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Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc

Durham University

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Course options

  • Qualification

    MSc - Master of Science

  • Location

    Durham University

  • Study mode

    Full time

  • Start date

    SEP-24

  • Duration

    1 year

Course summary

Course Summary

This course critically addresses a range of key issues and debates relating to crime and the criminal justice system. You will have the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of crime, deviance and criminal justice from critical, theoretical, policy, legal, political and practical perspectives and will address issues of historical and contemporary concern such as terrorism, sex work, legal and illegal drugs, crime in the night-time economy, forced migration, gender and crime, domestic violence, crime prevention, prison and punishment, policing, youth crime and justice, law enforcement and the use of new technologies. You will also study issues of theoretical and social importance with lecturers who are international experts in their fields.

Course Learning and Teaching

The MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice is a 1 year full-time course which may also be taken part-time. The course’s core consists of a 60 credit dissertation module, one 30 credit module on Criminological Theory, one 15 credit module on Theories of Social Research and one 15 credit module on Research Design. You are also required to undertake 60 further credits of modules from within the Department of Sociology or other related departments which may be taught in a variety of ways.

The course is taught according to a variety of approaches. Modules such as ‘Theorising Crime and Criminal Justice’ operate a standard 2 hour session within which lecturing, seminar discussion, workshops or presentations may take place. Modules such as ‘Perspectives on Social Research’, ‘Quantitative Methods’ and ‘Qualitative Methods’ operate a weekly lecture series followed by seminar discussion. Other modules such as ‘Statistical Exploration and Reasoning’ operate computer-based practicals. Prisons, Crime and Criminal Justice is an innovative module that emphasises transformative education. It is taught within a prison each week using the Inside-Out dialogical pedagogy whereby university students learn together with prisoners, completing the same readings and assessments, as well as group work and group projects (please see the website for further details). For this module you will need to undertake security clearance and mandatory prison training before being allowed to enter the prison and eligibility to register on this module is dependent on these being successfully undertaken.

The ‘Research Design’ module is taught in weekly lectures and seminars in term 1. Reflecting on the process of research design, the module supports the student in formulating the research question for their dissertation. The MSc course is research-led at its core. The compulsory module 'Theorising Crime and Criminal Justice' links explicitly with the research activities of the criminology staff. For example, the module ‘Gender Violence and Abuse’ links with the current research activities of the Department’s research group of the same name. You will subsequently undertake a 60 credit dissertation on a topic of your choice, supervised by staff who are actively researching in a relevant area. While this module is intended to afford an opportunity for a significant piece of independent and original research, it includes up to six hours of regular supervision which takes place typically from the end of term 2. You will also participate in two workshops convened by the course Director and usually alongside others researching in similar areas. While teaching is intensive, particularly in terms 1 and 2, it is intended that the course presents options for part-time study. Consequently, teaching is undertaken where possible in timetable slots which take place late in the afternoon.

Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

£ 26,750per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

Durham University

Durham University

  • University League Table

    8th

  • Campus address

    Durham University, The Palatine Centre, Stockton Road, Durham, Durham, DH1 3LE, England

Choose from a wide range of fascinating courses led by world-leading experts in a university that blends the traditional and state-of-the-art.
More than 120 countries are represented at Durham, creating a diverse and welcoming community.
Its collegiate system makes Durham University exceptional. Each student is a proud member of a college, and each college has its own character and traditions.

Subject rankings

  • Subject ranking

    6th out of 109 1

    8th out of 101 3

  • Entry standards

    / Max 220
    190 86%

    12th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    80.0 80%

    20th

    12
  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 5
    3.77 75%

    66th

    35
  • Entry standards

    / Max 198
    158 77%

    12th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    68.0 68%

    10th

    6
  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 5
    4.02 80%

    12th

    14

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