Programme Specification ( )

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1 Date of Revision Date of Previous Revision 20 April 2015 Programme Specification ( ) A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University s Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual. Programme Title LLM Criminal Justice Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) Programme Code LAW-LLM-CJ UCAS Code Criteria for Admissions (Please see General Regulations) University. Mode of Study (Full-time, Part-time, other) Type of Programme Postgraduate Taught LLM JACS Code LLM [exit award of PG Diploma and PG Certificate] M211 Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities, or a cognate discipline. Applicants who are non-eaa nationals must satisfy the UKBA immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes, by providing evidence of an IELTS score of 6.5 (taken within the last two years), with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the Full-time and Part-time Length of Programme one year full-time two years part-time Total Credits for Programme 180 Awarding Institution/Body Teaching Institution School/Department Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level dguidance Queen s University Belfast Queen s University Belfast School of Law Level 7 QAA Benchmark Group y/subject-guidance/pages/subject-benchmarkstatements.aspx Benchmark statement for Masters programmes in Law has not been devised. School refers to Benchmark statements for cognate Masters programmes, eg Criminology, Business and Management, in conjunction with Benchmark statement for Honours Law. Collaborative Organisation and form of

2 Collaboration (if applicable) Accreditations (PSRB) ATAS Clearance External Examiner Name Dr Aogan Mulcahy Professor Laura Piacentini Date of next scheduled accreditation visit External Examiner Institution/Organisation University College Dublin University of Strathclyde Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Programme Specific Regulations Yes No x (If yes, please state here any exemptions to regulations which have been approved for this programme) Students may only re-sit failed or deferred modules totalling 60 CATS points in the Supplementary examination period (ie August). Other fails must be retaken in the following academic year. Students who have failed or deferred taught modules totalling less than 40 CATS points by June of any year may proceed with the dissertation submission in September of that year, taking the re-sits for the outstanding taught modules in the Supplementary examination period (ie August). Students who have failed or deferred taught modules totalling more than 40 CATS points by June of any year will be advised that the dissertation will not be accepted in September of that year. Students may re-sit modules totalling 60 CATS points in that Supplementary examination period (ie August) students will be asked to clear semester one outstanding modules first and take the remaining outstanding modules and dissertation in the following academic year. Students must have successfully completed the taught elements of the programme before submission of the Dissertation is possible. Students may only be permitted one resit attempt at the Dissertation module. Students with protected characteristics. Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Length of Programme Please indicate No Fitness to Practise programmes are those which permit students to enter a profession which is itself subject to Fitness to Practise rules normally one year full-time; two years part-time

3 Educational Aims of Programme On completion of the programme the student will be able to: Please list below the overarching aims and objectives of the programme. This programme is designed for graduate students with an academic or professional interest in criminal justice. It will enable the learner to master the major theories concerning crime, criminality, and criminal justice systems. Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills be able to: Deal with complex issues in a systematic and coherent manner. Presentation of independent research both orally and in writing to both a specialist and non-specialist audience. Apply key research skills and methodology to a range of sources including not only legal ones but also media and other discussions of law such as NGO position papers. Critically present information and ideas in a coherent and accurate manner. The capacity to undertake independent research via a dissertation. Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills be able to: An ability to be self-directed and exercise initiative The independent learning skills required for workplace training or further professional training Independent and critical thinking Decision-making skills Ability to apply existing knowledge to new situations The ability to absorb new techniques in areas such as information technology Instruction in the use of the university Library and the QUB Online information system are core elements of the induction process. Coursework (in the form of essay writing) comprises a central element of the overall Masters learning and teaching process thus facilitating the development of practical research, presentational and IT skills. Students are encouraged to attend the many staff seminars and guest lectures organised throughout the year which include nationally and internationally renowned speakers. Students are required to take a module in research methods which equips them with an understanding of theories of research and research methodologies. Students are introduced to the wide range of source material on the Internet and are guided in the use of this material to develop skills of critical analysis. Verbal communication skills are developed primarily through small group seminar teaching, in particular by means of student presentations Written communication skills are developed through the programme through essay writing; the compulsory dissertation module provides an opportunity to further develop this skill. These methods of assessment, which require the development of arguments based on the Coursework (in the form of essay writing), short papers, and class presentations will comprise a central element of the overall assessment process. Assessment processes will be aimed at assessing students understanding of key legal concepts, the nature of key interdisciplinary debates, the application of legal concepts to complex and uncertain policy and regulatory scenarios, and their ability to apply key socio-legal research methodologies to the subject matter. The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the programme; however the approach to assessment varies within modules. Written communication skills, problemsolving and intellectual skills are assessed directly throughout the programme. Autonomy, teamwork and

4 Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding be able to: Detailed knowledge and critical understanding of theory and practice related to criminal justice. Detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the methods employed in social science research, to facilitate proficiency in research design and to encourage methodological appraisal and critique. The ability to demonstrate detailed knowledge and critical appraisal of a wide range of factors which impact on understandings of crime, criminality, and criminal justice policy and practice. Critical understanding of the wider legal, political, economic and social contexts in which crime occurs and criminal justice systems operate, and an ability to locate the experiential realities of individuals and communities within their historical and structural contexts. Comparative and interdisciplinary understanding of criminological issues. presentation and/or generation of numerical and statistical information, aid the development of numeracy skills. The process of independent study that underlines the entire programme of study, coupled with guidance and individual feedback on essays and dissertations, facilitate the development of autonomy and personal skills in addition to how this manifests itself at undergraduate level, postgraduates will also be able to exercise initiative, self-direction and personal responsibility. Problem-solving and teamwork skills are developed principally through specific problem-based seminar exercises and projects that require collaboration amongst groups of students. General timemanagement and intellectual skills are also developed through the above learning and teaching methods. Use of the internet, QUB Online information system (including information retrieval, communication and document exchange) and word-processing are fundamental elements of the entire learning and teaching process. Students acquisition of core knowledge is achieved primarily through independent study, systematically supported by lectures, seminars and the provision of online information. personal skills are generally assessed indirectly through the medium of coursework and compulsory dissertation. Verbal communication skills are assessed through the use of student presentations which are a requirement for several modules. Coursework (essays, dissertation), class presentations and case reports.

5 Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific Skills be able to Ability to identify issues in the field of criminal justice and analyse them from theoretical and legal points of view. Ability to critically evaluate proposed solutions to issues relating to criminal justice systems and their theoretical and methodological bases. Synthesising information from extra-legal sources in order to place information relating to issues in the field of criminal justice in their social, political and economic context. Ability to critically evaluate current research in the field of criminal justice. Using arguments derived from the analysis of current research to present new hypotheses. Ability to demonstrate linkages between different bodies of knowledge relating to criminal justice by recognising the presence of underpinning theoretical concepts. The focus of postgraduate level teaching and assessment is on facilitating independent study. The basic information is covered in seminars and smaller group contact time. Students build on this basis by using their generic research skills to acquire subject specific knowledge through the use of guided reading lists and electronic resources such as Lexis, Westlaw and Queens-Online. Each module assessment is designed not only to test subject specific skills taught in that module but also to map the entrenchment of generic criminological or legal research skills. Assessment methods include long essays (written coursework), presentations, short papers and dissertation. Assessment for postgraduate modules is more rigorous in terms of quality, rigor and length than undergraduate assessment.

6 LLM Criminal Justice Programme Requirements Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits Availability Duration Pre-requisite Assessment S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Examination % AHS x x x 100% Concepts, Issues and Methods in AHS Criminal Justice Processes LAW x 12 weeks x 100% Crime, Justice and Society LAW x 12 weeks x essay 1 20% essay 2 80% Criminal Justice and Criminology LAW x 6 hours x 100% Methods 1 Criminal Justice and Criminology LAW x 6 hours x 100% Methods 2 Approaches to Legal Research LAW x 12 hours x 100% Dissertation LAW x 100% Students select 40 units from the optional modules below Theoretical Criminology LAW x 12 weeks x 100% Contemporary Issues in Criminal LAW x 12 weeks x 100% Justice Justice in Transition LAW x 12 weeks x essay 1 50% essay 2 50% Approved by Director of Education: Print Name: Dr Robin Hickey Signature: Date: