MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)
A unique programme, based in Ireland's only Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, for non- lawyers who wish to work in the field of criminology and criminal justice.
-To understand and think critically about the intersections between law, politics and social policy that come to the fore in the study of Criminology and Criminal Justice;
-To apply knowledge and understanding of Criminology and Criminal Justice to real and hypothetical factual situations;
-To conduct independent research and write coherent, well-structured papers.
Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No
Course Description
The Institute of Criminology offers a wide range of modules for the Masters programmes. Modules of especial interest to those undertaking this programme include:
Advanced Criminological Theory explores key theories of crime both classic and recent, including biological, psychological and sociological explanations of criminal behaviour and their potential application in the Irish context.
Digital Investigations & the Law deals with the legal framework governing the activities of persons involved in Information Technology security and forensics. Topics covered will include:
* Legal issues associated with securing networks (including penetration testing, legal obligations to store data / keep data secure);
* Legal issues raised in the conduct of investigations (including the legality of network monitoring and employee surveillance, duties to report certain findings to the police, interaction with police investigations); and
* The role of digital evidence in litigation (including the use of discovery, Anton Piller orders and other court procedures, reliability and admissibility of digital evidence, implications of illegally and unconstitutionally obtained evidence).
This course will primarily reflect Irish and European law but where relevant comparison will be made with practice in other jurisdictions.
Punishment, Prisons and Public Policy The response to crime since the mid-1990s has been characterised in many developed countries by an emphasis on prison expansion. This module explores some of the dilemmas that confront prison systems everywhere (e.g. violence, drug misuse, effective risk assessment and recidivism). The extent to which these problems have characteristics that reflect peculiarly local conditions is a recurrent theme. What, if anything, is distinctive about the 'society of captives' in Irish prisons?
Please note that the Part Time programme has the same timetable as the full time programme but is held over 2 years rather than 1 year.
There will be dissertation seminars in weeks 1-4 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11-1pm (Jan-May term)
Vision and Values Statement
The programme is for non-lawyers who wish to start or progress within a career in the criminal justice system. It provides career-relevant knowledge, insight and skills to those working or aspiring to work in sectors such as policing, youth justice, prisons, probation and related voluntary organisations, as well as a good platform for doctoral studies and a possible academic career.
The programme nurtures learners who strive to understand and think critically about the intersections between sociology, psychology, law, politics and social policy within the field of criminology and criminal justice, to apply this knowledge and understanding to real-life situations, and to conduct independent research and scholarly publication.
We strive for a learning environment that encourages students to work individually or as part of a team, so they can develop their own and others' leadership, teamwork and communication skills, as well as skills of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the social phenomena associated with crime.
To these ends, the programme makes intensive use of teaching, learning and assessment approaches such as small group teaching, in-class presentations (individual and group) and academic writing. A 30 credit dissertation on a topic devised by the student is an integral part of the programme.
Programme outcomes:
-demonstrate a detailed awareness of current controversies in criminology and criminal justice and knowledge of areas where the discipline is currently enjoying theoretical elaboration.
-appreciate the strengths and limitations of key research methodologies.
-use knowledge of debates within the discipline and different methodological approaches to interpret empirical research findings and to critique research designs.
-integrate source material from a variety of disciplinary areas to reach reasoned decisions about the relative status of competing claims to knowledge.
-unpack complex theoretical arguments and to render intelligible to a non-specialist audience, key disciplinary insights.
-have the intellectual toolkit required to research and write a major dissertation.