Cultural Criminology - Master of Science programme

The Master's programme in Cultural Criminology focuses on crime, deviations and social control through study of how cultural norms, representations and conceptions function in society from the perspectives of individuals and of society. Issues concerning human actions and interactions as well as of collective notions of morality/immorality and normality/abnormality are of key interest. Further topics of study include which social phenomena are defined as deviant and how they are produced and reproduced.

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 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

Programme courses

• Theories, Perspectives and Concepts of Cultural Criminology, 15 credits
• Ethnography in Social Science, 15 credits, or Methods and Social Analysis, 15 credits
• Applied Cultural Criminology – Analysis, Organisation and Strategies, 15 credits
• Courses in methods given by Graduate School, 15 credits
• Elective courses of relevance to the programme/internship/studies abroad, 30 credits
• Master's (two year) 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, case workers, university lecturers, police officers, social analysts, etc. Internships allow students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired in the programme in practice. The internship organisations are interested in the broad cultural criminological expertise students will have.