Criminology and Social Research Methods

Overview

Key facts

Lancaster University’s Criminology and Social Research Methods degree, which is eligible for ESRC 1+3 funding, guides you through the theory of criminological research and allows you to advance your skills in the collection, analysis and reporting of qualitative and quantitative data. This degree integrates criminal justice and criminology modules, which allows you to have a much broader overview of current research in criminology and criminal justice, and of more specialised socio-legal research and debates.

80% of the School’s research was rated as internationally excellent or world leading in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014). Therefore, many of our lecturers are internationally recognised researchers. Our Law School is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, the Centre for Law and Society, and the Centre for Child and Family Justice; these centres underpin our postgraduate teaching, which is often research-led and research-informed.

Your core modules are: Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences; Quantitative Research Methods; Crime and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century; Criminological Theory; and Criminological Research in Practice. A research-based Criminology dissertation completes your degree.

Your postgraduate degree can prepare you for research jobs in organisations such as the Home Office, Probation Service, Social Services, and other government departments or voluntary organisations. You will have the opportinity to  develop the skills to undertake and critically evaluate criminological research, which can be highly prized by employers in the public and private sectors. Whilst on the degree you will also have the chance to develop your analytical and communication skills which can help to build on your employability.