Criminology (Taught)

Critically explore the complexities of criminology, focusing on social harms, the criminal justice process, and its links to power, deviance, and exclusion with the Aston MSc in Criminology.

MSc Criminology at Aston University develops a critical understating of criminology, moving beyond narrow legal definitions of ‘crime’ to focus on the causes and expressions of a variety of social harms. We study the operation of the criminal justice process, placing it within its wider social context of power, deviance, and exclusion.

Through optional modules, you can focus on online communities, whilst core modules explore the relationship between technology, harm, and social control. Across the programme, you will develop both your digital skills and your higher level methodological skills through a series of bespoke modules, and have the opportunity to explore the relationship between social and criminal justice through workshops with professionals working in the criminal justice and related sectors.

These aspects of the programme are designed to develop your critical analytical and research skills, whilst enabling understanding of and insight into professional practice in the sector.

Core modules: Criminology and Theory / Surveillance, Technology and Society / Critical Perspectives on Criminal Justice / Social and Criminal Justice in Practice / Digital Skills / Aston Global Advantage.

Optional modules: chose one from: Harmful Online Interaction / Punishment, Prisons and Society.

Final stage: Research methods. Dissertation - an original independent research project closely related to crime, harm, deviance and/or criminal justice.

There are a variety of assessment methods across the programme, designed to test the your transferrable skills and depth of critical engagement.