Criminology MA

Program Overview

This MA in Criminology program critically examines the connections between criminological theory, criminal justice policy, and social control. It develops students' research skills and provides a critical understanding of crime, punishment, and victimization. The program prepares graduates for careers in policy making, offender management, crime reduction, and other fields related to criminology and criminal justice.

Program Outline

This MA in Criminology course provides a critical examination of the connections between criminological theory, criminal justice policy, and social control.

• Critically evaluate crime reduction methods: The program encourages students to engage in a critical analysis of criminalization processes and crime reduction strategies.

Outline:

Course Structure:

• Full-time: The full-time program is completed over one year and consists of four core modules and a dissertation.
• Part-time: The part-time program is completed over two years.
It applies these theories to the study of diverse criminal trajectories, such as youth crime, professional crime, white-collar crime, and sexual offenses.
• How do we punish?
• Who do we punish?
• Why do we punish the way we do?
• Why is the meaning of punishment so debated?
• Why did we develop "alternative" punishments in late modernity?
• Why are prisons in a state of constant reform?
It compares punishment practices and discourses in the UK with other Western countries. It also investigates the relationship between marginalization and criminalization. It examines patterns in victimization, its various forms (e.g., interpersonal and digital), and the experiences of different victim types (e.g., children, elderly, women, men, LGBTQ, specific race and religious groups).
• Dissertation Research Methods and Professional Practice (30 credits): This module aims to develop students' understanding of academic research and analysis.
Students gain a critical understanding of different research methodologies used in social sciences. The module covers evaluating social research and conducting independent empirical work. Students participate in practical exercises involving quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Students can choose to approach the dissertation as either a theoretical study or an empirical investigation.

Assessment:

The program typically includes practical assessments (e.g., presentations, performances) and coursework (e.g., essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertations).

• Coursework: 93%
• Practical: 7%

Teaching:

• Guided Independent Study: Students are expected to engage in self-directed learning outside of scheduled sessions.
The University provides support through online resources, the library, and CANVAS (the online virtual learning platform).
• Faculty: The teaching team is comprised of experienced academics and professional practitioners with relevant industry experience.
• Assessment Center Experience: Students participate in an Assessment Center Experience, providing an opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to enhance employability skills.

Careers:

This course can lead to a variety of career paths within public and private organizations. Potential career fields include:

• Policy Making
• Offender Management
• Crime Reduction and Multi-agency Partnership Work
• Security and Policing
• Criminological Research
• Local and National Government
• Advocacy and Policy-Based Organizations
Recent graduates have found employment in:
• Policing
• Victim and Witness Services
• Prisons/Prison Offender Management
• The Military

Home 2025/26 MA full time £11,400 MA part time £6,270 International 2025/26 MA full time £18,700 MA part time £10,285 Home 2024/25 MA full time £10,900 MA part time £5,995 International 2024/25 MA full time £17,900 MA part time £9,845