MSc Criminal Justice Policy

About the MSc programme

This programme is based in the Department of Social Policy| and offers the following benefits:  

• Diversity of staff expertise and research activities.
• Programme led by internationally renowned criminologists.
• Inter-departmental collaboration between Social Policy, Law and Sociology.
• Access to the Mannheim Centre for Criminology.

The programme is intended for graduates with a good upper second class honours degree in the social sciences or law; however, we will consider other qualifications and relevant practitioner experience. This MSc provides an opportunity to apply the concepts and theoretical perspectives from criminology, sociology and psychology to the subject of crime and the major criminal justice institutions. On graduation, most students move into careers in the criminal justice professions, academic or policy research in criminology and criminal justice, and into policy work in governments or charities.

Compulsory course

• Criminal Justice Policy
• 10,000 word dissertation on a criminal justice topic 

Options

(* half unit)

Choose to the value of two full units from a list including:

• Law and Social Theory
• Mental Health Law (available as a full unit or as two half units of which you can take one or both)
• Policing and Police Powers  
• International Criminal Law
• Corporate and Financial Crime
• Social Exclusion, Inequality and the 'Underclass' Debate*
• Social Policy: Goals and Issues*
• Social Policy: Organisation and Innovation* 
• Approaches to Human Rights  
• The Third Sector* 
• Law of International Economic and Financial Sanctions* 

or other suitable courses with prior permission of course tutors and subject to timetabling constraints.

Teaching and assessment

For the Criminal Justice Policy core course, there is a two hour lecture followed by a one hour seminar. This is assessed by examination in the summer term. General dissertation advice is provided in departmental seminars and additionally you will be provided with a personal supervisor who will guide your work. There is also the option to attend the Mannheim Centre seminars which are run in association with the British Society of Criminology Southern Branch.