Criminology MA

at Coventry University

The courses are designed to enhance your understanding and provide you with new perspectives on criminological theory and practice. In addition to established theories, new areas of criminological concern are discussed, such as criminalisation of migration; harm to the environment; and breaching public health measures. Studying criminology on these courses is also designed to extend your awareness and understanding of the ways that globalisation has accelerated organised crime as it follows money flows, necessitating international collaboration for public protection. There is a focus on how emerging technologies impact on crime and security and links between youth, popular culture and crime. A central focus throughout is the effect of crime and social harm on communities and individuals.
 

How thinking on criminology has developed over time, and been refined due to new evidence and knowledge in the field is a key component of the course. You will also examine the important issue of how and when the criminal justice system has failed, through miscarriages of justice and systemic failings such as institutional racism.

Modules
 

• Crime, theory and popular culture
   

  This module has been designed to enable you to attain a deep understanding of the real world application of complex criminological theory. The module investigates advanced theoretical frameworks such as cultural criminology and ultrarealism through the lens of popular culture, including film, television, music and literary fiction.
   

• Race, gender and the criminal justice system
   

  Throughout this module you will critically interrogate ideas of race and gender to examine how these feature in criminological theory and research on a global level. You will analyse both constructs in terms of their relevance to contemporary society, with a specific focus on the criminal justice system. Key areas you will examine include the causes of crime, offending and victimization, policing, and sentencing.
   

• Governance and security
   

  Successful completion of this module equips you with a critical understanding of contemporary issues in governance, criminal justice and security. You will draw on theoretical and practical applications of governance, with a focus on on power dynamics, questions of legitimacy, and peace and security in a post-Cold War context.
   

• Youth, crime and control
   

  Developing a holistic understanding of the contested and criminalised landscapes of ‘youth’ will be your key foicus in this module. You will unpack the complex areas of young people as victims and offenders. You will be encouraged to critically evaluate the nature of control and policing of young people by exploring the changing nature of ‘youth’ in an increasingly globalised, insecure, and unstable world.
   

• Language, identity and justice
   

  This innovative module is designed to provide you with a critical understanding of how language shapes and is shaped by Criminal Justice through applications of linguistic theory to legal settings. The module draws on the intersection of linguistic and criminological theory with interviews and relevant legal interactions analysed to understand the complexities of language and identity in a legal context.
   

• Border criminology
   

  Border Criminology is an expanding field of academic research, collaboration and policy concern. This exciting module expands the parameters of criminology and invites you to analyse borders as sites of contest, control and criminalisation. Focus on borders is used as an integrative opportunity to apply criminological theory to specific social and political contexts.
   

• Being a Reflective Criminologist
   

  The module offers you an opportunity for personal and professional development by encouraging self-reflection in relation to Criminology and Criminal Justice settings. A central purpose of the module is enabling you to evidence skills and knowledge and to identify priorities for change and development. It presents an opportunity for you to build resilience and emotional intelligence to become an effective an practitioner within stressful environments.
   

• Critiquing and applying criminological research
   

  Successful completion of this module will equip you with the ability to distinguish between research methodologies and utilise appropriate methods for different criminological topics of study. The module focuses on your own research interests and requires you to consider and present research methods suitable to the context of research, for example conducting research within / on aspects of the criminal justice system, or with offenders and victims.
   

• Criminology research project
   

  This module aims to provide you with the skills to plan and execute an independent academic research project, applying the critical knowledge you have developed from across the MA programme.
   

• Organisational health and well-being
   

  This module is designed to provide you with a framework to effectively lead and develop people in organisations for better health and wellbeing through a range of approaches. You will explore leadership theories and culture, and the impact of health and wellbeing on organisational performance in different types of organisations. You will be given the opportunity to propose a series of recommendations to create and sustain a positive culture of health and wellbeing within an organisational context.

• All modules are mandatory for the MA award. If you choose to study for the PGDip all modules are mandatory, other than the Criminology research project and Organisational health and well-being modules which are not required for the PGDip.

UK

Normally applicants must have a minimum of an honour’s degree equivalent to a 2:2, ideally in a criminology related area, but this is not essential. Applications from people without the above qualification (for example those with significant relevant professional experience) are encouraged and will be considered for entry to the course at the discretion of the Course Director and the Admission Tutor.

English Language Requirements.

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. Alternatively, students may be admitted with IELTS 6.0 if they attend and pass a compulsory five-week pre-sessional English course, operated by Coventry University, before joining their master’s programme.

UK

£10,600

International

£16,950

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship

You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.

Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.

The scholarship application deadline is:

September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

These courses have been designed in consultation with employers within the criminal justice system and have been developed with the aim of producing graduates able to demonstrate the skills and attributes required for a range of roles in criminal justice, including probation work, police, border control, offender management and victim support.