How To Become A Criminologist

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1 Master of Science in Criminology Faculty of Law KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.

2 Discover KU Leuven Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of international master s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research. Since its founding, KU Leuven has been based in the city that shares its name. Leuven is a pleasant, safe and bustling student town, where centuries-rich history meets cutting-edge science. The university also offers degree programmes at campuses in 11 Belgian cities, including Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. The Faculty of Law With some 4,200 students and a comprehensive curriculum, the Faculty of Law at KU Leuven is the oldest and largest law faculty in the country and has a long tradition of public service. Its alumni hold prominent positions in the federal and regional government and in the European and international community. The Faculty of Law's research activities have a European, international and comparative orientation. Its staff publish regularly and in various languages in leading European and international journals.

3 Leuven Institute of Criminology Launched in January 2007, the Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC) is composed of eleven professors and more than seventy assistants and fellows involved in criminological research and education within the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology at KU Leuven s Faculty of Law. LINC is the most recent institutional incarnation of a long tradition of criminological research at KU Leuven. LINC s roots can be traced back to 1929 with the founding of the School for Criminology. Building on that tradition, LINC combines discipline-leading research with a deep commitment to society. To achieve this goal, LINC has developed a vibrant programme of research structured within ten research lines. MASTER OF CRIMINOLOGY This graduate study programme is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of crime, public response to crime and, specifically, criminal justice in Europe and beyond. It includes instruction in general topics, such as criminological theories and models of law enforcement, psychology, law and criminal justice, youth criminology and juvenile justice, and research methods. It also includes a number of cutting-edge courses in areas in which LINC professors are internationally renowned as experts: international police and judicial cooperation, political crimes and transitional justice, restorative justice and terrorism, organised and corporate crime. The programme is intended to prepare students for research and professional employment in national and international policy and operational agencies in the fields of criminal justice and victim assistance. It is characterised by a strong link between education and research. Our excellent instructors have first-hand expertise in a wide range of criminological topics, from the theoretical to the applied. The programme has an explicit international, comparative orientation and aims to develop students critical and reflective attitudes and methodological skills. Students specialise in one of three following research areas, solidified through the writing of a master s thesis: Criminality and (in)security Person- and community-oriented criminology Law enforcement

4 Programme MASTER OF CRIMINOLOGY 60 ECTS COURSE ECTS SEM. TRUNCUS COMMUNIS Students must choose 6 compulsory courses. Criminological Theories and Models of Law Enforcement 6 1 International Police and Judicial Cooperation 6 2 Juvenile Justice and Youth Criminology 6 2 Political Crimes and Transitional Justice 6 2 Psychology, Law and Criminal Justice 6 1 Restorative Justice 6 1 Terrorism, Organised and Corporate Crime 6 1 METHODOLOGY SEMINAR Students must attend 1 seminar. Methodology Seminar: Quantitative Research Methods Methodology Seminar: Qualitative Research Methods Methodology Seminar: Comparative Law and Criminology MASTER S THESIS Master s thesis: Master of Criminology OPTIONAL COURSES Students must attend at least one optional course amounting to at least 6 ECTS. For detailed descriptions of this programme s courses and for the course timetable, please consult

5 Admission requirements 1. Sufficient knowledge of the English language: TOEFL test (minimum 600 paperbased, minimum 250 computer-based and minimum 100 internet-based); IELTS test score of minimum 7; or Cambridge Proficiency level certificate. 2. Academic degree: Holders of a bachelor s degree in Criminology (regardless of their country of origin) are eligible for direct access to the programme, as are holders of a voorbereidingsprogramma (fully taught in Dutch) (40-46 ECTS) certificate and holders of a verkorte bachelor in de criminologische wetenschappen (language of instruction: Dutch) (120 ECTS). Students who do not possess a bachelor s degree in Criminology but have another academic bachelor s and/or master s degree in the humanities or social sciences must follow the Master in Criminology Preparatory Programme, taught entirely in English. Students wishing to enrol in the preparatory programme must meet the admission requirements. For more information, see: Career outlook Our graduates distinguish themselves from their other academic and professional counterparts through their excellent command of methodological and critical thinking skills acquired during the programme and go on to careers in police and justice, youth care, the private sector focusing on security and safety as well as civil services and the non-profit sector. The Master of Criminology really strengthened my expertise in the field. My professors were very engaging and the tutorial system and teaching methods made the experience challenging and highly educational. While I was interested in anything related to organised crime, I particularly appreciated the broad approach to crime control and to judicial and police cooperation. In addition, Leuven is a wonderful town and offers so many great activities: sports, special prices for students, etc. The university has excellent services for students. The Housing Office is particularly helpful for international students looking for housing. (Michele Damone, Italy, Class of 2010, currently at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna)

6 KU LEUVEN Oude Markt 13 box LEUVEN, Belgium Learn more General information Publications Faculty of Law Gema Rodríguez Valls tel.: [email protected] This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available concerning this master s programme offered at KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time. Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information provided in this brochure. The most recent information on all our academic programmes can be consulted at Last updated: February 2015 v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven