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Professional Ethics at Keele |
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MA and PgDip in the Ethics of Policing and Criminal JusticeIntroductionThis course is designed especially for those working in fields related to policing and criminal justice. It provides them with an opportunity to gain a deeper and more systematic understanding of ethical issues in those fields, and to explore the moral problems which they face in their work. The course is structured to be compatible with the demands of full-time employment, and to be accessible from all over the UK and beyond. It is taught jointly by ethicists and by criminologists who have a particular interest in ethical issues in these areas. From time to time, outside speakers may be invited to speak on this course. The teaching team have many years of experience of teaching on postgraduate applied ethics programmes. We are very aware of the special problems and challenges which may face those combining study with full-time work, and therefore we do our utmost to offer a supportive and stimulating environment for learning. Each student is assigned a personal supervisor from the teaching team, whom they can contact for help or advice at any time during the course. A report in January 2001 from the Quality Assurance Agency, involving external assessors, awarded the top mark of 24 out of 24 for our Postgraduate Diploma / MA courses. A full report is available. Entry RequirementsApplicants should either have a degree in a relevant subject or appropriate professional qualifications and/or experience. Applications are welcome from people with a professional or other serious interest in ethical issues in policing and criminal justice, such as (but not limited to) police officers, probation officers, prison officers, social workers, civil servants, lawyers, and members of the judiciary. If you are more interested in ethical issues in social work or social welfare, you may also wish to consider our MA course in the Ethics of Social Welfare. If you are unsure about your suitability for the course (or the course's suitability for you) please email us or phone (01782 734 084). Further information on making an application is also available. Course StructureThe innovative teaching structure allows students to combine study with full time work, and family and other commitments. It also enables students from all over the country to attend. The first year of the course is the taught year, during which contact teaching time is organised into four intensive blocks of three days each, spread throughout the academic year.Each teaching block is followed by a 4,000 word assignment. Candidates who successfully complete all four assignments may either take the Postgraduate Diploma or proceed to the MA. In year two, students go on to research and write a dissertation to obtain the award of Master of Arts (MA). There are no specific attendance requirements at all during the second year - you may either meet with your supervisor at mutually convenient times, or keep in touch by phone or email, or use a combination of methods. We regard high levels of student participation in discussion as particularly important for teaching and learning in this area, and employ teaching techniques which encourage this wherever possible. Dates of the teaching blocks for the next intake can be found here. It is also possible to take the course full time over one year, rather than part-time over two, and to write the MA dissertation at the same time as the teaching blocks and assignments. Course ContentModule 1: Introduction to Ethical and Social TheoryThis module seeks to provide the groundwork for the rest of the course. It will offer an introduction to key concepts of moral and political/social theory (e.g. consequentialism and deontology, relativism and tolerance, liberty, authority, justice, rights and the relation between law and morality) and consider their application to questions of crime and punishment. There will also be skills sessions in the library and IT suite consisting of introductions to Athens, e-journals and other e-learning resources. Module 2: Ethics of Policing and Criminal JusticeThe purpose of this module will be to make use of the key concepts in moral and political/social theory introduced in the first module of the course to address some of the key ethical questions that arise in respect of crime prevention, policing and criminal justice. It will examine, for example: the impact of human rights discourses on the work of practitioners in local government, the voluntary sector and in the police, probation and prison services; the ethical implications of increasing private (commercial and voluntary) provision in policing, crime prevention and criminal justice; and the balance to be struck between, on the one hand, liberty interests and individual rights to privacy and, on the other, individual and collective demands for security. Module 3: Ethics, Justice, and PunishmentThis module will consider various answers to the questions ‘why do societies punish?’ and ‘how should they punish?’ as well as addressing how the central concepts of ethical theory and criminology may help illuminate some vexed questions in contemporary penality. Issues covered may include deterrence; incapacitation; rehabilitation; retributivism; restitution. Discussion will be set in the context of the penal politics, examining such concepts as ‘just deserts’, ‘restorative justice’ and ‘What Works’. Module 4: Ethical Issues in Contemporary Crime ControlThe purpose of this module will be to look at the way in which some of the more general issues raised in the other three modules are played out in practice, and how those issues may be addressed by practitioners using the resources of philosophy and criminology. The module will take a number of key controversies in contemporary crime control policy and practice and subject them to ethical scrutiny using the theories and principles considered in the rest of the course. These controversies could include, for example: the rise of so-called 'zero tolerance' styles of policing; the claims of situational crime prevention to ethical superiority; the role of victims and 'communities' in the criminal justice process; and the growing salience of actuarial techniques in targeting groups and individuals for preventive interventions. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)When should I apply? Is there a closing date for applications? Please see our Course Dates and Applications Deadlines page for the latest information on closing dates. The closing date for applications will also be stated in the information pack. Occasionally we can accept late applications but this will mean a delay in obtaining access to the library and computer systems etc. We do advise that you apply as early as possible as our courses are on occasion over-subscribed. Click here for more information about making an application. Is the course suitable for me? If you have a strong interest in the ethical questions that are raised in the area, and have either a degree in a relevant subject or a professional qualification and/or strong personal experience in this area, then you are probably suitable for the course. The idea of returning to education (particularly at postgraduate level) may seem very daunting. However, our course is designed specifically for professionals, and assumes no prior knowledge of ethics or moral philosophy. In the first teaching block, there are introductory sessions on how to construct and analyse ethical arguments, and also on the style, content, and structure required for a good ethics essay. Each student will also be assigned a personal supervisor, who will offer advice and support on any aspect of the course, both during and between teaching blocks, as well as feedback and suggestions for improvement after each assignment. If you have any questions about the course, about your suitability, or whether it meets your particular needs, please contact us for an informal chat. What are the fees? Is there any funding available? Please contact us for information about fees. Like all UK universities, Keele has different rates for "home" (UK and EU students) and "overseas" students. Fee status is determined by residency rather than nationality. More information on what your fee status is likely to be can be found on this "ready reckoner" produced by the Department for Education and Skills. Unfortunately, Keele University is not currently able to offer any assistance with fees. We would recommend that students enquire whether any training funds are available from their employers, as some of our current students have been successful in obtaining whole or part funding for the course. Do you accept students from outside the UK? We do. Fees from students from all EU Member States are the same as for home students. The same admissions criteria apply to overseas applicants, but we would also normally expect English language test scores of at least IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) from students from non-English-speaking countries. Excellent English language skills are particularly important for this kind of course, as small differences in language can make a large difference in meaning in ethics and applied philosophy. How many hours per week will it take? It is difficult to give a definitive answer, as this will obviously vary from student to student and from week to week. In addition to the four teaching blocks, we expect that the time commitment required will be around eight or nine hours per week for the majority of people. Although the course is designed to fit around work and family responsibilities, it is still a substantial commitment. Is accommodation provided during the taught blocks? Do the course fees include accommodation? Students are responsible for booking their own accommodation, and this is not included in the course fees. However, a list of accommodation in the local area will be provided before the course starts. Students may be able to obtain accommodation at a discounted rate from the University Management Centre during teaching blocks. The Management Centre is a conference venue (not a student hall of residence) and is located about fifteen minutes walk from the main university campus. I live a long way away from Keele. How will I be able to get access to books and journals? As well as Keele library, our students also have online access to a wide range of books, journal articles and other materials through the ATHENS password system. Keele is a member of the UK SCONUL scheme, which means that our students can borrow books from most other university libraries in the UK. Keele students also have access to the Blackwell Reference Online, The Philosophers' Index, Lawtel, Westlaw, LexisNexis Butterworths, and netLibrary. A Library and IT training session is included in the first module of the course. More information on electronic resources can be found on our Information for Current Students page. Course tutors regularly check the availability of books on the reading list for each assignment, and try to recommend readings that are not only in the Keele library, but which are also either available online or as part of a reasonably-priced edited collection. What can I write my dissertation about? Any ethical issue related to policing and criminal justice. Some students start the course with a clear idea about what they want to write about - often an ethical issue that they have to deal with at work - but others find and develop particular interests as the course progresses and they learn more about ethical theory, so don't worry if you have no clear idea what to write about at the moment. If there is a particular area you wish to write about, and would like to discuss this prior to applying for the diploma year, please contact us. What support is available for disabled students or students with particular learning needs? See our disabilites and equal opportunities pages. Application PackYou can download a full information pack here. However, if you prefer, we would be very happy to send you a hard copy of the information through the post. It is quite a lot to download, and the colour leaflet may take a heavy toll on your printer cartridge!
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