Master of Science in Criminological Sciences

The research domain of criminology includes deviant behaviour and criminality. As an autonomous discipline it not only analyses crime but also goes in search of the most suited public response to deviant behaviour. Specialization is achieved in the Master’s programme mainly by means of the Master's dissertation topic and a number of electives.

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Master's Programme

1 year 60 credits

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Dutch

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1 General Courses 22

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Crime Prevention	1	sem 1	nl	Lieven Pauwels	4

Offender Reintegration	1	sem 1	nl	Louis Favril	4

Management in Criminal Justice	1	sem 1	nl	Jelle Janssens	4

Internship	1	year	nl	Antoinette Verhage	10

2 Elective Courses 18

Subscribe to 18 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

2.1 Selected Issues

Subscribe to no less than 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Selected Issues: Financial and Economic Crime			Jelle Janssens	5

Selected Issues: Organized Crime	sem 1	en	Jelle Janssens	5

Selected Issues: Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism	sem 1	en	Wim Hardyns	5

Selected Issues: Cybercrime, Technology and Surveillance	sem 2	en	Valerie Verdoodt	5

Selected Issues: Diversity and Migration in Criminology	sem 2	en	Charlotte De Kock	5

Selected Issues: Drug Policy	sem 2	en	Charlotte Colman	5

Selected Issues: European and International Migration Law and Migration Policy	sem 2	en	Thomas Spijkerboer	5

Selected Issues: Critical Criminology and the Criminal Justice System I	sem 2	en	Tom Decorte	5

Selected Issues: Critical Criminology and the Criminal Justice System II	sem 2	en	Tom Decorte	5

Selected Issues: Criminology of War	sem 2	en	Jelle Janssens	5

Selected Issues: Sexual Offending, Prostitution and Human Trafficking	sem 2	en	Gert Vermeulen	5

Selected Issues: The Criminologist in Society	year	nl		5

2.2 Study-specific Elective Course List

Subscribe to no more than 8 credit units from the following list.

edu: These courses appear in the educational master's programme. Students who have followed these three courses successfully, can after obtaining the Bachelor's degree, enter directly into the educational Master's programme.

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Academic Grant Writing		sem 1	nl,en	Christophe Vandeviver	4

Study of Specific Criminal Offences		sem 2	nl	Wendy De Bondt	5

Chemical Criminalistics		sem 2	nl	Christophe Stove	4

English for Criminologists		sem 2	en	Geert Jacobs	5

Forensic Psychiatry		sem 1	nl	Kurt Audenaert	4

Forensic Psychology		sem 2	nl	Lize Verbeke	4

French for Criminologists		sem 2	fr	Ludivine Crible	5

Data Protection Law		sem 1	en	Gert Vermeulen	4

Forensic Medicine		sem 2	nl	Evy De Boosere	4

International Criminal Law		sem 1	nl	Gert Vermeulen	5

Medical Criminalistics		sem 2	nl	Evy De Boosere	4

Research Clinic		year	nl,en	Christophe Vandeviver	4

Children's Rights		sem 1	nl	Wendy De Bondt	5

Introduction to Psychology		sem 1	nl	Wim Notebaert	3

Social and Political Systems		sem 1	nl	Sami Zemni	5

Powerful Learning Environments	edu	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

The Student: Development and Motivation	edu	sem 1	nl	Wim Beyers	6

The Teacher within Class, School and Society	edu	sem 2	nl	Melissa Tuytens	6

Teaching Methodology: Social Sciences I	edu	year	nl	Tony Valcke	9

2.3 Ghent University Elective Courses

Subscribe to no more than one of the Ghent University Elective Courses.

2.4 Elective courses UGent / study programmes in Criminological Sciences offered by other universities

Subscribe to no more than 8 credit units from another master's programme . Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students can take these elective courses from one of the following master's programmes of Ghent University: economic sciences, political sciences, public administration, psychology, philosophy, sociology, history, communication sciences, law, pedagogical sciences, from a Master in Criminological Sciences from an university of the Flemish community.

3 Master's Dissertation 20

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		1	year	nl	Tom Decorte	20

Learning outcomes

Competence field 1: Competences in one/more scientific discipline(s)

Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into paradigms, perspectives and (inter)national research traditions that are relevant to the criminological study domain and research and applying these independently in the approach to criminologically relevant phenomena and responses to them.
Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into the actors, the policy processes and the decision-making processes in the criminological field, and applying this independently in the approach to criminologically relevant phenomena and responses to them.
Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into the national, European and international legal, institutional and policy development context that are relevant to the criminological study domain and research, and applying this independently in the approach to criminologically relevant phenomena and responses to them.
Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into specific deviance and crime phenomena and the responses to them, and applying them independently in scientific research.
Approaching crime and deviant phenomena in a multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural way.
Addressing crime and deviant phenomena in a multidisciplinary, integrated and integrated way.
Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into current discussions and issues related to deviance and crime phenomena and the responses to them, and applying these independently in scientific and social discussions.
Having in-depth knowledge of and insight into the quantitative and qualitative scientific methods that are relevant to the criminological study domain and research, and applying them independently in the approach to criminologically relevant phenomena and responses to them.

Competence field 2: Scientific competences

Being able to apply the knowledge of the thinking and reference frameworks of various scientific disciplines in criminological research and criminological practice.
Correctly formulating and writing out a criminological problem and the research questions arising from it, selecting and applying the appropriate research methods and analysis techniques, and justifying the chosen scientific research design and reporting on his research.

Competence field 3: Intellectual competences

Formulating a scientifically argued position on a criminologically relevant topic.
Thinking innovative scientifically argued policy-oriented, policy-preparatory, policy-supporting and policy-evaluating.
Reflecting independently, systematically and critically on one's own thinking and making adjustments if necessary.
Demonstrating an active attitude towards current events, continuous knowledge development and 'lifelong learning'.
Interpreting a situation, criminological issue or problem from multiple (cultural) angles and different (international) models.

Competence field 4: Competences in cooperation and communication

Communicating in writing about scientifically substantiated positions and/or results of (own) scientific research, adapted to the target audience.
Communicating verbally about scientifically substantiated positions and/or results of (own) scientific research, adapted to the target audience.
Participating in the scientific debate within the criminological domain.

Competence field 5: Societal competences

Having insight into the societal role and responsibility of a criminologist, and into the related ethical, cultural and legal issues.
Critically reflecting on current policies in criminological relevant domains.
Respecting the integrity and deontological values of the profession and integrating them in one’s personal scientific/professional work.
Respecting cultural differences and integrating diversity, pluralism and tolerance in one’s personal scientific/professional work.
Having insight into intercultural and international debates on criminological issues.

Competence field 6: Profession-specific competences

Acting in accordance with the interests, values and norms of the criminological working field.
Contributing to a joint result in a team or project, even if this is not immediately in one’s personal interest (collaboration).
Recognizing and responding adequately to the wishes and needs of the various stakeholders (customer focus).
Developing professional relationships, coalitions, and using them to obtain information and cooperation (networks).
Innovating to create products, services, processes and structures that meet future challenges (innovation).
Placing facts in a broad context and using scientific research to develop a future-oriented policy (vision).

Extra Information Academic Calendar

Work Placements and Clinics during Summer Recess Prior to Start of Academic Year

Internships can be organized in the summer break, resit examination period and week of feedback prior to the start of the academic year for students who will include the internship course in that academic year in their curriculum, provided that these students are enrolled in the previous academic year.