Instead of focusing on statistics, such as increases in crime or correlations of numbers, which traditional 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.

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? How can we understand and analyse the experiences and situations of paper-less migrants, and how do we place their uncertain situation in a global economy? What role does masculinity and status play among terrorists, or incels, or binge-drinking tourists? What part does the media play in our understanding of crime? And how about true crime stories – what part do they play in describing personal experiences and detailed accounts of life inside institutions?
 
We will approach these questions and many more, mainly through qualitative methods such as different of types of interviews, participant observations, and also through analysis of texts, images and Internet data.

In short, cultural criminology is a unique approach to crime, deviance and control, combining insights from sociology, social anthropology and social psychology with those of critical, narrative, and feminist criminology. It is cultural in the sense that our focus lies on how local cultures, subcultures and broader cultural structures affect the way we perceive, interpret and act upon the world. We look at patterns of meaning and how crime and deviance can become something attractive and captivating.

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

As a student of the programme, you will acquire:

• Knowledge and understanding within 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 analysis, 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.