Course Structure
Outline of the Courses
Year 1 comprises three formal teaching blocks, each of two weeks duration. The first block is held around
Easter with the second and third blocks usually in July and September. Year 2 is designed for students who have completed year
1 to a required standard. Year 2 comprises three further blocks in Cambridge (normally around Easter and in July and September),
and the submission of a supervised thesis.
A variety of teaching methods are used - all of which require active student participation - including lectures and seminars,
case studies, practical exercises and project work. Individual study is also necessary. All students have individual supervisions
with Cambridge supervisors to discuss their work as it progresses. Students can discuss their academic work with their supervisor,
and their supervisor will provide feedback on assessed essays, as well as support during the residential blocks and throughout the
course. For each study block essential readings is provided. The Institute of Criminology has one of the world's finest criminological
research libraries.
Year One
Students are required to study a number of modules or 'strands'. Some of these modules are 'core' modules and many of their lectures and seminars are shared by both courses. Other modules are more specialised and are studied by students on only one of the courses (although, subject to timetabling constraints, students may of course attend lectures of interest from modules that they will not be assessed on). The modules currently are as follows:
- Prisons and Imprisonment
- Criminal Justice Policy, Inverventions & Outcomes
- Management & Criminal Justice
- Criminological Theory & Research
- Sentencing, the Legal Context & Court Issues
A key feature of the course involves regular guest lectures given by distinguished speakers on aspects of the legal, political and human rights environment within which criminal justice work is conducted.
Year Two
The second year builds on work completed in the first year. An intensive two week study block provides a comprehensive introduction to research design and research methodologies utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. This is intended to provide sufficient 'hands-on' experience to enable students to proceed to the development of their own research proposal and the conduct of a study which forms the basis of a dissertation. The study may be based on either library or empirical research and is selected in close consultation with a supervisor. Usually a topic is chosen which is close to the student's own area of responsibility so that it closely links into career development. Work proceeds on the research proposal and the conduct of the thesis in two further study blocks during which there are further research workshops as necessary in addition to regular meetings with supervisors and thesis advisors.
How are the Courses Assessed?
Year One
Students are required to write three essays of 3,000 words each from three of four assessed subject areas. The four assessed areas are Criminological Theory and Criminological Research, Management in Criminal Justice, Prisons & Imprisonment and Issues & Developments in Contemporary Criminal Justice.
Year Two
Students are required to write three essays of 3,000 words each from three of four assessed subject areas. The four assessed areas are Criminological Theory and Criminological Research, Management in Criminal Justice, Prisons & Imprisonment and Issues & Developments in Contemporary Criminal Justice.