Master Criminology and Criminal Justice - Máster en Criminología y Justicia Penal

Take your understanding of criminality and criminal justice to the next level. Whether you are developing your career or moving on from undergraduate study, this course will help advance your skills to meet the demands of crime and criminal justice roles.

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.

International entry requirements:
If English is not your first language you´ll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all components.

Develop advanced analytical knowledge and understanding of criminological theory and criminal justice processes and outcomes, informed by current practice and research
Enhance your existing leadership and practice skills to support career progression and align with requirements from current employers in criminal justice
Conduct an independent piece of critical research in a related area of your choice
Develop advanced research skills for critically examining complex problems, suitable for theoretical and practical application
Consider criminology and criminal justice from a global perspective
Advance your knowledge of crime and criminology under the tutelage of our research-active teaching staff, bringing research and professional practice into the classroom environment.

Contemporary Criminological Theory: This unit will teach you about new criminologies, such as Gothic, Narrative, or Visual Criminology, Queer Criminology, and Green Criminology. You will consider a variety of both established and contemporary approaches to theory and evaluate their contribution to the discipline. You will evaluate and compare theoretical trends over time and place them within the criminological tradition to form contemporary criminological thought.

Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice: Explore a range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies within this practical unit, whilst establishing the connections between theory, method, ethics and data analysis. Critically evaluate the suitability of research designs to conduct meaningful and ethical research.

Penalism and Punishment: This unit asks the question ‘why punish?’, which involves a critical examination of the role of punishment and penal policy. Examine the development and function of the modern prison and the purpose of community-based sanctions and alternatives to custody, as well as the changing functions of prison over time. You will explore issues of gender, race and ethnicity and consider the changing composition of the prison population.

Policy Making in the Criminal Justice System: You’ll critically examine criminal justice policy, to understand how, by whom and for whom policy is made. You will explore the role of ideology, economics and political pragmatism in the policy making process as well as the challenges in implementing policy. There will be opportunities for comparing national and international policy practice, considering theories, policy making processes, decision making, power, and decision making in criminal justice.

Dissertation: This is a student-managed independent piece of work, where you will use your depth of knowledge and analytical techniques to evaluate and explore a specific topic related to criminology and/or criminal justice. With guidance from academic supervisors, you will apply theoretical knowledge and demonstrate research competence in producing a substantial empirical research project, systematic review, or systematic case study.

Optional units

Complexities of Contemporary Policing: The aim of this unit is to critically examine contemporary policing, considering problems, challenges and controversies pertaining to policing, both nationally and abroad. Learn about challenges of governance and accountability, transnational policing, post-Brexit challenges, ethics and frameworks for analysing policing. You will also consider democratic policing, police professionalisation and the role of Higher Education within police learning and development.

Hate Crime and Extremism: You’ll be introduced to concepts and debates around hate crime policy and legislation and forms of extremism in contemporary society. You will learn about hate crime’s historical and theoretical conceptualisations, from its origins in identity politics to the changes in criminal justice practice in the UK. Explore broader connections between hate crimes, terrorism, far right extremism, and genocide whilst considering victim experiences, processes of victimisation and responding to hate crime perpetrators.

Professional Practice and Leadership Skills: This unit will develop your skills and ability to critically evaluate, communicate and present ideas and results, and to prepare and structure reports. You will be provided with theoretical understanding and practical skills for presenting materials to criminal justice and other agencies. You will also consider how leadership efficacy is produced, developed and evaluated. You will develop professional skills to support your career progression, providing you with the capacity to work effectively, respectfully and resiliently within a professional criminal justice environment. You will learn about the collaborative practices, and perceived blockages, between all departments in the Criminal Justice System, including the restraints of finances and the challenges of competing targets between agencies. These will provide an invaluable insight into the Criminal Justice System and will assist in seeking leadership roles across the sector.

Victimisation and Sexual Violence: During this unit you will develop a critical understanding of classic and contemporary debates on victimisation with a focus on sexual violence, informed by theoretical debates, policy interventions, and empirical research literature. Critically explore how victimisation is understood within the criminal justice system and consider the role of the victim in the criminal justice process, before considering current debates on sexual violence in society. You will learn about the changing role of the victim, the advancement of the ‘survivor’ label, support systems for victims and how notions of victimhood are constructed within criminological research.

This degree will support the career development of those already working within policing or criminal justice related areas as well as providing the base for those looking to start a career in this area. It will provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding you need for a range of roles in policing, the prison and probation services, youth justice, criminal justice, social services, government and the civil service.