Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master in Arts - MARTS
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Part-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

1. Enable students to develop a critical appreciation and understanding of the workings of the criminal justice system, and of the values and theories that underpin its operation. The design of the core and option modules has been shaped by the need to continually explore key theories, concepts, and policy developments in criminal justice.

2. Enable students to develop an understanding not only of the diverse range of contemporary concerns the criminal justice system is charged with responding to, but also of the social and political influences that shape the development of these issues.

3. Enable students, through the delivery of a range of modules, to develop a command and critical appreciation of current research and advanced scholarship in criminal justice and to show originality in the application of their knowledge of criminal justice.

4. Enable students, through the examination of issues which are at the forefront of criminal justice, to enhance the knowledge and skills of professional practitioners, as well as enhancing the skills of graduate students.

5. Enable students to attain a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship in the field of criminal justice, by using a range of research methods, improving their understanding of research design, and enabling the completion of a substantial research project in a chosen area of crime or criminal justice.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Appropriate knowledge and understanding is sought to be attained through a curriculum that has interesting, engaging and relevant subject material in the core areas of study. The provision of a range of option modules will enable the students to pursue their interests in specific areas of crime and criminal justice and apply their learning in greater depth. The dissertation module facilitates advanced independent investigation and critical application of existing knowledge. Assessment methods are specified in each module guide. The modules will be assessed through coursework (assignments of varying lengths) and a mixture of individual and group presentations. All forms of assessment will require students to demonstrate an advanced level of relevant knowledge and understanding of the stated learning outcomes. Intellectual skills are developed through supported learning materials, lectures, tutorial support and seminar preparation. Intellectual skills are assessed in all forms of assessment (specified in the assessment schedule). A variety of assessment methods are used including essays, projects, portfolios and presentations. Courseworks will generally and specifically seek to develop transferable practical skills. Workshops and coursework preparation will require a degree of personal responsibility, effective communication, and successful time management. Preparation and group interaction in the production of seminars and workshops. Formative and summative assessments in written and communication skills. Transferable skills are an essential part of the activities throughout the programme. Transferable skills are assessed in the various assessment processes and coursework. Priority is also given to the assessment of skills in tutorials and workshop presentations.

Opportunities for work related learning

The programme has been designed to reflect the changing demands of law enforcement, and the understanding of crime, both nationally and internationally. Students will be encouraged to apply and develop this knowledge and understanding, particularly in the dissertation, which can be work-based. Professionals in the field of criminal justice are used to provide 'guest' lectures, especially in modules 7044LAWCJ, 7045LAWCJ and 7046LAWCJ, in order to provide students with the opportunity to discuss practice issues. Additional employability teaching content will be delivered as part of module 7043LAWCJ (Key Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice).

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

To qualify for the alternative exit award of PGCert Criminal Justice, students must successfully complete the modules 7042LAWCJ and 7043LAWCJ. To qualify for the alternative exit award of PGDip Criminal Justice, students must successfully complete the core modules 7042LAWCJ and 7043LAWCJ, plus three 20-credit optional modules from those available on … For more content click the Read More button below. To qualify for the award of an MA in Criminal Justice students are required to successfully complete and obtain the credits of the two 30-credit Core taught modules, 7042LAWCJ and 7043LAWCJ; the one 60-credit Core Dissertation Module, 7041LAWCJ; and three 20-credit Option modules. To qualify for the award of an MA in International Criminal Justice, students are required to successfully complete and obtain the credits of the two 30-credit Core taught modules; the 60-credit Core International Dissertation module, 7050LAWCJ (where the pre-agreed topic chosen for the dissertation is International in its focus as agreed by the teaching team at the stage of drawing up a research proposal in the December before the September dissertation submission); and three 20-credit Option modules where at least two must be from internationally orientated modules - 7045LAWCJ Political Violence, Victims and Justice; 7048LAWCJ The UN, International Security and Global Justice; 7049LAWCJ Contemporary Issues in International Criminal Justice; 7106PS International and Transnational Policing; and 7107PS Transnational Organised Crime. Optional modules' availability is dependent on their viability in each academic year, in terms of staff resources and student numbers. All students must take either the Dissertation module (7041LAWCJ),which leads to the award of MA Criminal Justice, or the International Dissertation module (7050LAWCJ),which leads to the award of MA International Criminal Justice. A PT student would normally do 70 credits in year 1 (7043LAWCJ core and 40 optional credit) then in year 2, they do one of the dissertation modules (either 7041LAWCJ or 7050LAWCJ), the core module 7042LAWCJ and then 20 more optional credits.

Entry Requirements

Alternative qualifications considered
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-01) sociology, social policy and anthropology