MA Criminology and Social Research Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
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6	Programme Title			MA Criminology and Social Research
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2023			Award type			MA
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10	What level is this qualification?			7			Length of programme			1 year
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			FT and PT
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14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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16	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Sociology
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18	Lead department			Sociology			Other contributing departments			N/A
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20	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus Based
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24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
26	None
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	There is no QAA Criminology Subject Benchmark Statement for PGT level but the UG benchmarking was consulted as well as the QAA ‘Framework for Higher Education'
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32	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
33	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
34	No
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36	Exceptions to Regulations
37	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
38	NA
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40	Internal Transfers
41	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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43		Transfers in:	Yes. Restrictions = meeting entry grades and availability of space on the desired programme. Transfer must be by end of Week 4				Transfers out:	Yes. Restrictions = availability of space on the desired programme within Sociology or another Dept and meeting entry requirements.
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46	Statement of Purpose
47	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
48	York's Criminology and Social Research masters programme offers students an in-depth understanding of key issues, debates and theoretical perspectives in criminology. This programme critically analyses theories and debates in criminal justice system, concepts of social control, concepts of justice, social policy and law and order. Alongside these conceptual questions, the programme also offers social research methods training to equip you with the practical knowledge and skills required to conduct criminological research both as quantitative and qualitiative studies. As a student on this programme you will develop an advanced comprehension of criminology, gain a critical understanding of the way in which criminology relates to ‘real world’ problems of crime, and acquire key transferable skills in research, communication, IT, digital technology, self-management and group working, all of which will prepare you for a variety of exciting career pathways within criminal justice, and beyond. You will learn in a stimulating research-intensive environment, benefitting fully from the range of expertise of colleagues in the department. Through research informed teaching, this programme offers a distinct and innovative approach to criminological study allowing students to engage with cutting-edge research that tackles contemporary local and global issues related to crime, deviance and social control.
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56	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
57	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
58	Postgraduate Certificate			Exit Award Only	Students will have a basic understanding of the key aspects of criminology and social research, achieving PLOs1-4 and 6				60 credits excluding dissertation module
59	Postgraduate Diploma			Exit Award Only	Students will have a deeper understanding of the key aspects of criminology and social research, achieving PLOs1-4 and 6				120 credits excluding dissertation module
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61	Programme Learning Outcomes
62	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
63	1	Systematically approach, conceptualise and analyse theoretical and empirical issues relating to academic criminology and criminal justice systems in contemporary societies.
64	2	Critically evaluate and apply a wide range of complex and innovative methodological approaches to undertake criminological research.
65	3	Applying insight from in-depth knowledge of cutting edge developments in the study of crime and deviance to inform and support areas such as policymaking, service delivery, and further academic research.
66	4	Expose, assess and explain formal and informal forms of social control and how they shape and order local and global contemporary societies.
67	5	Design, execute and present a major piece of criminological research in the form of a dissertation. This will involve implementing and managing your own research through a rigorous ethics process and independent study.
68	6	Deploy a range of advanced transferable skills in research, communication, IT, digital technology, self-management and group working, which can be utilized to inform planning, decision-making and problem solving for public, private and third sector employers.
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70	Diverse entry routes
71	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
72	We support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme through support from academic advisors who direct students to additional sources of advice and help over and above the academic skills embedded into the design of our postgraduate modules.
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75	Inclusion
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77	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
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79	Employability
80	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
81	The programme helps students to develop excellent employability skills that they can utilise in a range of different future careers. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and to work ethically, are equipped with opportunities to source and evaluate information, and to engage in personal reflection. Students are also given opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of key criminological issues, and to communicate complex ideas in a range of written and verbal formats that are also relevant for and used in the contemporary workplace.
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86	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
87	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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89	Year abroad					Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				.
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91	Year in industry					Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				.
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93	Year in enterprise
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95	Placement year
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98	Description of Structure
99	Provide a BRIEF description of the structure of the first stage (UG) or programme (PGT): this is only necessary if this is not evident from the tables below. For instance, an entry might be 'students choose X modules in Autumn Semester from List A and Y modules from List B'. For York Online programmes using the 'carousel' model, the description should include whether any modules have to be taken in a particular order (e.g. if there is an introductory module and/or any constraints on the timing of option and/or ISM or ISM-related modules).
100	See the tables below.