Criminology Pathways

• guide your learning towards specialisation in a particular area of criminology
• signal your in-depth knowledge and interests to future employers or doctoral research programmes
• eliminate the guesswork - pathways guide your module choices.

Please note, you do not have to follow a pathway. If you do not choose a pathway, you will still have access to our range of optional modules. Additionally, you can change or leave a pathway prior to graduation. 

PATHWAY STRUCTURE

All students will take the following compulsory modules:

• Research Methods in Criminology (30 credits)
• Masters Research Project - Criminology (30 credits). Students must undertake a research project that reflects their chosen pathway.

Plus the following from your chosen pathway:

• A compulsory theoretical module designated from your chose pathway (30 credits)
• One pathway-specific module from a list of designated options (30 credits)
• Two optional modules (see list below) offered across the Departments of Law and Criminology (60 credits)

PATHWAY 1: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

• The Criminology with Criminal Justice pathway covers prevalent and influential criminological theories, concepts and approaches. The focus of study is criminal behaviour, crime control and criminal justice in the 21st century. 
• Year 1
  • Contemporary Criminological Theory (L7, 30 credits)
  • Research Methods in Criminology (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
• Year 1 (FT) or Year 2 (PT)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Master's Research Project (L7, 30 credits)
• At least one of your options must be pathway specific. On the Criminology and Criminal Justice pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice 
  • Global Perspectives on Crime Control 
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice
  • Policing, Race and Justice
  • Youth Justice

PATHWAY 2: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (GENDER, SEXUALITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

• The Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice pathway highlights the importance of gender and sexuality studies with criminology and criminal justice. It takes an interdisciplinary and intersectional perspective to explore the significance of gender and sexuality on violence, crime control and within the criminal justice system.
• Students may also choose options from across Birkbeck's interdisciplinary MSc in Gender and Sexuality.
• Year 1
  • Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice (L7, 30 credits)
  • Research Methods in Criminology (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
• Year 1 (FT) or Year 2 (PT)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Master's Research Project (L7, 30 credits)
• At least one of your options must be pathway specific. On the Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Regulating Sex and Sexuality
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice
  • Influencing Public Policy  
  • Selected modules from the MSc in Gender Sexuality and Culture, such as Theorising Gender
• Watch Dr Tanya Serier, Dr Aviah Day and Dr Sarah Lamble discuss the Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice pathway.

PATHWAY 3: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (RACE, CRIME AND JUSTICE)

• The Race, Crime and Criminal Justice pathway offers a comprehensive analysis of how issues of race and ethnicity intersect with questions of crime and justice. It introduces key concepts and theories relating to race and crime, and examines social, political and economic processes that define, construct and respond to crime and victims in a racialised manner.
• Year 1
  • Race, Crime and Justice (L7, 30 credits)
  • Research Methods in Criminology (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
• Year 1 (FT) or Year 2 (PT)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Master's Research Project (L7, 30 credits)
• At least one of your options must be pathway specific. On the Race, Crime and Justice pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice
  • Policing, Race and Ethnicity
  • Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
  • Race, Law and Literature
• Watch Dr Megan McElone and Dr Monish Bhatia discuss the Race, Crime and Justice pathway. 

PATHWAY 4: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (GLOBAL CRIMINOLOGY)

• The Global Criminology pathway focuses on global, comparative and transnational perspectives on international and national trends in crime and crime control.
• Year 1
  • Global Perspectives on Crime Control (L7, 30 credits)
  • Research Methods in Criminology (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
• Year 1 (FT) or Year 2 (PT
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Option (L7, 30 credits)
  • Master's Research Project (L7, 30 credits)
• At least one of your options must be pathway specific. On the Global Criminology pathway, this includes any of the following modules:
  • Issues in International Law and Human Rights
  • Contemporary Criminological Theory
  • Youth Justice

INDICATIVE LIST OF OPTIONAL MODULES

• Critical Methods in Law and Society Research: 30 credits - Level 7
• Contemporary Criminological Theory: 30 credits - Level 7
• Cultures of Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Data, Surveillance and Insecurity: 30 credits - Level 7
• Drugs, Crime and Culture: 30 credits - Level 7
• Equality and the Law: 30 credits - Level 7
• Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Global Perspectives on Crime Control: 30 credits - Level 7
• Healthcare and Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• History and the Philosophy of Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Influencing Public Policy: 30 credits - Level 7
• Issues in International Law and Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Intersectionality and Criminal Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy: 30 credits - Level 7
• Policing, Race and Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Psychology of Crime and Law: 30 credits - Level 7
• Race, Crime and Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Research Methods in Criminology: 30 credits - Level 7
• Regulating Sex and Sexuality: 30 credits - Level 7
• Youth Justice: 30 credits - Level 7

This programme is taught across three terms: Autumn (Sept-Dec); Spring (Jan-March) and Summer (May-July). Most compulsory modules run in the autumn and spring terms and the research project is concentrated in the summer term. Options run across all three terms. 

Options can be spread out across the terms depending on student preference. Schedules will be organised to enable student to choose options that will keep to two nights a week for full-time study and one night per week for part-time study. However, to access the full range of options, some selections may result in additional nights per week. 

When choosing options, students are encouraged to spread out their modules to achieve a manageable workload. Full-time students are advised to take no more than 90 credits per term. Part-time students are advised to take no more than 60 credits per term.

Students on one pathway may choose as options any of the compulsory modules on the other pathways.