Criminology MA

Overview

This degree is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of crime and criminal justice at national and international levels. It promotes a critical and comparative approach to crime and justice issues intended to equip you with the skills and knowledge required to deal with a range of traditional and non-traditional crime, justice and deviancy issues.

The course looks at contemporary problems such as terrorism and the priorities of global policing, human rights and justice, environmental justice and transnational crime. The international and transnational dimension of crime is an integral part of the programme.

Why study MA Criminology at Middlesex University?

Criminology at Middlesex has a particularly strong international reputation. The Department was pioneering in an influential strand of criminology called 'left realism', and established one of the very first courses of its kind in the UK, which is still considered to be one of the leading postgraduate criminology courses.

Our academic staff are involved in developing groundbreaking work, recently in areas such as sex offenders' use of the internet and online child safety (Dr Elena Martellozzo) and Environmental and Wildlife Crime (Dr Angus Nurse). Across the Department, our research incorporates crime, policing, community safety, green criminology, justice and victimisation, and broader fields of conflict, social movements, international conflicts, political violence and terrorism. This strength of research and academic innovation directly impacts our students and the teaching we provide.

A highlight of the course is an opportunity to attend the Common Study in Critical Criminology sessions with postgraduate criminologists studying in universities across Europe and New York.

Course content

What will you study on the MA Criminology?

The course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to investigate and analyse problems of crime, conflict and control and transnational crime and justice. It combines four core modules offering a sophisticated understanding of contemporary criminological theory methods and issues, and debates in global criminology and policing, human rights and justice and terrorism. You may also select optional modules that enable you to focus on areas of special interest including institutions of criminal justice, community safety, drugs, environmental crime and green criminology and youth offending.

Teaching

How will the MA Criminology be taught?

Teaching on the degree is delivered by expert academics who are research-active in a range of criminological subject areas and bring these specialisms to their lecture delivery and classroom discussion. Staff members' research investigations involve: the policing of online child sexual exploitation, dangerous dog ownership and legislation, the criminal courts and justice administration, drug policy and practice, violence towards sex workers, rape and sexual violence, women's bereavement from homicide, collective protest and social movements, social change and social conflict, organised crime and corruption and penal abolitionism.

You will be encouraged to actively participate in your learning and prepare to engage in questioning and debate within teaching sessions and in online discussion forums led by programme staff. Regular events and presentations are organised within the department to assist a dynamic culture of knowledge exchange and the generation of ideas and debate among our postgraduate students.