Criminology

Course details

The MA in Criminology examines a broad range of theories and studies of crime, social deviance, morality, anti-social behaviour, social regulation, legislation, criminal law, justice, prevention, rehabilitation and punishment as social phenomena and as objects of social policy, and delivers a basic competence to carry out research in the field. It is interdisciplinary in tone and character and organized by the Schools of Sociology & Philosophy, Law and Applied Social Studies.

Course Details

There are 3 compulsory core modules in this degree:

• Sociology of Crime and Deviance
• Crime and Justice in Ireland
• Crime Prevention

Students will also be able to choose a fourth module from the list below before taking the opportunity to write a dissertation on topic of their own choice in the summer months. 

The optional modules are:

• Social Pathology and Civic Health
• Global Challenges to Social Justice
• Juvenile Justice
• Penology
• Terrorism, Dissonance and Criminal Justice
• Mental health and disability 
• Conflict transformation and peace building

For more details on the programme content and module description, see the current Postgraduate Academic Calendar

Detailed Entry Requirements

1. Applicants must normally have obtained a minimum of a Second Class Honours Grade I (or equivalent) degree in sociology, law, politics, psychology, history, applied social studies, or another subject relevant to the study of crime. 
2. Candidates who hold a primary degree with a Second Class Honours Grade II will also be considered subject to a written expression of interest and/or interview acceptable to the department selection committee. 
3. In exceptional circumstances, substantial professional experience in a relevant and related field of criminal justice may be accepted as compensating for the absence of an undergraduate degree to the required standard.

Course Practicalities

Students are assessed through 4 modules and a dissertation.

Students should take two modules in the first semester and two in the second, although on agreement with the Personal Tutor some could do 3 and 1. Dissertation titles should be fixed by February and the dissertation itself written between May and September. Classes will be two hours long, often later in the day to accommodate practitioners, and usually take a lecture-seminar format. Learning is primarily student-centred and we expect students to make time to read and digest the literature for at least 4 hours a day. The degree is full-time, with no part-time provision.

Assessment

The 4 taught modules will be assessed by essays of 5-6,000 words. The dissertation can and should be between 15-20,000 words