Criminal Investigation

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This programme provides you with opportunities to develop your skills in the challenging and dynamic field of criminal investigation.

It offers knowledge of contemporary theory and practices in criminal investigation, investigation-related legislation and relevant areas in criminal justice studies, criminology, criminal law and many other disciplines. This multidisciplinary programme develops your intellectual capability and enhances your professional ability.

A particular strength of the programme is its inter-disciplinary nature, incorporating the knowledge of staff with practical experience of investigation, law and research whilst offering a strong academic base. The programme has a clear focus which merges theory and practice and emphasises the importance of relevant legislation, policies and practices, linking them to the overall theme exploring criminal investigation.
This programme includes a dissertation module which enables you to focus on an aspect of investigation which is of particular interest you, relevant to criminal investigation, but potentially in relation to an area not taught within the programme.

How you learn
Teaching is student-centred to develop your understanding of theory, practice and presentation.
The programme commences with a three-day block induction period to enable you to meet staff and be introduced to the programme. You then begin a blended learning programme, which involves studying both in the classroom (one evening and one half day) and independently via on-line learning.

This increases the flexibility of the programme and it is anticipated this combined approach of on-line study, evening and daytime study offers sufficient flexibility to fit into most lifestyles, whilst offering the benefit of the socialising aspects of group study. It also encourages the development of independent learning skills at an earlier stage in the programme, in readiness for research tasks.

These teaching methods offer you the opportunity to develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, developing your cognitive-intellectual, practical-professional and generic key skills.

Your research skills are developed during the research module and further developed through the course, enabling you to conduct your research successfully towards more specialist fields of enquiry for your dissertation.
The programme involves high levels of personal responsibility and self-direction. It requires you to work with complex knowledge, theory and concepts appropriate to postgraduate studies. On the completion of this course, you should be able to plan, manage and evaluate your own learning effectively so as to become an independent lifelong learner.

How you are assessed
Formative assessment is ongoing throughout each module, either via on-line tasks or by classroom tasks, offering you feedback to assist you to develop your skills.

This programme adopts a wide range of formal assessment methods which assists you to achieve the learning outcomes and to evaluate the effectiveness of your learning. Essays and other forms of writing are commonly used. These assess your analytical, evaluative and communication skills. Presentations allow you to demonstrate a critical and systematic understanding of the key subject matter.

Seen examinations test your knowledge and information retention as well as your fluency. You are required to undertake appropriate criminal investigation-related research. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to demonstrate an appropriate standard of research and enquiry into a specialised area of investigation, displaying an analytical discussion of that area.

Career opportunities
Graduates are equipped to work within, or progress their existing careers in, the criminal justice institutions, such as the police, prison and probation services, other investigation-related institutions and organisations, and relevant private sectors.

Core modules

* Dissertation
* Legal Aspects of Investigating Crime
* Social Research Methods
* The Practice of Major Crime Investigation

and two optional modules

* Comparative Law and Criminal Justice
* European Responses to Crime
* Investigation of Organised Crime
* Young Offenders and the Criminal Law

Modules offered may vary.

Applicants should have at least a second-class honours degree in a relevant field. However, those who have relevant professional qualifications and relevant experience will also be considered. Applicants without the normal entry requirements may be required to provide a strong academic reference and/or undertake a skills audit and directed reading before submitting a 2,000-word essay on a related topic.

Postgraduate funding support
From September 2013 benefit from a 10% fees discount towards your postgraduate taught course (part-time or full-time) if you:

* are a continuing Teesside University student progressing from an undergraduate to postgraduate course or
* have graduated from an undergraduate course at Teesside University within the last two years (2011-12) or
* graduated with first-class honours from an undergraduate course at any other university within the last two years (2011-12).