Programme syllabus autumn 2018
Programme syllabus autumn 2018
Title
Criminology, Master's Programme (Two-Year)
Swedish title
Criminology, Master's Programme (Two-Year)
Programme code
VAKRE
Credits
120 credits
Programme establishment date
2009-10-01
Syllabus approval date
2013-08-21
Syllabus valid from
2018-09-03
Decision-making body
Faculty of Health and Society
Entry requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with a major in social or behavioural science or medicine.
- The equivalent of Swedish secondary school English B, or English 6
Level
Advanced level
Organisation
The programme is full-time and will lead to a Master’s degree in Criminology upon completion of the course requirements for semesters 1–4 below. There is an opportunity to take an intermediate exit point for a one-year Master’s degree after semester two. The entire programme is taught in English.
Thesis
For the Master´s degree (60 credits), the student is required to produce a thesis corresponding to 15 course credits during term 2. For Master´s degree (120 credits), the student may either complete two degree projects in criminology each corresponding to 15 course credits during semesters 2 and 4, or a degree project comprising 30 course credits during semester four.
Course progression
In order to start semester four, the student must achieve a passing grade in terms one and two.
Credit transfer for courses taken elsewhere
Credit transfers are tested in accordance with the regulations outlined in Chapter 6, Sections 6–8 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:1000) as of January 1, 2007.
Examination
Examination takes place individually and in accordance with the description included in the relevant course plan.
Right to re-take
A student who fails to achieve a passing grade in the examination for a certain course or part of a course will be given the opportunity to be re-examined twice on the same course content and with the same requirements. In addition, students also have the right to be examined on the same course on subsequent occasions when the course is given, with the same rule applied. If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student has a right to re-examination on two occasions within one year of the introduction of the changes, based on the syllabus that was in place at the time the student registered for the course. Examination and re-examination takes place at the times specified in each course’s respective schedule.
Grading scale
A – Excellent, B - Very Good, C – Good, D – Satisfactory, E - Pass and U – Fail
Degree and course certificates
Degree and course certificates are issued in accordance with the regulations outlined in Chapter 6, Sections 9–11 and 20 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance.
Programme contents
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcomes for a Master’s degree
Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Swedish Higher Education Act (1992:1434). Education at the second cycle shall involve a deepening of knowledge, skills and abilities beyond the first cycle and shall, in addition to what is required of first cycle education:
- further develop the student’s ability to independently integrate and use knowledge in both English and Swedish;
- develop the student’s ability to deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations, and
- develop the student’s qualifications for professional activities that make substantial demands on the individual’s ability to work independently, or for research and development work.
Intended learning outcomes for a one-year Master’s degree in criminology
Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100)
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (60 credits) the student shall
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the main subject area of criminology, both generally and specifically in relation to the area of crime prevention, and a specialised insight into criminological research and development work; and
- demonstrate specialised knowledge of the scientific methods used in criminological research and related areas of research.
Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (60 credits) the student shall:
- demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations within the field of criminology;
- demonstrate the ability to independently identify and formulate criminological research questions and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform advanced tasks within a specified period of time;
- demonstrate the ability, both orally and in writing, to present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that form the basis of these conclusions in dialogue with other interested parties and target groups within the field of criminology; and
- demonstrate the skills as required to participate in research and development work or to fulfil another qualified professional role within the field of criminology.
Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (60 credits) the student shall:
- demonstrate the ability, within the field of criminology, to make assessments taking relevant scientific, social and international factors into consideration and show an awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development work,
- demonstrate an insight into the potentials and limitations of scholarship, its role in society, and people’s responsibility for how it is used, and
- demonstrate the ability to identify needs for additional learning and to assume responsibility for developing knowledge within the field of criminology.
Intended learning outcomes for a two-year Master’s degree in criminology
Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100)
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits) the student shall:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the field of criminology, including both a broad knowledge of criminology and essential, specialised knowledge and understanding within the field of crime prevention, as well as specialised insight into the work of criminological research and development; and
- demonstrate specialised knowledge of the scientific methods used in criminological research and other areas of social science research.
Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits) the student shall:
- demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations within the field of criminology, even on the basis of limited information;
- demonstrate the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate criminological research questions and to plan and, using appropriate methods, perform and evaluate advanced tasks within a specified time frame, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge;
- demonstrate the ability, both orally and in writing, and in both Swedish and international contexts, to present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which these are based in dialogue with other interested parties and target groups within the field of criminology; and
- demonstrate the skills required to participate in research and development work or to fulfil another qualified professional role within the field of criminology.
Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Master in Criminology (120 credits) the student shall:
- demonstrate the ability, within the field of criminology, to make assessments taking relevant scientific, social and ethical factors into consideration, as well as an awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development work;
- demonstrate an insight into the potentials and limitations of scholarship, its role in society, and people’s responsibility for how it is used; and
- demonstrate the ability to identify their needs for additional learning and to assume responsibility for developing their knowledge.
Local profile
Criminology at Malmö University has a multidisciplinary foundation and includes a broad range of study objects beyond “crime”, in the form of health-related factors and mental illness in particular. Criminology at Malmö University is furthermore a subject where the individual and societal levels — and thus several different subject areas — are clearly integrated.
The Master’s programme is also characterised by international elements. The programme is thus constructed in a way that will promote the students’ ability to develop a transboundary competence with a major emphasis on multi-disciplinary, multi-professional and international work. The Master’s programme paves the way for improving the competence of existing professions within municipal, county council and state administrations.
The four terms provide top-level expertise in prevention and intervention within the fields of crime, substance abuse and mental illness. The programme prepares different types of professionals for the development and organisation of prevention work. Interventions, irrespective of whether they are preventive, treatment-oriented or rehabilitative, should proceed from a common, knowledge-based policy that is of relevance for practical/clinical work and for organisations aiming to promote health or prevent ill-health. The programme also confronts the need to create better conditions for collaboration in relation to issues of crime, substance abuse and mental health, particularly within the public sector as well as in the field of healthcare provision and the justice system.
The programme manifests an ambition to develop the students’ inter-professional competence. This means that upon completion of the programme, every student will understand the significance of, and be able to demonstrate the capacity to engage in, collaborations with different professions within the field of criminology.
Pedagogical approach
The programme has the objective of integrating different areas of knowledge with theoretical and applied/practical elements. The theoretical studies are intended to ensure that the students develop both a framework of understanding and the analytical tools required for work within the field of criminology.
The point of departure for teaching is that both subsequent studies and future professional activities are based on the students’ ability to independently develop their own knowledge and to collect, work through and critically examine texts and other information. The teaching has the goal of ensuring that students develop these abilities by means of active participation in, and assuming responsibility for, their own knowledge development as well as that of other students.
Degree
Master's Degree (120 credits)
Master´s degree (60 credits).
Upon completion of the programme, the degree requirements for a two-year Master’s degree (120 credits) are fulfilled. Students have the opportunity to take an intermediate exit point for a one-year Master´s degree (60 credits) upon completion of 60 course credits. Malmö University issues degree certificates upon application.
The Swedish degree certificate specifies either the title Magisterexamen i kriminologi or the title Masterexamen i kriminologi. The English translation of the degree certificate specifies either the title Master (One Year/ 60 credits) of Science in Criminology or the title Master (Two Years/120 credits) of Science in Criminology.
Additional information
Language of instruction: English
The Master’s programme in Criminology will provide you with specialist knowledge on criminal careers, prevention and risk assessment in the areas of crime, substance abuse and mental health problems.
There is a substantial demand on today’s labour market for knowledge in the field of criminology.
The psychiatric sector, the prison and probation sector, social services and the justice system all expect different professions to collaborate on issues relating to crime, substance abuse and mental health problems. Internationalisation is an issue that is being prioritised at both the national and international levels. Since the programme is taught in English, our students will thus be well-prepared for the labour market both within and beyond Sweden’s national borders.