LLM Criminology and Criminal Justice Queen's University Belfast

This exciting, stimulating and topical postgraduate degree programme in Criminology and Criminal Justice is taught by internationally-recognised scholars and researchers who offer students a wide introduction to the study of crime and criminal justice in contemporary society. Staff members have strong links with local criminal justice agencies and community organisations as well as extensive comparative and international expertise, providing for a unique student experience. Key research strengths of the teaching staff lie in the following areas:

• Community Safety and Crime Prevention
• Policing
• Prisoner Reintegration
• Restorative Justice
• Sex Offending
• Victimology
• Anti-Social Behaviour
• Crime and the Life Course

The LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to appeal to prospective students with an academic or professional interest in criminology or criminal justice. It enables students to understand the motivations for offending as well as the practical operation of criminal justice and how the state responds to criminality and victimisation. This degree will be of considerable relevance and interest to those who are already employed in criminal justice-related work in fields such as legal practice, government, non-governmental organisations, as well as equipping those who have just completed undergraduate degrees to develop the knowledge and skills to pursue criminal justice-related careers or undertake the advanced level study.

Criminology And Criminal Justice Highlights

World-Class Facilities

• Our facilities at Queen's include a state-of-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Queen's has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award-winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader places. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen's Elms Student Village and city-centre student accommodation in 2018 are located within easy walking distance of the University.

Internationally Renowned Experts

• Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Law. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 125 Law Schools worldwide and we are ranked 14th in the world for the global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 15th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2014). Over 95% of the Research Activity in the School was judged to be of international quality and above.

Student Experience

• The LLM Criminal Justice programme is international in focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field. Research and teaching is carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ), which has strong connections to civil society organisations, criminal justice bodies and agencies, and international institutions and networks. The ICCJ organises an active, annual speaker and conference series, with talks by academics and practitioners. At Queen's, you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.

The Institute can assist students with internship/voluntary placements. 94% of Queen's Postgraduates are in employment or further study 6 months after graduation.

Some Criminal Justice graduates use this degree as a base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which may, in turn, lead to an academic career. Others pursue criminal justice-related or legal careers in the public, private or voluntary sectors. Furthermore, this master's provides an excellent base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD, which in turn may lead to an academic career.

The LLM Criminal Justice Programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime and justice and draws on original staff research. Modules are rooted in relevant theoretical frameworks with a strong criminological focus and provide students with methodological training in addition to supporting the development of critical analysis and other transferable skills. Through the dissertation, students can explore a wide variety of criminological and criminal justice topics. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the criminal justice process and the practical operation of criminal law in a domestic and comparative context and are given the opportunity to explore in-depth a particular criminal justice-related issue through the submission of a dissertation.

The programme is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of the dissertation on an original topic. The Institute can assist students with internship/voluntary placements.

Compulsory Modules

• Theoretical Criminology
• Controlling Crime
• Criminal Justice Processes
• Dissertation (10,000-15,000 words)

Methodology Mini-Modules

• Approaches to Legal Research
• Criminology Methods 1
• Criminology Methods 2

Optional Modules

• Issues in Policing and Crime Prevention
• Counter-Terrorism in Human Rights
• Post Conviction Issues in Comparative Perspective
• Restorative Justice
• Youth Justice: Theory, Law and Practice
• Social Injustice

Please note this is not an exclusive list of the optional modules available. Optional modules are reviewed each year and subject to staff availability.

Learning and Teaching

Learning Opportunities

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top schools in the UK and Ireland. Teaching quality within the School was judged to be 'excellent' and our research was awarded a 5B (excellent) by the UK Higher Education Funding Bodies. There are over 950 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 260 postgraduates, 70 PhD students and over 50 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the library and extensive IT facilities.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Programme Coordinators are allocated to each degree programme tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Student Voice Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Director of Graduate Studies and other members of academic staff, meet at regular intervals throughout the academic year. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

We do this by providing a range of learning experiences that enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, life-long learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

E-Learning technologies

Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the programme through, for example, interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in project-based work etc.

Lectures

Provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

Self-directed study

This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/tutorials

These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

• Assessed coursework
• Dissertation