Doctor of Policing and Criminal Justice

Program Overview

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The Doctor of Policing and Criminal Justice is a postgraduate program designed for professionals in law enforcement and criminal justice, aiming to develop advanced research skills and competencies. It provides a framework for conducting original research, fostering reflective practice, and contributing to knowledge and professional practice in the sector. The program follows a hybrid learning model with face-to-face and online components and includes a capstone research project.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The Doctor of Policing and Criminal Justice is a postgraduate program designed for current or former professionals working in law enforcement and criminal justice. The program aims to develop competent, informed, reflective, ethically and professionally competent practitioners who have a sophisticated academic understanding of wider policing and criminal justice theories and issues.

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Objectives:

• Develop advanced skills and competencies in designing, conducting, evaluating, and presenting research relevant to policing and criminal justice.
• Provide a framework for generating original knowledge through research related to policing and criminal justice issues in the student's own area of professional involvement.
• Enable and encourage graduates to disseminate their research findings to contribute to academic debates or influence policy and practice.
• Enhance the development of reflective practice through discussion and networking with others working in different sectors of policing and criminal justice.
• Make an original contribution to the status of police studies and criminal justice as a discipline, through the advancement of knowledge and professional practice within the sector and through the development of advanced practitioner researchers.

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Outline:

The program follows the LJMU Professional Doctorate Framework and consists of four modules mapped onto three stages:

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Stage 1:

• Research Planning (30 credits): This module helps students develop their research question, enhance their skills in synthesizing and critically evaluating research, and exposes them to real-life examples of how research is developed and used to improve practice.
• Research Methodology (30 credits): This module equips students with knowledge of various research methodologies, helps them understand how to measure the impact of their research, and provides skills to carry out an ethical and feasible research project.

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Stage 2:

• Investigative Research Project (240 credits): This module involves conducting and writing up the planned research.

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Stage 3:

• Critical Reflection on Research Project (60 credits): This module helps students learn about the theory and practice of critical reflection and how to complete a reflective journal of their research experience.

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Course Schedule:

• Students can choose to attend campus for face-to-face teaching in 'learning blocks' across the first two years of the program (Modules 1 and 2) (two one-week blocks in October and February, e.g., from 9am-4pm), or to attend campus once a month for a full day (e.g., 9am-4pm) for nine months of the year (September to May).
• These sessions are supplemented by online asynchronous learning (2.5 hours a month), and monthly meetings with supervisors.
• For the rest of the program (Modules 3 and 4), as students carry out their research project and critical reflection, taught delivery is conducted by their supervisor and supplemented by supervisory meetings.

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Assessment:

• Assessments include a scoping review, learning agreement, data analysis portfolio, research proposal, final thesis submission (viva voce by external and internal examiners), mock viva, and critical reflection.
• All assessments are graded on a pass/fail basis in line with the Professional Doctorate Framework.

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Teaching:

• Lectures and seminars are delivered in a face-to-face format, supplemented by asynchronous, online delivery.
• The virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas holds information on modules, sessions, online delivery, reading lists, and more.
• An overarching component of the program is the establishment of a Community of Practice across those studying on the program and those within related programs within the School of Justice Studies.
• The exchanging of ideas and knowledge is encouraged and facilitated by both the formal requirements of the program and in more informal forums (e.g., students are encouraged to 'network' with each other outside of sessions).

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Careers:

• The program will enable graduates to contribute to research in new and applied areas.
• Graduates will benefit from formal recognition and accreditation of their professional development, and a raised profile within their profession.
• It is anticipated that most, if not all, candidates will be currently employed within Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Agencies and therefore candidates may be in a position to have a transformative impact on professional practice.

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Other:

• LCAPS and the School of Justice have a strong research culture, and students are encouraged to attend research sessions on a variety of subjects.
• These sessions introduce students to contemporary issues in policing and criminal justice and help them in many ways, including completing assessments and beyond university.

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| Tuition Fee | Currency | | ----------- | ----------- | | Home part-time per year | £3,725 | | International part-time per year | £9,125 |