Course overview

Transnational Crime includes activities that violate the laws of more than one country, for example money laundering, terrorist activities, illicit traffic in arms, environmental crimes, and illicit drug and people trafficking. Our course will allow you to explore practical and theoretical aspects of transnational criminal activities, including models and methods of detection, policing, social control and sanctions. A range of theoretical standpoints will enable you to understand western legal and social traditions, in order to develop a comparative framework. You will also be encouraged to develop vocational and applied approaches. Themes on our course include: the structure and nature of organised illicit trade and criminal enterprise; the concept of the risk society; responses to transnational crimes through policing initiatives, agreements and treaties; western legal practices and sentencing frameworks; critical enquiries into the effects of changing serious crime levels; terror-news; moral panics; and the mobilisation of nations.

How the MA is Organised
This course consists of four taught modules taken over one year by full-time students, or two years for part-time students. The Major Project is completed at the end of the taught part of the course. Teaching runs over two semesters of 12 weeks each, September to December and February to May.

Teaching
Teaching mainly takes place in a research seminar format, but may also include some lectures, guest speakers and debates. The MA tutors are available for one-to-one support and advice.

Our Staff:

Colleen Moore
Violent behaviour; justice and injustice through the courts; human trafficking; comparative criminology.

Dr Sam Lundrigan
Criminological geographic profiling systems; spatial behaviour of serial rapists; behaviour consistency of serial offenders.

Dr Anna Markovska
Transitional countries; serious crime; corruption; drug abuse.

Dr Natalie Mann
Ageing, crime, penology, sex offending

Vicky Gadd
Prisons and imprisonment; prison management; prisoners and the experience of imprisonment; prison staff and the role of the prison officer; justice theory; research methods.

Dr Liz Bradbury
Social theory; gender studies; psychoanalysis; the Frankfurt School.

Dr David Skinner
Race and racism, the social and political aspects of scientific and technological innovation; the relationship between the natural and social sciences; forensics, databases and surveillance; the changing management of public services.

Dr Shaun le Boutillier
Social theory; applied ethics; explanations of the relations between individual and society.

Emma Brett
Public service; learning and education; equality and cultural diversity; barriers to learning.

Julian Constable
Learning and teaching in the post-compulsory education sector; police training methods.

In addition to teaching time on-campus, all courses require intensive self-guided learning, research or private study and there may also be optional training, seminars, visits, lectures or master classes to attend.

Assessment

Assessment varies from module to module, but typically might consist of a 5,000 word essay plus a presentation of approx 20 minutes; a case study plus presentation, or a portfolio of activities to be submitted at the end of the module.

Facilities

All teaching takes place on the Cambridge campus, with excellent library facilities, bookshops and other facilities close at hand.

Libraries
Our campus libraries offer a wide range of publications and a variety of study facilities, including open-access computers, areas for quiet or group study and bookable rooms. We also have an extensive Digital Library providing on and off-site access to e-books, e-journals and databases.

We endeavour to make our libraries as accessible as possible for all our students. During Semester time, they open 24 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday and for 12 hours on Sunday.

IT resources
Our open access computer facilities provide free access to the internet, email, messaging services and the full Microsoft Office suite. A high speed wireless service is also available in all key areas on campus. If you are away from campus or a distant learner, our student desktop and its many applications can be accessed remotely using the internet. Your personal student email account provides free document storage, calendar facilities and social networking opportunities.

Throughout your studies you will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), providing course notes, reading materials and multi-media content to support your learning, while our e-vision system gives you instant access to your academic record and your timetable.

Special features

In addition to the taught modules, we run a series of research seminars to which staff and postgraduate students are invited.

Course Leader

Dr Anna Markovska

Related links

Anglia Ruskin to host Cross-Border Crime Colloquium 2013
The Future of Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism
Anglia Ruskin University hosts Q&A session with Robert King
Dr Samantha Lundrigan's new projects to bridge gap between research and police
Justice and Communities Research Unit

Associated careers

Graduates may pursue careers in many related fields, including national and international criminal justice systems, immigration and border agencies, the Police, the Prison Service, the National Probation Service, Youth Justice, the Home Office, scenes of crime work, the court system, or social policy and research.

Links with industry/Professional recognition

Through our research, consultancy and community engagement work we have links with professionals in the criminal justice system, prisons and other enforcement agencies.

Entry Requirements:

Usually a good/ 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) and/or relevant professional experience. Candidates for whom English is not a first language will be expected to demonstrate a certified level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

If we have confirmed you do not meet our entry requirements you might want to consider a preparatory course at Cambridge Ruskin International College (CRIC), our partner college, based on our Cambridge campus, before coming to study with us.