Why study this course?
On our Criminology and Psychopathology MSc course you will develop your understanding of a range of key psychological and criminological theories, practices and perspectives involved in crime and mental health.
More about this course
The aim of this course is to provide you with an up-to-date multidisciplinary scientific and academic knowledge of criminal behaviour within a mental health context, which is particularly useful if you wish to pursue a career in crime prevention and rehabilitation.
You will consider theoretical and practical issues relating to the main factors influencing crime from biological, social, cultural and psychological perspectives. The course aims to contribute to the training needs of all those that have a role to play in providing services within criminal justice and across the areas of health, social welfare, education and youth justice services. It also provides an opportunity for a career change.
You will explore a range of specialist topics such as:
- the sociological approach to crime, criminology and criminological theory
- the status of the victim throughout the criminal process
- the relationship between psychology and crime
- the impact of mental health issues within health and criminal justice systems
Assessment
You will be assessed through a range of methods, of which the exact nature will be determined by the options you take in the spring semester.
A range of methods will allow for the demonstration of academic learning through mechanisms that support employability skills. You will be assessed through essays, case studies, oral presentations, critical and systematic reviews, as well as qualitative and quantitative research reports. You will be required to write research reports that include data analysis, which will also be reflected in the 60-credit dissertation.
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
You will be required to have:
- a lower second class honours degree with 2:2 (or above) or equivalent
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).
English language requirements
To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements.
If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2023/24 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Friday morning
- summer studies - Friday morning
The dissertation is a triple-weighted module and is designed to provide an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of research in their subject field. The dissertation is intended to build on the taught modules of the award and is underpinned by the Research Methods module, SS7079 Criminological Research Methods. The dissertation is designed to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and skills developed throughout the award. It is the largest piece of assessed work undertaken on the award, and is seen as the clearest expression of your ability to study at Masters level.
The dissertation allows you to undertake an independent and sustained piece of research into a substantive topic of your own choosing. The dissertation must include appropriate empirical research in the field of criminology and criminal justice. It must also be grounded in related criminological theories and relate to previous criminological research.
The dissertation has the following aims:
1. To undertake an independent investigation of one area or topic within the field of Criminology;
2. To demonstrate advanced and original application of research knowledge and skills to the proposed topic;
3. To provide an opportunity for systematic critical reflection on the research topic and its relationship to advanced scholarship in the field of study. - This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Friday afternoon
In this module you will examine some key debates in criminology and criminal justice, by looking at core theoretical frameworks and contemporary research used to explain crime. You will apply this understanding to policy developments within criminal justice responses to crime.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Tuesday afternoon
The main aim of this module is to provide you with core knowledge and understanding of approaches to explaining criminal behaviour and its impact upon individuals and society.
During the course of studying this module you will cover some diverse topics including an overview of the major perspectives in criminology, a discussion on the measurement of crime and following from this workshops focusing on psychological elements to forms of crime and violence, such as sex offending, domestic violence, stalking and homicide.
When studying this module you will:
● Provide an overview of the measurement of crime and factors influencing the degree of error in this measurement.
● Provide an account of psychological factors that are related to or help to explain crime at both a general level and in terms of specific offences (e.g., arson) and specific offender groups (e.g., juveniles).
● Evaluate the contribution of psychology to the explanation of criminal behaviour relative to and in interaction with explanatory frameworks and factors from other disciplines. - This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Wednesday morning
This module will introduce you to core topics in psychopathology and clinical practice, including treatments for a range of mental health conditions and neuropsychological disorders. It will allow you to explore the nature of mental health conditions and neuropsychological disorders through biological, social, behavioural, and cognitive perspectives, as well as mental health service users’ experiences. You will learn how to diagnose and assess a range of mental health disorders and to appreciate how social and cultural factors can influence these practices. The module will utilise a variety of teaching and learning methods to provide an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to understanding psychopathology. These features will include introduction to formal classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) and skills in research and professional practice.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Thursday afternoon
The aim of this module is to introduce you to a wide range of methods of psychological investigation. You will learn how to design different types of psychological studies, create materials for data collection, collect and analyse data, summarise, and present results in line with professional publication standards and the principles of open science. You will learn how to manage and manipulate different types of data (qualitative and quantitative) and to conduct different types of data analysis using appropriate software where appropriate. The module will develop your ability to integrate and evaluate different lines of theory and research and to reflect on the ethical implications of different research methods in line with professional standards and principles of open science. Each of these aims is associated with general competencies that are highly valued in employment settings (e.g., communication, numeracy, data management, critical thinking).
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Friday afternoon
This module explores the connections between the many factors that contribute to the onset of, prevention of, and desistance from, crime and other forms of risk-taking. It examines how these shape patterns of offending and victimisation. It takes an empirically-grounded, theoretically-informed approach and investigates the inter-relationships between formal social controls (as exercised through the criminal justice system) and informal social controls (as exercised through families, neighbourhoods, local economies and other social policies). It examines the relationships between youth offending, victimisation and crime, looking at a range of topics such as gangs and drugs, and trafficking. Finally, it will consider prevention strategies to understand what interventions might have reduced risk.
Aims:
● To develop an understanding of the history of the social construction of youth offending and the government’s responses to these issues.
● To analyse the connections between the many factors contributing to the onset of, prevention of, and desistance from, crime.
● To explore the role of support systems such as family, mentoring, schools in crime prevention and desistance.
● To critically explore the role of the criminal justice system in crime prevention.
● To apply key theoretical positions to a range of empirically-grounded studies of crime. - This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Wednesday afternoon
This module will allow you to investigate the complex issue of violence through a multidisciplinary approach. Indicative topics include serious youth violence, murder, football hooliganism and violence in the home. The module will be structured to identify and explain violent behaviour both in the West and the Global South. These will then be tied to the wider criminological field and possible prevention strategies will be considered.
There is a negotiated element to the module, allowing you to focus on topics specific to your own interests.
You are expected to attend and contribute to all seminar sessions, and attendance will be monitored. Sessions will require you to do some preparation, including the reading of academic journal articles, book chapters and research reports.
The module aims to:
1. Explore the prevalence of and trends in violence in the UK and globally
2. Identify and assess violent crimes
3. Recognize and contextualize various types of violence
4. Use various theories within the field of criminology and sociology to explain violent
behaviour This module allows students to explore the relationship between key aspects of the law, rights and code of professionals’ ethics within mental health. This module will look at the science base behind legal and policy developments across a range of mental health problems.
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Tuesday morning
You will explore the relationship between the state and terrorism and considers how the nation state has been the perpetrator and a motivating factor behind terrorist acts, as well as considering other reasons behind such acts of violence. You will consider the role of the state as a protector of its citizens has been challenged by its own actions and by terrorist organisations including groups such as ISIS. The module goes on to outline contemporary terrorist tactics and reviews the impact on national and international responses to terrorism.
The module aims are
1. Allow an exploration of the role of the state as protector from and perpetrator of terrorist violence
2. Learn about the different motivations for individuals and groups to become radicalised
3. Understand contemporary terrorist tactics within a historical context
4. Consider terrorism desistance
5. Outline the impacts of counter terrorism measures and the war on terror on both radicalisation and the wider public
Where this course can take you
Our Criminology and Psychopathology MSc will provide you with opportunities to enter and/or progress within a diverse range of occupations including but not restricted to:
- psychology (and related disciplines eg criminology, sociology)
- health practitioners (eg nurses, key workers or GPs)
- social workers
- probation, prison and police services
The course also provides additional benefit if you wish to pursue further study in
clinical psychology and/or forensic psychology.
Additional costs
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
How to apply
Use the apply button to begin your application.
If you require a Student visa and wish to study a postgraduate course on a part-time basis, please read our how to apply information for international students to ensure you have all the details you need about the application process.
When to apply
You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates..jpg)
