Applied Criminology MSc

Students will study this module in semester 2. The module allows students to critically reflect upon a period of professional experience in a context appropriate to the course. The module is open to students in full or part time employment in an appropriate career as well as those who access the professional context through an internship, or period of voluntary or work experience. Students will undertake professional tasks and roles and critically reflect on their practice in the context of specialist career trajectories. They will produce a portfolio of achievement to reflect their professional experience. This portfolio should act as a resource to deploy within subsequent career development. Students will learn to identify their own professional development needs and professional development resources available to them.

Students will study this module in semester 1. In this module will explore and develop an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of Criminology and the relationship between theoretical perspectives and explanations and the substantive issues of crime and criminality. It will also critically examine the unique contribution of a range of academic disciplines in explaining the phenomenon of crime and criminality. The module will also explore the relationship between theoretical explanations of crime and their application in the realm of policy and practice at both a macro and micro level, i.e. at both the societal and community level as well as at the agency and organisational level of those charged with the responsibility to operationalize such policies. The module will conclude by exploring the changing practices of a range of crime related agencies such as the police, prison and probation services, amongst others, in the management, control and prevention of crime and criminality in a constantly and fast changing social, economic and political environment.

Students will study this module in semester 2. This module will develop the understanding of the research process required at advanced and postgraduate level. The module will through the use of surveys explore the issues relating to the design and analysis of quantitative research. Qualitative research design and analysis will be addressed through exploring the techniques of data collection associated with interviewing, focus group research, life course analysis, ethnography and biographical approaches. Issues of research ethics as well as sampling within both qualitative and quantitative methods will also be explored. The application, organisation and dissemination of research findings will be dealt with through an examination of the writing up and presentational aspects of the research process.

Students will study this module in semester 2. The module is an opportunity to undertake an extended piece of original research directed towards a specific professional context. The research will tackle an issue of contemporary relevance to an external organisation working broadly within the criminological field. The project will recognise current debates within the academic and professional literatures and will be based on a sophisticated review of salient literatures. It is expected that the project will contain a substantial amount of original data which will be collected, analysed and presented as part of the project. The finding of the project will be applied to a specific professional context and it is expected that it will conclude with a set of recommendations which address an aspect of current practice. Aspects of the project may be negotiated with an external organisation.