Criminology

Course Outline
The MA in Criminology examines a broad range of theoretical and applied approaches to understanding 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.

Why Choose This Course
This course is aimed at providing students with a multidisciplinary grounding in the study of crime. Students have the option to take modules on Law, psychology, sociology and applied social studies.

The 90-credit programme has three compulsory modules plus four additional modules as follows:
Core modules:
• CR6012 Key issues in Criminology (10 credits)
• CR6010 Research design and methods (10 credits)
• CR6006 Dissertation on Criminology (30 credits)

Four modules are chosen from the following options. Students must choose at least one Law (LW) module AND at least one Criminology (CR) module AND at least one Applied Social Studies (SS) module.
• CR6000 Governmentality: Disciplines, Institutions and Critiques (10 credits)
• CR6001 Terrorism and Organised Crime (10 credits)
• LW6544 Criminology (10 credits)

• LW6545 Penology (10 credits)

• LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

• LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
• SC6627 Social Pathology, Civic Health, New Technology (10 credits)

• SC6638 Rethinking Borders: Sovereignty, Rights and Justice (10 credits)

• SC6639 Feminist Epistemologies: Feminisms, Sexuality and Society (10 credits)

• SC6641 Gender and Catastrophe (10 credits)
• SC6642 Social Theory and Climate Justice (10 credits)

• SS6315 Mental Health and Disability (10 credits)

• SS6316 Children and Young People (10 credits)

• SS6320 Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (10 credits)

PART-TIME
Year 1 - Part I
Core modules:
• CR6010 Research Design and Methods (10 credits)
CR6012 Key Issues in Criminology (10 credits)

plus modules to the value of 20 credits from the optional* modules listed below:
*Students must, across both years of part-time study, take at least one Law (LW) module AND at least one Criminology (CR) module AND at least one Applied Social Studies (SS) module from the list of optional modules.
• CR6000 Governmentality: Disciplines, Institutions, and Critiques (10 credits)
• CR6001 Terrorism and Organised Crime (10 credits)
• LW6544 Criminology (10 credits)
• LW6545 Penology (10 credits)
• LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)
• LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
• SC6627 Social Pathology, Civic Health, New Technology (10 credits)
• SC6638 Rethinking Borders: Sovereignty, Rights and Justice (10 credits)
• SC6639 Feminist Epistemologies: Feminisms, Sexuality and Society (10 credits)
• SC6641 Gender and Catastrophe (10 credits)
• SC6642 Social Theory and Climate Justice (10 credits)
• SS6315 Mental Health and Disability (10 credits)
• SS6316 Children and Young People (10 credits)
• SS6320 Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (10 credits)

Year 2
In Year 2, students select two optional 10-credit modules (not previously taken in Year 1). Students must, across both years of part-time study, take at least one Law (LW) module AND at least one Criminology (CR) module AND at least one Applied Social Studies (SS) module from the list of optional modules.

Part II
• CR6006 Dissertation on Criminology (30 credits)
See the University Calendar (MA Criminology) for the part-time programme module options.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Applicants must normally have obtained a minimum of Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent degree in sociology, law, politics, psychology, history, applied social studies, or another subject relevant to the study of crime. Candidates who hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in an unrelated subject, or a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a related or unrelated subject, will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) subject to a written expression of interest and/or interview. Evidence of written ability on a criminological topic may also be required.

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, subject to an interview and evidence of written ability on a criminological topic.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Closing Date: Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June

Open for EU applications, check rounds closing dates under
How to Apply - Application Date Weblink below.

How Do I Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.
• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme.

This will include the following questions:
• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please enter the names and email addresses of two referees.

Students are assessed on 6 taught modules and a dissertation module.

Each module has an assessment method outlined in the book of modules The dissertation is expected to be between 15-20,000 words.

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

This MA programme is offered on a full-time basis running over 12 months or on a part-time basis running over 24 months.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
Criminology graduates from the MA in Criminology at UCC are attractive to employers both inside and outside the criminal justice sector. Our programme encourages the development of key proficiencies such as critical thinking, analytical and communications skills; graduates with these capabilities have the option to work in many sectors associated with their degree and other related areas.

What can I do after I graduate?
Our MA graduates have a diverse range of roles both nationally and internationally. Some students come to UCC with a wealth of experience in the field, for example serving Gardai, eager to further their knowledge in the area. Other students come from an undergraduate programme or related areas such a youth work. To date, our graduate students have found employment in the Gardai, the Prison Services, the community sector, further education, and addiction services.

Jobs directly related to this programme include the following:
• Community development officer
• Garda
• Prison officer
• Youth worker
• Victim liaison officer
• Researcher
• Civil servant
• Customs and excise officer
• Fisheries officer

Other relevant roles include:
• Counselor
• Social Worker
• Solicitor
• Addiction services employee
• Adult intervention services
• PhD researcher/Academic
• Journalism/media
• Teaching
• UN field office employee
• NGO – e.g. Amnesty International, Red Cross etc.