Criminology and Criminal Justice L3KC09 September 2024

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Course details

Criminology and criminal justice engages with a vast range of historical and contemporary issues. In a field that is constantly evolving, experts have become adept at changing their approach to keep pace with new and emerging forms of crime.

The MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice critically addresses key issues and debates relating to crime and the criminal justice system. Exploring issues such as terrorism, sex work, legal and illegal drugs, forced migration, law enforcement, cybercrime and the use of new technologies you will develop an in-depth understanding of crime, deviance and criminal justice from critical, theoretical, policy, legal, political and practical perspectives.

You will study issues of theoretical and social importance, learning from practitioners, lecturers and researchers who are international experts in their fields. The module ’Criminology: Theory and Critical Issues' links directly with the research activities of the criminology staff while ‘Gender Violence and Abuse’ links with the current activities of the Department’s research group of the same name.

The course will suit those from a wide range of disciplines, who are interested in pursuing a career in the field and those with a professional background in criminal justice who are keen to take their skills to the next level.

Course structure

Core modules:

Criminology, Theory and Critical Issues provides an advanced education in the application of a range of theoretical approaches to the study of crime and criminal justice. These theories of crime and justice are then applied to a range of topical issues including: gender, crime and justice; policing, prisons and punishment; sexual violence and abuse; youth justice; human rights; border crime and transnational justice; cyber-crime, nightlife and alcohol-related violence, and forensics.

Researching Society, Policy and Practice develops your critical understanding of main approaches and methods of social research, and the skills used in this area. The module makes particular reference to the use of research in social welfare practice settings within an ethical framework, exploring areas such as research questions, sampling, methods of data collection and analysis, and interpretation.

The 15,000-word Dissertation gives you the opportunity to explore and write about a suitable subject of your choice under the guidance of a supervisor, and to use the techniques developed in the research modules. It enables you to demonstrate your capacity for independent thought, critical thinking and analysis.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

Gender, Violence and Abuse
Prisons, Crime and Justice
Social Policy and Society
Participatory Action Research
Public Sociology: Theory and Practice
Policy Related and Evaluation Research
Quantitative Methods and Analysis
Qualitative Methods and Analysis
Computational Social Science
Analysing Causal Relations in Social Science Research
Placement
Communities, Civil Society and Social Justice
Education and Social Inequality
Sociology of Health and Illness
Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Practices Across Social Research
Global Environmental Law
International Protection of Human Rights
A relevant module from Durham Law School
A language module

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Department information

Sociology

The Department of Sociology carries out significant research and teaching that considers the world from a social perspective. We use the knowledge gained from our research into human behaviour to contribute to vital policy and practice that addresses contemporary social challenges.

These ever-present challenges range from social inequality and its implications for social mobility, education and health as well as violence, abuse, and the role of responses from bodies such as governments and agencies.

We offer postgraduate taught masters courses in Sociology, Social Work and Social Research Methods. We also offer masters by research and doctorates by research in the areas of Communities and Social Justice, Higher Education and Inequality, Violence and Abuse, and Health.

Our academic staff have a vast pool of expertise in innovative and socially conscious research in areas ranging from Criminology and Sociology through Social Policy to Social Work and Community and Youth Work.

We are also home to prestigious research centres that are respected for the contribution they make to the field of sociology including the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action and the Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

World Top 15 in the QS World University Subject Rankings for Sociology 2023
1st for Criminology in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024
3rd for Sociology in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024
8th for Sociology in The Complete University Guide 2024
3rd for Criminology in The Guardian University Guide 2024

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Department of Sociology pages.

Research Excellence Framework

We are 4th in the UK for research impact (REF 2021)

Facilities

The Department is located in the centre of Durham. Our main building is 32 Old Elvet and is within walking distance of the Students’ Union, University Colleges and the city’s castle and cathedral.

The buildings include a student common space, networked computer access and our main teaching and learning offices.

Our University library is one of the best in northern Britain and offers a wide range of books, ebooks and journals that support all of our areas of study. We also make extensive use of Learn Ultra, the University’s virtual learning environment.