Applied Criminology

Entry requirements

Prospective students will normally be required to have:

• A first degree gained at a 2:1 or above (or equivalent) in a similar subject discipline e.g., Criminology, Law, Psychology, Sociology or policing

OR

• Any first degree gained at 2:2 or above with a relevant professional qualification and experience, including but not exclusively, Social Work, Police, Probation, Health and Education

OR

• Significant experience of working within a criminal justice sector (i.e., substance use, youth support, courts etc

Please see the University website for full details.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Criminology is a thriving subject at the University of Worcester, with academics drawing from a range of disciplines including Sociology, Law and Psychology.

You will be joining a welcoming community of peers and colleagues who will support and encourage you to succeed in your endeavours.

The MA in Applied Criminology dynamically integrates theory and practice embracing both learning in the classroom and in placement settings. The course encompasses a range of service user groups, and every effort is made to involve service users, carers, practitioners, and managers from across the criminal justice arena in the learning experience. This course will provide you with opportunities to develop your specialist interests with the variety of assessments, unique work placements and the opportunity to conduct an extended research project on a relevant topic that you are passionate about.

This course has been designed for those who are ready to apply their current knowledge to a practical field, and to increase their knowledge and skills further so they can take the next step in their career. This course is also desirable for those who currently work in the criminal justice sector who would like to gain an MA in their field.

Key features

• Develop the intellectual, critical, and analytical skills needed for understanding and applying criminological theories and concepts in practice
• Gain an in-depth understanding of the interactions between criminology and criminal justice, and the impact of public policy in certain areas, via different lenses and perspectives
• An innovative course taught by experts from criminological, legal, and psychological backgrounds with real-world experience in both research and practice
• Benefit from research-informed teaching, as well as strong links to wider criminal justice professions through your placement
• Strong relationships with organisations in the criminal justice system which offers you the opportunity to gain experience in the field of the criminal justice sector
• Placement opportunities designed to enhance your professional and personal skills, supporting you to apply what you have learned to gain hands on experience with some of our most vulnerable and hard to reach populations in society

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, and seminars. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work. Practice-based learning across the provides direct experience of working with individuals associated with the criminal justice sector and within professional teams.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least four occasions throughout your course. You will also receive monthly supervision as part of your placement module, with regular supervision from your host organisation (this will differ between organisations).

Careers

You will develop a range of skills on this course that should have an immediate and positive impact on your professional role.

For those who would like to start working in the areas of criminal justice, your increased knowledge and skill set should prepare you for future job applications in the arena.

For those already working in this sector, you will enhance your ability to critically reflect on your professional practice and make valuable contributions to service improvement.

Information for international students

The IELTS score for international applicants is 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in component). Other English Language qualifications will be considered.