About Criminology (ma) in University College Cork

The MA in Criminology examines a broad range of theoretical and applied approaches to understanding crime: social deviance, morality, anti-social behaviour, social regulation, legislation, criminal law, justice, prevention, rehabilitation and punishment as social phenomena and as objects of social policy, and delivers a basic competence to carry out research in the field. It is interdisciplinary in tone and character and organized by the Schools of Sociology & Philosophy, Law and Applied Social Studies.

There are three compulsory modules on this course plus four additional modules.

Why Choose This Course

This course is aimed at providing students with a multidisciplinary grounding in the study of crime. Students have the option to take modules on Law, psychology, sociology and applied social studies.

Skills and Careers Information

Criminology graduates from the MA in Criminology at UCC are attractive to employers both inside and outside the criminal justice sector. The MA programme encourages the development of key proficiencies such as critical thinking, analytical and communications skills; graduates with these capabilities have the option to work in many sectors associated with their degree and other related areas.

What can I do after I graduate with a Masters in Criminology?

Graduates from the MA in Criminology have a diverse range of roles both nationally and internationally. Some students come to UCC with a wealth of experience in the field, for example serving Gardai, eager to further their knowledge in the area. Other students come from an undergraduate programme or related areas such a youth work. To date our graduate students have found employment in the Gardai, the Prison Services, the community sector, further education and addiction services.

The jobs directly related to your Masters Degree include

• Community Development Officer.
• Garda
• Prison officer
• Youth worker
• Victim liaison officer.
• Researcher.
• Civil Servant
• Customs and excise officer
• Fisheries officer

Other roles that are relevant include

• Counselor
• Social Worker
• Solicitor
• Addiction services employee
• Adult intervention services
• PhD researcher/Academic
• Journalism/media
• Teaching
• UN field office employee
• NGO – e.g. Amnesty International, Red Cross etc.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Applicants should have an honours degree in a related subject.
• Indian applicants will normally be required to achieve a first class/first division mark in their undergraduate programme at a good institution of higher education in India. At the discretion of academic departments, students with degrees awarded by top universities such as the University of Mumbai, University of Delhi, University of Calcutta, and the University of Pune, may be accepted with high second class/high second division marks. 

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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