Criminal Justice – (M.A.)

Contents

The programme consists of seven modules (four compulsory and three electives) and a dissertation (final research project) totaling 180 credits. You will be assessed for each module. Assessment methods will vary and may include academic essays, reports, presentations and examinations, a research proposal and research dissertation.

Modules

• Theories of Crime (compulsory – 30 credits): You will reflect on and attempt to evaluate a range of theoretical approaches that have attempted to explain crime. Attention will be paid to the development of theories about crime and criminality and to debates about how these should be assessed.
• The Sociology of Punishment (compulsory – 15 credits): You will gain a deeper understanding of the aims and philosophies relating to the punishment of offenders. You will examine how these aims and philosophies have related to and informed the major sociological theories of punishment.
• The Criminal Justice System (compulsory – 15 credits): You will critically evaluate issues relevant to the criminal justice system and to help them gain a good understanding of the various debates emanating from these issues. After considering the history of the development of the criminal justice system, the module will focus on some of the main areas of the current criminal justice system - particularly the police, the courts and prisons. In doing this a number of contemporary issues will be examined - including miscarriages of justice, bias in the criminal justice system and the rehabilitation of offenders.
• Research Matters (compulsory – 15 credits): You will understand the methodological principles and practices that underpin independent research at Masters’ level. You will examine the research process, including design, data collection and analysis, interpretation and presentation.
• Women, Crime and Criminal Justice (elective – 15 credits): You will examine the patterns of and explanations for female crime - examining both classic and contemporary theorising. It also examines the way the criminal justice system treats female offenders and women who work within it.
• Ethnicity, Class and Criminal Justice of crime (elective – 15 credits): You will focus on the ways in which the criminal justice system is influenced by social class and ethnicity. In particular, how the class and ethnic background of those who come into contact with the criminal justice system affects the manner in which they are treated. The module will enable students to critically evaluate the notions of impartiality and bias by focusing on the areas of ‘race’ and social class.
• Police and Policing of crime (elective – 15 credits): You will start by looking at the historical development of the modern police institution. You will then investigate a range of substantive topics and issues and examine and evaluate the relevant literature and you will be introduced to current debates about the role and effectiveness of policing.
• Work-based Learning (elective – 15 credits): For this module you will be required to secure a work placement that is relevant to the academic studies at Masters level, allowing substantial work experience and skills development. A work-related learning contract is negotiated to suit the needs of the programme, the employer and the student.
• Negotiated Learning (elective – 15 credits): This module gives you the opportunity for independent study of a topic that would otherwise not be available in the taught modules. The full details of the module aims, outcomes, learning strategy and method of assessment are negotiated between the tutor and the student.
• Dissertation (compulsory – 60 credits): The focus of the research project will be on an issue of relevance to the study of crime and justice and/ or the workings of the criminal justice system. The study can involve the collection of primary data or a literature-based dissertation with an emphasis on theory development, or a dissertation which involves secondary data analysis.

Accreditation

Liverpool Hope University is a recognised body with degree awarding powers as sworn in by the UK Government.
Quality of UK universities is measured through the official Government agencies, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) which consistently judged Liverpool Hope University to be of highest quality.
Liverpool Hope University's Business School, that was ranked top quality, having secured a maximum excellent rating (24 out of 24) in the UK Governments QAA inspection.

In the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which is the official evaluation of the quality of research undertaken within UK higher education institutions, subject areas of Theology & Religious Studies, and Social Work & Social Policy, included work which ranked as of 4-star ‘world leading’. The subject areas of Computer Science and Informatics, Psychology, Education, English, and Music included work which ranked as 3-star ‘internationally recognised’, as was Politics and International Studies (including submissions from Business) and Drama ranked as 2*. For information on Liverpool Hope University’s RAE submission, go to www.rae.ac.uk

Funding details

Liverpool Hope University's fees for international students are amongst the most competitive within the UK university sector.

For 2011/12 intake, international tuition fee for Criminal Justice is £7,120.

With an Overseas Scholarship this is reduced to £6,120.

With an Overseas Scholarship and Early Payment Discount this is reduced to £5,408.