Cultural Criminology - Master of Science programme

If you are a graffiti writer, what are the thrills? What tools are you expected to use, what vocabulary and even what clothes are you expected to wear?

Instead of focusing on statistics such as increases in crime, which criminology often has relied upon, we ask: What governs relationships in the drug world or that of prostitution, among buyers, sellers and the police? We aim to get inside the experiences of committing or controlling crime and to grasp the biographical and emotional aspects.

We are interested in how the media represents crime but also in personal experiences and detailed accounts of life inside institutions. We primarily use fieldnotes, interviews, texts, images and Internet data.

The Master’s programme in Cultural Criminology focuses on crime, deviations and social control through the study of how cultural norms, representations and conceptions function in society from the perspectives of individuals and the perspectiveof society.

In short, cultural criminology is about local cultures, subcultures and a multitude of cultural characteristics associated with crime or deviance.

Programme overview

The MSc in Cultural Criminology leads to a Master’s degree in Cultural Criminology with a major in Sociology or Social Anthropology.

The programme will give you a solid understanding of criminological phenomena from a cultural perspective and enable you to develop critical thinking, analytical skills and the ability to conduct cultural analysis.

The programme will help you to develop your own specialised expertise in cultural criminology for advanced professional work or to prepare for PhD studies in social anthropology or sociology.

The programme also allows freedom to select courses, an internship or studies abroad according to interests and future needs.

The programme is given on Campus in Lund: http://www.soc.lu.se/en

The Master’s programme in Cultural Criminology will give you:

• Knowledge and understanding of criminology, social anthropology and sociology, including knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of the fields, and general knowledge of current research issues
• Specialised knowledge of research methods in cultural criminology
• The ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex cultural criminological phenomena, issues and situations
• The ability to identify and formulate research questions critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• The skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity

Courses and number of credits

• Semester 1: Theories, Perspectives and Concepts of Cultural Criminology (15 credits), Ethnography in Social Science (15 credits) or Sociology: Methods and Social Analysis (15 credits).
• Semester 2: Applied Cultural Criminology – Analysis, Organisation and Strategies (15 credits), Methods courses given by Graduate School (15 credits).
• Semester 3: Elective courses of relevance to the programme or internship or studies abroad (30 credits).
• Semester 4: Master’s thesis (30 credits).

Career prospects

Crime and punishment are continuously topical in public debate. Furthermore, they constitute the basis for many of modern society’s professions and professional activities: prison officers, crime prevention officers, university lecturers, police officers, social analysts, etc. This programme will also prepare you for PhD-studies and a continued academic career.