevention and responses can better protect the rights of victims and offenders and avoid future harm.

This module aims at engaging students to explore contemporary critical issues in criminology with a particular focus on global perspectives with policy relevance. By studying criminology from a critical perspective with a global focus, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of intersecting issues in Criminology related to harm and crime and develop the ability to apply complex perspectives to real-world issues.

The aim of the module is to be in conversation with the compulsory module Contemporary Theory in Criminology to allow students to develop the ability to apply the theories studied to real-world global issues in this module. It also provides a broad overview of the contemporary field of criminology which serves as a foundation for term two optional modules.

The aim of this module is fourfold:

a) equip students with the principles of research design and approaches to research methods that are underpinned by ethics and theory.

b) to develop understanding and the skills to design and conduct a quantitative survey and qualitative interview research.

c) to analyse research findings using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

d) to critically understand and deconstruct conventional research methods, analytical strategies and secondary data from a decolonial standpoint.

This module equips students with the knowledge and skills to undertake research for a dissertation or an organisation as well as to study advanced research methods and analysis techniques offered on the programme while appreciating criminological research methods are shaped by historical power relations.

The aim of this module is fourfold:

a) to equip students with a clear understanding of the philosophy and sources of bias in social research.

b) to provide students with the ability to carry out quantitative data analysis through both descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-squared test, t-test and correlation coefficients).

c) to equip students with strong qualitative analytical methods skillset to critically analyse qualitative data from a decolonial standpoint.

d) to critically evaluate and convey the strengths and weaknesses of research projects and policy reports through short oral presentations.

By the completion of this module, students will be able to understand the benefits of the different qualitative and quantitative research techniques and will be equipped in applying different quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches. They will further be able to identify and critically evaluate research projects and policy projects which will benefit them towards their dissertation and future employment.

This module aims to synthesise learning from the criminology programmes of study, providing an opportunity for students to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity; an inquiry-based approach and the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising.

Students will define their own topic area, conduct a comprehensive review of existing knowledge on the subject, formulate a methodology for conducting their own enquiries and write an in-depth report of the findings of their research. Alternatively, students may choose to conduct a theoretically oriented piece of work involving the systematic analysis of an issue or area of policy/practice.

This module aims at engaging students to explore contemporary critical issues in criminology with a particular focus on global perspectives with policy relevance. By studying criminology from a critical perspective with a global focus, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of intersecting issues in Criminology related to harm and crime and develop the ability to apply complex perspectives to real-world issues.

The aim of the module is to be in conversation with the compulsory module Contemporary Theory in Criminology to allow students to develop the ability to apply the theories studied to real-world global issues in this module. It also provides a broad overview of the contemporary field of criminology which serves as a foundation for term two optional modules.

This module aims at engaging students and deepening their knowledge around historical and contemporary issues of ‘race’ in relation to crime and criminal justice.

The specific theoretical approaches to understanding, and deconstructing conventional knowledge around will include:

• Intersectionality, namely the intersection of race with gender and class from feminist criminology
• Decoloniality, namely the colonial and racialised histories of modes of punishment, social control, and criminal justice processes from Southern criminology
• Critical race perspectives from the UK and US which focus on systemic racism within the criminal justice system and the racialised social construction of crime.

Students will draw on a range of academic literature, quantitative and qualitative research, narrative accounts, media resources and their own lived experiences to bring an informed and importantly (i) critical and (ii) reflexive approach to evaluating phenomena around race, crime and criminal justice.

This module will equip students with the ability to recognise and negotiate sensitive ethical issues, hone their ability to speak to audiences as well as develop skills to enter roles requiring engagement on issues of equity, diversity, and social justice.

This module engages with contemporary debates in gender and criminology, requiring students to critically explore and analyse the gendered dimensions of crime, deviance, and criminal justice. The aim of the module is for students to gain an understanding of critical gender issues in relation to offending, victimisation and criminal justice policy and practice.

This module aims to develop advanced skills in the application of theoretical concepts and frameworks in relation to drugs, drug use and drugs control and in critically analysing the relationship between drugs and crime.  Students will critically evaluate initiatives within the criminal justice system to address the drugs 'problem’.  The module also aims to foster a critical interest in the reform of drugs policy and institutions at both national and international levels.

The first considers a range of perspectives emerging from the study of the different forms of political violence, including themes such as: systemic and institutional violence, crowds and group violence, conspiracy, armed struggle and civil war, contemporary terrorism and martyrdom, war, conflict and sexual violence, religion and terror.

The second strand offers critical analyses of the controversies surrounding the definitions of political violence and terrorism in the different epochs.  It examines in detail the contributions of the major schools of criminological thought, along with the most recent sociological-criminological analysis of authorised and unauthorised political violence. The module requires students to critically examine theoretical concepts and practical considerations in contemporary political violence and terrorism discourse drawing on a range of case studies.

This module enables students to evaluate the various intersections between health, crime, and punishment. Using a range of criminological, sociological, and psychological perspectives, the module will critically explore the key debates and controversies surrounding medical involvement with the criminal justice system and the broader regulation of people’s behaviour. A range of global policies and practices at the intersection of health and criminal justice will be considered to examine how gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, age, and disability are all subject to a range of health-based (as well as criminal justice) interventions.

This module aims to develop students’ understanding of diverse online cultures and how these enable different types of crime (online and offline); how cybercultures and cybercrime are regulated, policed, and prevented; types of cybercrime and how behaviours are learned; how the online world can enable group identification and deviant behaviour.

This module will help students understand the changing world of cybercrime and what can be done to curb incidents of harm online. This includes equipping students with the knowledge to intervene effectively in online radicalisation movements, building anti-cybercrime and deviant cyberculture-based policy and solutions, and understanding how broader social movements use the online world to further their aims.

Teaching is delivered by our expert academics who are research-active and who bring their specialisms to their lectures and classroom discussion. These include: the policing of online child sexual exploitation, dangerous dog ownership and legislation, the criminal courts and justice administration, drug policy and practice, violence towards sex workers, rape and sexual violence, women's bereavement from homicide, collective protest and social movements, social change and social conflict, organised crime and corruption and penal abolitionism.

You will be encouraged to actively participate in your learning and prepare to engage in questioning and debate within teaching sessions and in online discussion forums led by programme staff. Regular events and presentations (online or face to face where possible) are organised within the department to assist a dynamic culture of knowledge exchange and the generation of ideas and debate among our postgraduate students.

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.

Our Department of Criminology and Sociology is part of the Common Studies Session in Critical Criminology (CSSCC) which involves postgraduate Criminology Departments across different EU universities including Jay College of New York. The conferences are held twice a year across the Europe, but the format and schedule may vary in 2020-21 due to the current context. You will be encouraged to participate and deliver your own paper at the conference (either virtually or in person) and so have the opportunity to present your ideas in an international academic student environment. A certificate of attendance is awarded to the those who participate in the CSSCC.

The Centre for Social and Criminological Research holds (online and face to face) seminars throughout the year and hosts an annual conference (virtual or face-to-face) in April. The conference brings together visiting speakers, academic staff and current students to listen and discuss contemporary issues of crime and conflict in the world around us. Previous conference themes have been gangs, human rights and citizenship, punishment, policing and protest, feminist debates on sex work and pornography, and European migration and crisis.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Teaching and independent learning

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on the taught aspects of the course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time over two years.

Modules are assessed via a range of coursework including essays, a research proposal, seminar presentations, book reviews and a dissertation.

Compulsory