Criminology

This course is designed for all those who want to acquire a thorough understanding of the more recent and often complex trends and developments in crime, criminal justice, and governance more broadly. Combining theoretical reflection and practical application, the course aims to provide you with an opportunity to specialise in the latest developments in criminology, criminal justice and governance studies. The programme welcomes recent graduates (whether UK based or international students), mature students, and professionals in one of the relevant fields (e.g. police officers, prison officers, probation officers, social workers, lawyers, magistrates).

The MA programme is block taught. You will be required to attend four 3-day blocks of intensive teaching and discussion that normally run between September and May. This format allows students to combine their studies with either part-time or full-time professional activities should they wish to do so.

A significant effort will be made in the programme to tailor teaching contents both to your individual educational and professional background and to your intellectual or professional interests. The programme has a teaching format which will provide you with many opportunities to discuss your own intellectual interests or professional experience. You will also be offered an opportunity to take electives. The programme includes an additional one day dissertation workshop where you will be able to prepare for your dissertation research.

The distinctiveness of the programme resides in its multidisciplinary curriculum which is simultaneously rooted in the University’s dual honours approach to undergraduate teaching and interdisciplinary approach to research.

This synthetic approach means that the programme is taught by research-active specialists in Criminology (with a wealth of expertise in a range of criminological sub-specialisms), but also offers students access to a range of modules with input from specialist staff from Philosophy, Ethics, Politics, Geography, Sociology and several other subject areas at Keele.

Students will be assigned a personal supervisor from the teaching team. They will be available for help or advice at any time during the course.

Study Abroad Opportunities

We are currently working towards the inclusion, in the programme, of study abroad opportunities. Developments will be posted on our website as and when they materialize.

• To introduce students to recent and contemporary theorising in criminology and governance studies
• To show students how recent and contemporary theorising in criminology and governance studies has attempted to describe, analyse and interpret contemporary developments in criminal justice, transnational justice, international justice, and governance more broadly
• To enable students to think through methodological problems and choose appropriate methods for the study of crime, criminal justice, and governance
• To enable students to critically assess research in a number of fields within criminology, criminal justice, and governance studies more broadly
• To enable students to design and complete a research project and understand the importance of the research process in the social sciences

Applicants should have an honours degree at 2:2 class or higher (or international equivalent) in one of the humanities or social sciences subjects (e.g. law, criminal justice, criminology, sociology, history, political science). However, applicants with other qualifications and appropriate experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students for whom English is a second language will need English language proficiency of at least 6.5 in IELTS test scores (or equivalent).

Tuition Breaks, Grants and Bursaries

All students from North America (USA and Canada) are eligible for tuition breaks of 10%. Students from universities that are among Keele University’s partner institutions are eligible for tuition breaks of up to 25% of the tuition fee. Further information can be found here.

All students are eligible for an ERASMUS grant for the period spent at an EU partner institution. 

The taught Masters programme requires satisfactory completion of at least 180 credits. The MA programme in Criminology and Criminal Justice includes four 30-credit module blocks and one 60-credit dissertation of 15-20,000 words. All module blocks include at least 12 teaching sessions. The programme includes, in chronological order:

1. Contemporary Criminology: Theory and Practice
2. Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
3. Contemporary Challenges in Criminal Justice
4. Advanced Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The MRes route deviates slightly from the aforementioned format, but still requires satisfactory completion of at least 180 credits. Students who choose this route will focus much more on research methodologies and strategies. The MRes programme includes two 3-day module blocks of 30 credits each (i.e. module block 2 mentioned above, and one other module block), three specialised research modules of 20 credits each, and one 60-credit dissertation.

Each module block comprises the following:

• Three days of intensive face-to-face contact between staff and students. Each day is sub-divided into four thematically linked sessions and several members of staff contribute to each day.

Course Modules

Contemporary Criminology: Theory and Practice

This module block will introduce you to criminological theories and perspectives. However, in contrast to many if not most theoretical modules in criminology, this module block explicates theories or perspectives in criminology by applying them to particular issues and problems. This module block will thus include sessions on topics such as (e.g.):

biopolitics and crime control; crime and the governance of space; crime and consumer society; the phenomenology of ‘edgework’; complexity theory, terrorism and organized crime; cultural and critical criminology; post-structuralist theories of crime and criminal justice; crime and the popular imagination; the local and the global dimension of crime and criminal justice; the political economy of crime and crime control in the 21st century.

The list of subjects may vary from year to year depending on e.g. staff availability. It is however anticipated that the majority of sessions and/or topics will recur year after year.

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice

This module block includes sessions on topics such as (e.g.):

research strategies; databases and datasets in criminology and criminal justice; oral history and documentary analysis in criminal justice studies; quantitative data analysis lab; qualitative methods and ethnographic research; research in cultural and critical criminology; feminist research in criminology and criminal justice; researching fear of crime; researching courts and prisons; researching immigration and crime; ethics in criminological research.

Contemporary Challenges in Criminal Justice

This module block will introduce you to a number of contemporary issues and developments in criminal justice and governance. The module includes sessions on issues such as (e.g.):

risk society, surveillance, and actuarial justice; plural policing and nodal governance; the precautionary principle; technology and criminal justice; fines and fixed penalties; criminal injustice and miscarriages of justice; the expanding prison complex; prison life and prison work; community and criminal justice; policing the state of exception; transitional justice and reconciliation.

Advanced Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice

This module block consists of sessions on topics proposed by students themselves, as well as sessions based on individual staff members’ and dissertation supervisors’ expertise.

Each of the taught modules is assessed by a written, summative coursework assignment of up to 5,000 words (essay, literature review, case-study, and research proposal) (or two 2,500 words each for Block 2). The pass mark is 50% and students must pass each of the modules in order to progress to the dissertation, which involves writing a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words. There are no exams.

Jodie Hart MA Criminology and Criminal Justice student (2010/11)

I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice; my favourite aspects however have been the small teaching groups, the diversity of students and their interests, the knowledgeable and supportive teaching staff, and the teaching content which has been challenging and thought provoking. In the last year I feel my Criminological knowledge has considerably improved, especially in areas that I didn’t even know I was interested in! The nature of the enthusiastic teaching has made it all so accessible and given the opportunity I would stay on and do the course all over again!

Kevin Hoffin MA Criminology and Criminal Justice student (2010/11)

The MA Criminology and Criminal Justice course has been as eye-opening as it has been relevant. The tutors have clearly worked tirelessly to ensure that the source material is current and therefore as interesting as possible. Concepts that have been introduced throughout the course have been explained perfectly, and I have no qualms about recommending this course to others. The structure of the course is perfect for those who juggle it alongside a job or family, and for those like me who travel a  considerable distance to get to Keele, it is surprisingly affordable.