Partner Details

Informa Connect

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Science - MS
Alternative Exit
Recruitable Target
Alternative Exit
Recruitable Target

Programme Offerings

Part-Time

DL-INF-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

These courses aim to provide students with a critical view of the use and management of criminal intelligence within the context of national security, counter-terrorism, and serious organised crime. It will explore investigative and intelligence activity used by intelligence agencies, law enforcement, criminal justice partners and private agencies. It will explore considerations for operational ethics in decision making and using real life case studies, the application of intelligence analytical capabilities.. During the programme, students will use reflection and critical analysis to understand and develop their own area of expertise within the fields of criminal intelligence and analysis. To place these in context, the courses aim to provide an analysis of important intelligence and security events and issues of the late 20th and 21st century and place this within a practical basis for the use of intelligence analysis and investigations. An exploration of the history and development of intelligence, informed by both its success and failure nationally and internationally will help the student contextualise the importance of the disciplines and the varying degrees of impact on operational activity. An examination of the capabilities will provide the student with a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses tactics when applied in a given set of operational circumstances. In particular, the student will focus on understanding and applying intelligence and analytical thinking to practical problems by looking at current and emerging threats as well as evaluating potential solutions to these issues. These courses are taught by distance learning and aim to connect a diverse body of domestic and international students across to time zones, to share knowledge and develop expertise in the fields. The courses key aims are: • To provide a part-time distance learning programme in Intelligence for full-time employees or for those seeking a career in intelligence. • To enable students to make an original contribution to the discipline of Intelligence studies. • To produce competent, informed reflectively and ethically competent students who have a developed academic understanding the key issues within Intelligence Studies and the theories which underpin the discipline. • To enable students to connect the conceptual basis of the disciplines to some of the practical issues facing the national, regional and international security system.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the impact and influence evidence-informed policy has, and continues to have, on professional practice in Intelligence.
2.
Show sensitivity to diversity issues and competing interests in Intelligence.
3.
Demonstrate the capacity to work independently and with others to professional standards, and display higher skill levels in the subject areas.
4.
Select effective information collection methods and use the most appropriate analytical tools.
5.
Present information in various formats and for different audiences.
6.
Collaborate and co-operate in working with others to investigate questions or issues relating to Intelligence, policing, and security studies.
7.
Prioritise time to work to strict deadlines.
8.
Communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms.
9.
Use ICT to access contemporary sources of information.
10.
Apply numerical skills to cases involving a quantitative dimension. Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated.
11.
Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the influences and drivers of policy and practice change in the broad areas of Intelligence.
12.
Show how the boundaries of knowledge are extended through the production of a research-informed critical commentary that advances innovative practice development or serves to enhance the understanding of the need to develop greater efficiencies and enhanced performance in professional practice.
13.
Use problem solving skills - show imagination and flexibility in seeking solutions to problems.
14.
Apply major theories and concepts to the study of Intelligence.
15.
Independently engage with the subject literature, analyse and assess it to support critical and normative judgements on Intelligence issues and theories with relevant evidence and structured argument.
16.
Identify a range of research strategies and methods and reflexively assess the merits of each.
17.
Demonstrate the skills necessary to plan, conduct and report a research project.
18.
Undertake and present scholarly work.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated. On the course, there is a special emphasis on a sound grasp of the relevant academic literature, including substantial use of key scholarly journals in the field of security studies, intelligence analysis and policing. The assessment strategy also a concentrates on how theory relates to and enhances good practice. This is assessed through a variety of summative assessments but with a focus on producing well written essays and reports. Students on the programme will be delivered research-informed teaching that is relevant and current to those seeking to understand the challenges facing societies The input of LJMU based experts actively researching across the disciplines of (amongst others) policing studies, security studies, international relations, and criminology will be supplemented with teaching inputs from security and policing stakeholders drawn from such diverse backgrounds as police leaders, the military and civil servants. In a programme designed with the demands to balance work and study commitments the MSc in Intelligence combines the extensive use of Informa Connect virtual learning environment to tutor and support students through the development of their agendas for work-based research activity. The diversity of the talents within the teaching team, drawing together as it does established LJMU based researchers and staff currently or recently employed in policing or security professions, enhances the learning development opportunities for students to engage with whilst also ensuring that course content is relevant to, and informed by, professional practice. A range of learning strategies and a variety of modes of interactive delivery conducive to on-line distance learning will be utilised throughout the programme and delivered by the LJMU VLE Canvas or Informa Connect learning platform, including an introductory lecture and a range of on-line activities; e.g. presentations, workbooks, podcasts, blogs, forums both tutor-led synchronous (which can be recorded) and asynchronous, Skype tutorials in addition to utilising suitable OER (open educational resources),such as ‘You Tube’ videos, supported by digital key readings. Knowledge and understanding is assessed via summative assessment methods suitable for on-line distance-learning, such as formal and reflective essays, and full-scale individual report. A range of periodic formative study skills and knowledge checks will be completed by the students on-line which feedback will be given in order to enable on-going development via reflective practice and aimed at research and compilation of the summative assessment tasks. Target Award Learning Outcomes are taught through on-line lectures and developed via on-line forums, knowledge checks and appropriate formative tasks designed for on-line learning. These skills are assessed across all modules while the variety of assessments across the programme ensures that these skills are assessed in different ways and in a mode suitable for on-line distance-learning. Formative assessment is used to develop knowledge, understanding and skills, while summative assessment is used to assess the student’s success in achieving the learning outcomes.

Opportunities for work related learning

It is envisaged that many of those undertaking this course will already be employed within policing institutions or security related agencies. However, for those based in Merseyside opportunities are available for students to work as Special Constables within Merseyside Police and British Transport Police.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

Completion of 60 taught credits provides Postgraduate Certificate in Criminal Intelligence Completion of 120 taught credits provides Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Intelligence Completion of 180 credits award: MSc in Criminal Intelligence Students enrolling onto the Postgraduate Certificate in Intelligence will undertake the following modules; 7129PS: Intelligence Analysis (20) 7232PS: Intelligence … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

Alternative qualifications considered
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-01) sociology, social policy and anthropology