Contemporary Criminology

Course Overview
The Master of Arts in Contemporary Criminology is a one year full-time or two years part-time programme that provides learners with the theoretical background and practical skills to apply their criminological knowledge efficiently and productively to evaluate crime and criminal actors in a range of contexts and to develop preventative measures and interventions to crime. The programme covers a wide range of specialist topics that provides learners with the knowledge of theories and concepts relating to the contribution of those who study criminology to develop skills in order to create, implement and evaluate community criminological interventions and processes that can be applied in a variety of contemporary settings at individual, community and global levels.

Learners will explore criminal behaviour from individual, social and biological perspectives and through a detailed understanding of the discipline, both theoretically and methodologically, and will be enabled to assess appropriate interventions and design appropriate solutions for community safety and at higher level policy intervention both locally and nationally. Modules focus on the applied nature of professional and ethical issues and pertinent research methods, while others have a specific focus upon the application of theory to the ‘real world’ allowing learners to further develop and apply competencies and knowledge in the study of crime.

Learners who complete the full programme will therefore also develop and enhance their research capability through critical enquiry and detailed analytical problem solving. The programme contains an embedded exit award, the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Contemporary Criminology (60 ECTS, NFQ Level 9) which is available for those who cannot complete the research component of this programme for personal or professional reasons.

Aims & Objectives
• Enable learners to explore the various theories, concepts and processes of criminology.
• Facilitate critical evaluation of competing criminological theories through critical analysis and appraisal of studies and projects.
• Enable learners to understand how these theories can be applied to understanding human behaviour from individual, social and biological perspectives.
• Relate criminological concepts, theories and processes to a variety of individual and group settings and situations.
• Develop in learners an understanding of contemporary local and global issues using a criminological perspective.
• Enable learners to assess appropriate interventions and design appropriate solutions for real world issues and problems.
• Enable learners to explore research methods and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the theoretical and methodological considerations, evidencing these skills in a research project and dissertation.
• Provide graduates with the underpinning academic knowledge to enhance their employment and educational opportunities and achieve the award of a Master of Arts in Contemporary Criminology.

The MA in Contemporary Criminology provides students with a flexible, multimodal, active, peer-led and reflective learning environment.

Structure
The Master of Arts in Contemporary Criminology is a 1-year full-time/2-year part-time programme consisting of seven taught modules and a 30 ECTS Capstone Dissertation.

For full-time learners, Semester 1 will begin with five 10 ECTS modules; Research Methods, Criminological Theory, The Criminal Justice System, Contemporary Society and Issues in Criminology and Psychology of Crime. These 10 ECTS modules, aside from Research Methods, are delivered as linear modules over the course of the 24-week academic year.

In Semester 2 learners will continue with the linear modules while taking an additional two, 5 ECTS modules in Policing, Social Action and Conflict and Compliance and Corporate Crime. The programme offers a Capstone Dissertation (30 ECTS), commencing in Semester 2, that provides an opportunity for the learner to integrate accumulated learning and make the necessary connections in the context of the discipline.

For part-time learners, Semester 1 will begin with Research Methods, Criminological Theory, The Criminal Justice System and Contemporary Society and Issues in Criminology. In the part-time delivery, Research Methods is delivered linear across the 24-week academic year. As such, these modules also make up Semester 2. The timetable for part-time learners follows a two-evening structure in Semester 1 and Semester 2.

The part-time programme continues into a second year of delivery in which learners in Semester 3 take Psychology of Crime with double contact hours over 12-weeks in addition to two, 5 ECTS modules; Policing, Social Action and Conflict and Compliance and Corporate Crime. An additional half evening in Semester 3 is included due to the introduction of the Capstone Dissertation module contact hours.

Semester 4 of the part-time programme has no taught modular component and allows the learner to fully engage solely in the Capstone Dissertation module, culminating in the submission of assessment requirements by the end of the semester.

• Research Methods
• Criminological Theory
• The Criminal Justice System
• Contemporary Society and Issues in Criminology
• Psychology of Crime
• Policing, Social Actions and Conflict
• Compliance & Corporate Crime
• Capstone Dissertation

Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements for the MA in Contemporary Criminology are:
• Applicants are required to hold a minimum of an upper Second Class Honours degree (or above) at NFQ Level 8 award from a recognised University course.
• In exceptional cases, the college may accept a lower Second Class Honours degree at NFQ Level 8 award from a recognised University course, on the basis of an interview.
• All applicants should have a minimum of ordinary-level Leaving Certificate maths, or be able to demonstrate equivalent competency in maths at this level.

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2024.

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 Years

Delivery
The modules for the MA in Contemporary Criminology will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face workshops, practical lab sessions,face-to-face and synchronous online lectures with discussion forums and synchronous tutorials.

Next Intake: September 2024

Career Opportunities
There is a wide range of destinations available to graduates from the MA in Contemporary Criminology. For those wishing to further their studies, progression to a programme leading to a PhD (Level 10) is possible.

Examples of vacancies suitable for typical graduates are:
• Data Scientist
• Policy Officer
• Researcher
• University Lecturer
• Youth Worker