MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice
About Criminology at Durham
Durham University has a long history of sociological research into crime and justice which has recently lead to a major investment in the subject of criminology – both in relation to an expansion of scholars appointed at every level and the creation of new undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.
In October 2011 Durham University’s School of Applied Social Sciences introduced an MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice. This programme critically addresses a range of key issues and debates relating to crime and the criminal justice system. Students have the opportunity to develop in-depth understanding of crime, deviance and criminal justice from critical theoretical, policy, legal, political and practical perspectives. Addressing issues of historical and contemporary concern such as terrorism, prostitution, crime in the night time economy, forced migration, gender and crime, domestic violence, crime prevention, punishment, policing, youth crime and justice,law enforcement and the use of new technologies students study issues of theoretical and social importance with lecturers who are international experts in their fields.
A research-led programme
The programme is taught by members of the inter-disciplinary criminological research group at Durham. Funded by a wide range of research grants and consultancies, the group has a particular research strength in crime, violence and abuse, but also includes a strong portfolio of research into crime and technology, policing and penal issues. The research group supports and undertakes theoretical and applied research and includes a large and vibrant postgraduate research community. Studying with expert staff the programme provides a core focus on the discipline of Criminology whilst allowing students to pursue specialised areas of interest. The programme focuses upon understanding crime, its causes and prevention, criminal justice policy, and the links between crime and societal responses.
Programme Structure
Students on the MSc will undertake four core modules. Theorising Crime and Criminal Justice (30 credits) provides students with an advanced education in the application of a range of criticaland theoretical approaches to the study of crime and criminal justice. Perspectives on Social Research (15 credits) introduces students to the field of social scientific research, exploring issues of research ethics and techniques of quantitative and qualitative research which can be explored further in other optional modules. Research Design and Progress (15 credits) provides students with a training in the process of research design preparing them to undertake a supervised Dissertation (60 credits) where students can explore a specific research area in depth. The core modules facilitate the advanced study of theories of crime and criminal justice, the acquisition of research skills and the synthesis of specialist knowledge and innovative criminological research methods in a dissertation.
A range of further modules are available from which students will pick two 30 credit options. The module Crime Violence and Abuse builds on the expertise of the School’s research group of the same name and provides students with an advanced education in theoretically informed, empirically grounded analysis of issues related to crime, violence and abuse. Other optional modules currently available include: Criminal Justice, Risk and Security: from the Local to the Global, The Sociology of Punishment; Issues in Criminal Justice; Cybercrime: Crime in the information Age; Risk, Security and Society; Statistical Exploration and Reasoning; Qualitative Research Methods in Social Science; Quantitative Research Methods in Social Science. Optional modules are continually in development. For a comprehensive and up-to-date range of options please continue to refer to this website.
This programme is available on a full-time (12 month) and part-time (24 month) basis.
Entry Requirements
• Normally an upper second class honours degree or equivalent;
• English Language Proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5.
We are keen to consider applications from professional from a range of criminal justice backgrounds and experiences.
We welcome applications from holders of international qualifications. For advice on the equivalency of international qualifications and further information on English language requirements, please contact our International Office on international.office@durham.ac.uk or visit our website at www.durham.ac.uk/international
For more information about the application process or to enquire further about the programme please contact sass.pgadmissions@durham.ac.uk .