Program Overview

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In recent years, issues of terrorism and organised crime have gained an unprecedented profile, provoked significant social concern, and dominated both law-and-order and many wider social policy agendas. We draw on state-of-the-art research to address key critical issues surrounding organised criminality and terrorism in contemporary society. We involve multi-level analyses of organised crime as a concept, alongside the impacts of urbanisation, migration and globalisation upon both the practice of crime and the ways in which we understand them. You address cutting-edge critical, conceptual and theoretical analyses of terrorism and counter-terrorism. The course provides you with a strong grounding in the key theories, understandings and issues relating to organised crime and terrorism. You explore topics including:

• The analysis, politics and prevention of terrorism
• Globalisation and organised crime
• Security and the state
• The hacker ethic
• Human rights

Our Department of Sociology is 2nd in UK for research power in sociology (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021). If you are interested in studying these topics with a less quantitative focus and are not looking for a funded pathway to a PhD scheme, you may be interested in the MA version of this course. Why we're great.

• Our academics work on major international research projects
• We draw on state-of-the-art research and address cutting-edge analysis of terrorism
• We provide opportunities working with our Human Rights Centre for insight into monitoring of data

Our expert staff

We are a large and friendly department, offering a diverse range of research interests and with staff members who are committed to teaching, research and publication that covers a broad geographical spectrum. Many have worked at the local level with local authorities, justice councils, community partnerships and charities. Others have worked at a national and international level with bodies like the United Nations, the European Commission’s Expert Group on Public Understanding of Science, Amnesty International, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Home Office and national non-governmental organisations.

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Specialist facilities

• Dedicated postgraduate support facilities
• Our renowned off-campus Graduate Conference takes place every February
• A unique Student Resource Centre where you can get help with your studies, access examples of previous students’ work, and attend workshops on research skills
• The Sociology common room is open all day Monday-Friday, is stocked with daily newspapers, magazines and journals, and has free drinks available
• Links with the Institute of Social and Economic Research, which conducts large-scale survey projects and has its own library, and the UK Data Archive, which stores national research data like the British Crime Survey
• Our students’ Sociology Society , a forum for the exchange of ideas, arranging talks by visiting speakers, introducing you to various career pathways, and organising debates

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Your future

This course provides excellent preparation for further academic study, and many of our postgraduates go on to successful academic careers, both in the UK and overseas. Employment opportunities for graduates of this course include careers in security, policing, research, intelligence and justice professions. Others have established careers in non-governmental organisations, local authorities, specialist think tanks, government departments, charities, media production, and market intelligence. We work with the University’s Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.