My name is Chris Mcgill I am a senior lecturer in Criminology here at LSBU. I am also the
course Director for the MSC in Criminology and Social Research Methods.
The MSc in Criminology and Social Research Methods provides our graduates with the opportunity
to engage in key criminological issues whilst at the same time providing solid research
methods training. we offer the course and full-time or part-time basis and during your
studies and our students will take six modules in total plus a dissertation over the summer.
One of our most popular modules is Criminological Research and Practice and this is where our
own academics plus guest speakers come in and speak to students about their own experiences
and challenges of conducting criminological research. The issues are always contemporary
and we cover methodology that is innovative and interesting to our students. Examples
of the topics we've covered in the past; prostitution, offenders with mental health issues, homophobic hate crime.
Students choose this course because of the in depth understanding provides in relation
criminal justice issues and also criminology as a discipline. Students are attracted by
our staff expertise our staff are incredibly knowledgeable and research active when it
comes to contemporary issues in criminal justice and criminology so for example staff are interested
and active in terms of research around gender, prisons and youth and criminal justice policy
and practice as a whole. A unique selling point in relation to this course is the social
research methods training that it provides our students leave this course incredibly
well placed to continue their studies within academia perhaps go on to do a doctorate PhD
in criminology. Our course appeals to our own LSBU graduates they are attracted by the
prospect of remaining at an institution that they know that they're comfortable with they
are attracted by the prospect of being taught by staff who they know and staff that they're
comfortable with. However This course also appeals to students from outside of the institution
professionals and practitioners who work within the criminal justice field and in fact were
very well placed in relation to our location, Houses of Parliament, Royal Courts of Justice
are just up the road, so our course also appeals to those individuals who work within the criminal
justice field who wish to return to their study to take a masters to further their career
Graduates finish our course with great career prospects they are well equipped to design,
conduct and manage their own research. The specialist research methods training provides
them with an excellent foundation should they wish to continue their studies and perhaps
take a PhD in criminology. Through the course our students develop particular links with
organisations the module criminological research and practice allows our students provides
students with a network which they can then use to further their career prospects.
Our students go on want to work for the police, they go on to work for probation they go on
to work for the prison system. Our students go to work in local government or indeed Into
central government and some of our students ultimately end up working as researchers for
the likes of the Ministry of Justice or the Home Office.