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). You must undertake a research project that reflects your 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 option modules (see list below) offered across Criminology, the School of Social Sciences, the Birkbeck Law School or the wider College (subject to availability) (60 credits) 

PATHWAY 1: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

• The 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 twenty-first 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 Criminal Justice pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice 
  • Global Perspectives on Crime and Crime Control 
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice
  • Youth Justice
  • Policing, Race and Justice 
  • Investigating the Social World 
  • Sociology for New Worlds

PATHWAY 2: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (GENDER AND Sexuality)

• The Gender and Sexuality 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 and Sexuality pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Regulating Sex and Sexuality
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice
  • Analysing Public Policy 
  • Theorising Gender and Sexuality 
  • Gender and Development 
  • Sex, Work and the Law: Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in Modern History 
  • Gender, Modernity and the City 
  • Philosophy and Gender 
  • Disciplining Sex: Sexuality, Society and Modern Literary Culture 
  • Gender and Everyday Life in 20th Century China 
  • Cultures of Hate and Oppression. Connecting the Conversations about Antisemitism, Holocaust, Gender, Colonialism 
  • 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 and Sexuality pathway.

PATHWAY 3: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (RACial JUSTICE)

• The Racial 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 Racial pathway, this includes any of the following:
  • Policing, Race and Justice 
  • Law, Postcolonialism and Political Economy 
  • Intersectionality and Criminal Justice 
  • Race, Environment and International Development
• Watch Dr Megan McElone and Dr Monish Bhatia discuss the Racial Justice pathway. 

PATHWAY 4: MSC CRIMINOLOGY (GLOBAL Perspectives)

• The Global Perspectives 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 Perspectives pathway, this includes any of the following modules:
• Global Politics, Governance and Security 
• International Political Economy of Childhood 
• International Development and Social Justice 
• Issues in International Law and Human Rights 
• Contemporary Criminological Theory 
• Global Political Economy: Structures and Policies 
• War, Politics and Society 
• The Geopolitics of Environment and Resources 
• Nationalism, Religion, and Conflict 
• The Politics of Race and Diaspora 
• Rebels, Riots and Revolutions in International Development 
• Cities in the Global South 
• Emerging Powers in World Politics 
• Sociology for New World

Pathway 5: MSc Criminology (Public Policy)

• The Public Policy pathway focuses on how public policy is made, and who and what influences it as well as the range of institutions, processes and people central for public policy making and delivery. 
  
• Year 1
• Analysing Public Policy (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 Public Policy pathway, this includes any of the following modules: 
• Public Policy: Interests, Ideas, Institutions 
• Global Politics, Governance and Security 
• Environment and Policy 
• Political Communications: Media, Campaigns, Citizens 
• Governing Public Services
• The political economy of the public sector
• Power and Politics in the UK 
• Education, Power and Resistance 
• Political Theory and Contemporary Politics 
• Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice 
• Youth Justice

INDICATIVE LIST OF OPTIONAL MODULES

• Intersectionality and Criminal Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Policing, Race and Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Regulating Sex and Sexuality: 30 credits - Level 7
• Gender, Sexuality and Criminal Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Global Perspectives on Crime and Crime Control : 30 credits - Level 7
• Healthcare and Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Issues in International Law and Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• The History and Philosophy of Human Rights: 30 credits - Level 7
• Analysing Public Policy: 30 credits - Level 7
• Race, Crime and Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Youth Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Contemporary Criminological Theory: 30 credits - Level 7
• Research Methods in Criminology: 30 credits - Level 7
• Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy: 30 credits - Level 7
• Public Policy: Interests, Ideas, Institutions: 30 credits - Level 7
• Global Politics, Governance and Security: 30 credits - Level 7
• Political Communications: Media, Campaigns, and Citizens: 30 credits - Level 7
• Governing Public Services: 30 credits - Level 7
• The Political Economy of the Public Sector: 30 credits - Level 7
• Sociology for New Worlds : 30 credits - Level 7
• Investigating the Social World: 30 credits - Level 7
• Environment and Policy: 30 credits - Level 7
• Power and Politics in the UK: 30 credits - Level 7
• Education, Power and Resistances: 30 credits - Level 7 
• International Political Economy of Childhood: 30 credits - Level 7
• International Development and Social Justice: 30 credits - Level 7
• Governing Global Capitalism: 30 credits - Level 7
• War, Politics and Society: 30 credits - Level 7
• The Geopolitics of Environment and Resources: 30 credits - Level 7 
• Nationalism, Religion, and Conflict: 30 credits - Level 7
• The Politics of Race and Diaspora: 30 credits - Level 7
• Rebels, Riots and Revolutions in International Development: 30 credits - Level 7 
• Cities in the Global South: 30 credits - Level 7
• Emerging Powers in World Politics: 30 credits - Level 7 
• Race, Environment and International Development: 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 your preference. Schedules will be organised to enable you 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, you are encouraged to spread out your 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.