Crime, Law and Society

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The MA in Crime, law and Society is an innovative, interdisciplinary programme focusing on current trends and historical debates surrounding key issues of crime causation, crime control and regulation. This programme is particularly targeted to students who are looking to develop a critical understanding of contemporary issues in criminology and criminal justice. The degree is aimed at recent graduates looking to improve their academic credentials, as well as practitioners and professionals in the criminal justice field who want to update and broaden their knowledge in this area. Compulsory and optional courses allow students to engage with a diverse range of issues within contemporary criminological and criminal justice debates and the methods used to research them.

A prior degree in criminology is not essential but previous study of a social science discipline would be an advantage.

The programme is taught by an interdisciplinary team of experts from sociological, legal and psychological backgrounds using a variety of delivery methods: lectures, workshops, student-led presentations and debate, group work and individual research.

Module details

You will complete five compulsory course units and three optional course units throughout the year and produce a dissertation over the summer period. Our range of courses enable a breadth of criminological enquiry while the dissertation allows in-depth study in an area of interest under the supervision of a member of academic staff.

Compulsory course units:

* Criminal Justice Research and Policy
* AdvancedTheoretical Criminology
* Measures and Correlates of Crime
* Comparative Studies in Crime and CriminalJustice
* Researching Social Issues: an Introduction.

These compulsory course units amount to a total of 75 credits.

Optional course units: A further 45 credits are selected from a list of optional course units. Course units available in any given year will not be confirmed until June preceding the start of the academic year. Optional course units confirmed for 2011/12 are: Risk & Society: Law and Social Theory; Organising Crime ; Offender Management and Community Re-integration; Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis; Democratic Transformations and the Law; Evaluating Criminal Justice Policy and Practice; and Qualitative Research Methods (among other Criminological/Socio-Legal optional course units).

Dissertation: 12,000 to 15,000 words.

Full entry requirementsAcademic entry qualification overview: A minimum Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, is required for the MA.English language: Students whose first language is not English are required to hold IELTS 7.0 with a minimum writing score of 7, or TOEFL 625 paper-based (with a minimum score on "Test of Written English" of 5.0) or 263 computer-based, or TOEFL 106 internet-based, or Cambridge Certificate Grade C.It is also recommended that applicants attend pre-sessional English language courses at the University. English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C)