The MA in Criminology is a full-time programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

Applicants must normally have obtained a minimum of a Second Class Honours Grade I (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 primary degree with a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in an unrelated subject, or a Second Class Honours Grade II in a related or unrelated subject, will also be considered 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.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

Core modules:
CR6010 Research Design and Methods (10 credits)
CR6012 Key Issues in Criminology (10 credits)

Four modules from the following options. Students must take at least one Law (LW) module AND at least one Criminology (CR) module AND at least one Applied Social Studies (SS) module.

CR6005 Crime Prevention - Theory and Practice (10 credits)
CR6014 Policing (10 credits)
CR6019 Organised Crime and Illicit Enterprise (10 credits)
CR6020 Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6509 Crime and Justice in Ireland (10 credits)
LW6544 Criminology (10 credits)
LW6545 Penology (10 credits)
LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
SS6313 Contemporary Social Policy Issues (10 credits)
SS6315 Mental Health and Disability (10 credits)
SS6316 Children and Young People (10 credits)
SS6317 Debates in Critical Social Policy (10 credits)
SS6320 Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (10 credits)
SC6611 Sociology Crime and Deviance (10 credits)
SC6627 Social Pathology, Civic Health, New Technology (10 credits)

Part II
CR6006 Dissertation on Criminology (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018/2019 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2018/2019.

Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology
Candidates who pass at least 60 credits of taught modules may elect to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Criminology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Understand the field of criminology, its historical development, its current scope and its related methodologies;
• Identify the major theories of crime, define their key concepts and ideas and understand their relevance to the study of Irish society;
• Critique aspects of the use of the issues of crime and deviance in contemporary society and the issues posed by the manner of their representation in the media and to evaluate current issues and debates in these areas;
• Understand the principles and practices of punishment in its many facets, the issues and problems raised by their current applications and the alternatives that have been proposed;
• Understand the principles and practices of social research and be able to apply them in research in criminology.

Programme Learning Outcomes for the Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Understand the historical development of the field of criminology;
• Appreciate the nature of its key studies and main methodologies;
• Identify the major theories of crime, define key concepts and understand their relevance to the study of Irish society;
• Make a critical analysis of important issues of crime and deviance in the contemporary world and of their representation in the media;
• Understand the principles and practices of punishment, restorative justice and alternatives to prison.