BA Criminology

This course unit is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore and investigate their own research topic. It is an excellent chance to develop your own independent research project, where you can identify, refine, explore in depth, and evaluate what you produce using the knowledge and skills that you have gained over the previous years of study.

Indicative content: There are generic teaching sessions that you have to attend and there will be drop in session at specific points of the process. Due to the individualised nature of your work, you will have one-to-one sessions with your supervisor throughout the academic year. This will ensure that you have dedicated discussions and guidance that is tailored to your research project. You may wish to access the My Learning Essentials workshops run by the library.

Only available to students on the BA (Criminology) programme. 

Also available to students on the BASS Criminology single pathway, subject to permission from the Programme Director.

This course unit aims to: (1) engage students with the theory and practice of criminological research; (2) encourage exploration of the dilemmas and synergies associated with particular research designs and methods appropriate to their area of study; (3) enable students to explore a research question in depth by designing, conducting and writing up primary research, engaging in library-based research, or analysing secondary/unsolicited data.

Any proposed empirical research is subject to approval by the University's ethics protocols.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: (1) appreciate the theoretical and practical issues involved in undertaking an extended piece of research under supervision; (2) gain the ability to explore a research question in depth; (3) demonstrate the appropriate use of research design to address an identified researchable question; (4) show effective use of literature search tools; (5) engage with the dilemmas and synergies of particular research design and methods appropriate to their field of study; (6) demonstrate a critical understanding of how to 'do research'; (7) understand the debates concerning the ethics of research.

Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture or workshop; (3) subject specific dissertation labs and drop in sessions; and (4) one on one supervision with a designated supervisor;

Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on work produced for each supervision meeting. 

Detailed summative feedback will be given on the submitted dissertation via Blackboard (Grademark).

This unit is assessed by a 1000 word dissertation proposal (10%) and a 8000-9000 words dissertation (90%).

University of Manchester Library My Learning Essentials ''Start to Finish: Dissertations" available at: https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/learning-objects/mle/packages/dissertations/

Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a ‘working week’ of around 30-35 hours studying time. 

Up to 6 supervision meetings across the year, arranged individually with the allocated supervisor.