Program Overview

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Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing MSc

Overview

The MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing course specialises in leadership and management within criminal justice environments including, probation, police, prisons, youth offending, and security.

This master's in criminal justice will equip practitioners, whether statutory or third sector, with the skills needed to advance their careers. Whether you've studied criminology or social sciences before or not, this MSc is suitable for anyone with a genuine interest in this area and those looking to become leaders in their field. Choose from a selection of modules which allow you to specialise in domestic or international issues, and in either policing or other criminal justice settings, or to mix these to suit your interests.

Explore a range of topical issues and threats which impact upon criminal justice and policing policy and practice, and engage with the latest criminological research and trends. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the course and realistic assessments will be complemented with a theoretical and empirical study of national and international criminological and penological theory, criminal justice policy and practice, and social justice.

Now more than ever, it's important to understand and address the variety of problems that crime and its control pose in contemporary society. This master's in criminal justice will enable you to recognise these problems and to rise to the challenges that they raise for policy makers and practitioners.

The teaching team are all actively engaged in research in criminology, criminal justice, or leadership. Our research practice gives our students a social science orientation which is distinct from MBAs in leadership and management. Our students become part of a community of research-active academics and local practitioners in criminology and criminal justice, providing ample practical opportunities to draw upon.

This criminal justice degree will provide a domestic, international and transnational focus on the subject area, and so it is suitable for applicants in the UK and beyond.

Why us?

• We have strong links with organisations and institutions such as the HM Prison Service, Youth Justice Service and local police constabularies, enabling you to volunteer or complete work placements to gain experience and enhance your employability
• Our Criminology academic team is responsible for founding and running the Local Appropriate Adult Scheme in collaboration with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Northumbria police. This provides you with a unique opportunity to volunteer as an appropriate adult during your studies.
• We've designed this criminal justice degree to be flexible and to offer students a bespoke learning experience. All essential learning materials will be available online to support your independent learning.
• You'll have the opportunity to achieve an additional professional qualification – a Level 2 QCF accredited gateway qualification, in working as an appropriate adult for vulnerable adults and juveniles
• Your learning on this master's in criminal justice is constantly informed by current work from research-active lecturers who specialise in researching domestic violence and abuse, the risk management of offenders, gender based violence, desistance from crime, the criminalisation of sex work, policing, and disability and vulnerability

Course structure

You can study the MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing course either full-time or part-time. Classes are interactive and designed to be inclusive of students with different levels of academic knowledge and practical experience.

Full-time route

The full-time route is studied over one year from October to September. Modules are taught on one evening per week with modules in two-hour blocks to accommodate students who work. For full-time students and those in their second year of part-time study, there are also ten mandatory dissertation classes on alternate Wednesday evenings during term time.

Additional online tasks and materials will be provided for students to complete independently. You are expected to read widely to supplement the material taught and to help you get the most out of your studies.

The course will typically be taught as the following:

Semester one (two core modules)

Classes are in the evening between 5-7pm for the first core module and 7-9pm for the second core module, with a short break in between.

Semester two (two optional modules)

Classes are in the evening between 5-7pm and 7-9pm. Optional modules may be subject to change and in the event of low numbers of students, some options may not be available.

Semester three (core dissertation module over the year)

The dissertation module is an independent research project undertaken over the year. You'll be matched with a supervisor with expertise in your chosen area of research who'll guide you through completing your dissertation. You'll meet regularly with your supervisor, either in person or on Teams.

In addition, there are ten mandatory taught sessions on the dissertation module. These take place on alternate Wednesday evenings during term time – five in the first semester and five in the second semester. You'll be provided with an academic calendar with the exact dates when you enrol.

Part-time route

The part-time version of this master's in criminal justice is studied over two years and follows the same day and time slots as full-time students. However, in your first year, you'll study one core module in semester one and one optional module in semester two. In your second year, you will complete your second core module in semester one, an optional module in semester two, and your dissertation module over the year.

Other commitments

We encourage you to attend other voluntary training courses and opportunities that fall on other days where possible. These are circulated by email throughout the course.

You'll also have one-to-one support from an allocated Personal Academic Tutor who will meet with you regularly.

Enrichment weeks

During both semesters where there are local half-term holidays, teaching doesn't take place during these weeks. Instead, we offer all students ‘enrichment weeks’ of optional and additional activities. These have ranged from guest lectures, training sessions, theatre trips, visits to museums, and more. We encourage everyone studying on this criminal justice degree to come along to enrichment weeks in both semesters.

Course assessment

The MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing course assessment methods consist of a mixture of essays, reports, case studies, and presentations, to help you develop a wide range of knowledge and skills. Assessments have been uniquely designed to offer experience of real-life tasks that you may be expected to undertake within a criminal justice workplace. Academic staff will use constructive and detailed feedback to support your learning.

Course modules

Core modules:

• Leading in Criminal Justice and Policing (30 credits)
• Punishments in Criminal Justice Practices (30 credits)
• Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules (choose two):

• Inequality and Vulnerability in the Criminal Justice System (30 credits)
• Negotiating Crime and Criminal Justice in Global Context (30 credits)
• Policing International Criminality (30 credits)
• Practitioner and Lived Experience Perspectives in Criminal Justice (30 credits)

Facilities

You'll be based at the recently refurbished Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification: a bachelor's degree (3 years)
• Minimum grade: 2:2 classification

If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

We usually require applicants to hold at least a second class honours degree (usually a 2:1 or above) or equivalent.

Experience may be counted towards your application. We welcome applicants with degrees in areas such as social sciences, psychology, business, law, education, humanities, health, arts, technology and the sciences.

Applicants whose first language isn't English must achieve a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 in all four areas.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

If you feel you already know some of the topics covered in this course, either due to previous learning or from experience of work, you may not need to study all of the course.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is the name given to the process of gaining credit towards a qualification because of something you have learnt in the past. If you're eligible for APL you won't have to learn the same topic again, so you can be exempt from a module, set of modules, or year of a course.

Fees and finance

Fees are:

• £8,500 if you're from the UK
• £17,000 if you're an international student

Part-time fees are £500 per 10 credits. Please note, part-time study is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Career ready

Graduates will typically use the MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing course as a stepping stone to a higher level of professional employment in roles specifically designed to meet the needs of criminal justice, their associated agencies and organisations.

Our criminal justice graduates enter the work force with a global critical awareness of their sector and the ability to lead transformative change for the future. Graduates will be prepared to lead within criminal justice in a national or international setting.

This master's in criminal justice is also suitable to prepare graduates for further study at doctoral level.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this criminal justice degree will be able to forge careers in the:

• Police force
• Public sector
• Private sector
• Charitable sector.

Centre for Applied Social Sciences

The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS) combines original academic research with practice-based collaborations and outreach activities, often working directly with practitioners, policymakers, and front-line delivery staff regionally, nationally, and internationally.

The mission of CASS reflects that of the University's aim as a civic university: to take an active interest in the social issues that affect the region and beyond by engaging in research and practice-based collaborations that aim to improve living conditions, address inequalities and social exclusion, and promote social justice.

Currently our research focuses around three strands: children, young people and families; communities, health and social exclusion; and crime, victims and social justice. CASS regularly hosts visiting speakers and holds events that you will be invited to. This can be an excellent way to learn from the real-life experience of experts in the field who already have a strong track record in sociological and social policy-related social research.