COURSE CURRICULUM

The criminology program offers a structured curriculum designed to provide advanced research training while building specialist knowledge in criminological theory and practice. In the autumn semester, students study Research Design and Process and choose between modules focused on quantitative research methods or data analysis to strengthen their statistical and methodological skills. They also select from a range of criminology-focused modules such as Criminological Perspectives, Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice Work, or Reflexivity and Observation, allowing them to tailor their learning to particular interests within the field. The dissertation, worth 60 credits, begins in the autumn and continues into the spring semester, giving students the opportunity to undertake an in-depth independent research project. In the spring, students further develop their expertise with a compulsory module in Qualitative Data Analysis, ensuring a balance of quantitative and qualitative methodological training. They also choose from criminological research modules addressing pressing issues such as Criminalisation, Social Control and Human Rights, Drug Use: Policy and Interventions, or Research Methods in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies. This flexible yet rigorous structure equips students with comprehensive research skills, theoretical grounding, and applied knowledge, preparing them for academic research, policy development, or professional practice in criminology and related fields.