Youth Justice

Students will be supported throughout to become independent researchers and writers in the realm of youth justice, through a series of lecture-seminar combined sessions, at which you will also be expected to lead discussions. Writing skills are a particular focus, with assignments structured as journal articles and feedback given mirroring peer reviews, to prepare you for academic publication with advice and guidance from published academics.

The degree comprises two compulsory modules (Critical Youth Justice and International Comparative Youth Justice), and a themed youth justice dissertation. Critical Youth Justice covers a wide range of topics including paradigms (justice versus welfare, risk-based youth justice, Child First/Rights-based youth justice), contentious issues (minimum age of criminal responsibility, moral panics, custody and resettlement) and contemporary debates (current topics such as disproportionality, gangs/knife crime). International Comparative Youth Justice comprises a detailed critical exploration of a range of different jurisdictions, for example, Scotland, USA, Australia, Canada, Nordic countries, Japan and New Zealand.

Duration:

One year full-time or two years part-time. The academic year (September to September) is divided into three semesters: September to January; January to June; June to September.

Contact Time:

During the first two semesters you will normally have one 2-3 hour class per module per week. This consists of an integrated lecture and seminar time. You will also have the opportunity to meet with module co-ordinators for additional assistance and learner support during their office hours. Students are also invited to attend the weekly departmental research seminars led by academics in the Department, guest speakers and PhD students. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their Personal Tutor and their assigned Dissertation Supervisor in Semester 3.

Assessment:

The assessment regime for this scheme has been carefully considered to enable the appropriate assessment of students as per the latest QAA Benchmarking Statement for Masters Degrees Criminology (2019) and in an effort to maximise the development of transferable graduate skills suitable for careers in research, criminal justice agencies and voluntary organisations in the crime and justice field. Across the schemes, students will be engage with a variety of assessment types.

Assessment types include (depending on module choice): essay and report writing; individual / group presentations; producing an academic article; facilitating a group workshop; design and development of a portfolio; production of a Podcast and a production of a Wiki. In Semester 3, students design, conduct and evaluate their own independent research in the dissertation module.

Course Fees:

Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding:

Funding opportunities may be available, please check our funding calculator for details.

Graduates from this scheme will leave with the professional knowledge and capacity to independently practice, reflect, review and build upon disciplinary expertise and judgement. The schemes’ teaching, learning and assessment requires students to develop ethical practice, critical analytical skills, research skills and presentation skills which will enable them to share their criminological expertise in both academic and professional settings.

Graduate career opportunities include (but not restricted to):

• government departments and criminal justice agencies
• voluntary organisations / non-governmental organisations in the crime and justice field
•  international organisations, such as the UN
• research and academia.

You will be provided with a stimulating learning environment, with small learning groups, conducive to a focused and personalised learning experience. Throughout the scheme, there is an emphasis on self-directed learning, engagement with the classical and contemporary criminological theory and debate, and application of core criminological perspectives and principles to specific areas of consideration.

The learning outcomes (knowledge and skills) are achieved through an integrated programme of lectures, seminars, supervisions, practical sessions, group work and the independent, guided reading and your own research efforts. Lectures introduce broad areas of theory and knowledge, which you will build upon in preparing for and participating in seminars. These seminars provide you with an opportunity to learn how to engage with, and reflect on, your modules in a supportive learning environment. You can draw on this experience when preparing and completing assessments. You will be supported in your learning through academic progress meetings with your personal tutor, as well as receiving feedback on progress from subject tutors.