Objectives and competences

This master's degree builds on the basic premise that appropriate, effective action in the area of criminality is inseparable from a rigorous social analysis of the causes and consequences of criminal behaviour. Therefore, the programme offers a solid academic and curricular structure and a prestigious team of teaching staff with distinguished careers in their fields.

This provides the foundations for concentrated effort, a broad knowledge base, and diverse perspectives on criminal and penal sciences, with a marked interdisciplinary character brought by the participation of different university departments and external experts.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Law
Branch of knowledge
  • Law and legal specializations
  • Behavioural sciences and psychology
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits90
Number of places available50
Length of course2 academic years
Language(s) of instructionCatalan - Spanish
Approximate price per credit27.67 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2023-2024
CoordinationVICTOR GOMEZ MARTIN
E-mailcpc-sjp.suport@ub.edu
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesNo
Specializations
  • Criminal Policy
  • Sociology of Crime

Objectives and competences

Objectives

This master's degree is intended for professionals interested in using the methodology of criminal science to find novel ways of dealing with crime, the causes of crime, and crime prevention. The programme builds on the approaches of the social and legal sciences to provide a clearly defined academic framework in which to address the needs and interests of criminal science and political science professionals.
Universities have proved to be effective in the design and development of new conceptual approaches methodological tools for criminology, particularly in the area of sociology of criminal law, which can be put to practical use in specific realities. Therefore, this master's degree is of particular interest to recent graduates in criminology and related areas of the social sciences.
The programme aims to foster a vocational interest in scientific research among recent graduates, with a view to driving further advances in criminology as an independent scientific discipline. The course also targets the progressive qualitative improvement of professional knowledge in this discipline and its practical application.

Competences

Basic competences:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
  • apply the acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the specific field of study;
  • integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgments based on incomplete or limited information, giving due consideration to the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgments;
  • communicate conclusions, judgements and the grounds on which they have been reached in a clear and unambiguous manner to specialists and non-specialists.


Specific competences:
More specifically, successful students will be able to:
  • analyse the causes, factors and consequences of crime from a multidisciplinary perspective;
  • diagnose and predict crime scenarios and take part in reactive and preventative actions with criminals, victims and communities;
  • design and implement delinquency prevention and intervention programmes;
  • analyse, plan and manage criminal justice and security organizations and institutions;
  • identify and analyse different socio-historic and epistemological approaches to social and penal problems;
  • develop skills to resolve social conflicts and disputes stemming from new models of living and forms of coexistence;
  • distinguish between different prescriptive frameworks (legal, religious, ethical and social).

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Candidates should be students or professionals with a particular interest in research and in developing their knowledge in the subjects of criminology, social law and criminal justice. They should have previous training in the social and legal sciences. Students should have a reasonable level of English, as the course bibliography consists predominantly of texts written in this language.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/29 October 2007, students must hold one of the following qualifications to access university master's degree courses:
  • An official Spanish degree.
  • A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.
  • A qualification from outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, the qualification should be recognized as equivalent to an official Spanish degree. If it is not recognized, the University of Barcelona shall verify that it corresponds to a level of education that is equivalent to official Spanish degrees and that it authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Specific requirements
There are no specific requirements.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

  • 1 February - 17 June (inclusive) 2023.


Notification of resolutions: 31 March and 7 June.

Notes:

  • Pre-enrolment fee: A pre-enrolment fee of 30,21 euros is charged. Students who apply to more than one master's degree must pay the fee for each pre-enrolment request. Pre-enrolment requests cannot be processed until this fee has been paid.Fees will only be refunded if the master's degree in question is suspended.
  • Reserved places: A maximum of 5% of the new places of the master's degree are reserved for students who meet the general and specific access requirements and accredit the recognition of a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

Required documentation

Selection criteria

The Admissions Committee will assess the suitability of each candidate and assign a score on a 0'15 scale. The following selection criteria are applied:
  • Previous degree in an area of social sciences, legal sciences, humanities or health sciences (5 points).
  • Academic record, if the candidate's transcript was issued within the last five years (3 points).
  • Curriculum vitae: scientific activities related to the course content (publications, conferences, seminars, etc). Particular credit will be given for professional experience related to the course content (3 points).
  • English language skills and knowledge of other languages that do not have official status in Spain (2 points).
  • Statement of interest: Candidates should attach a written statement outlining the reasons for their application to the degree (2 points).

Notification

The Committee will consider all documentation submitted up before each deadline.


Successful candidates must pay a fee of '300 to reserve their place on the course.

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 27
Optional 45
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 18
TOTAL 90

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Criminal Policy
Advanced Criminology Optional 2nd semester 3
Analysis and Assessment of Security Policies Optional 1st semester 3
Assessment and Treatment of High-Risk Offenders Optional 2nd semester 3
Community, Environment and Prevention Optional 1st semester 3
Contemporary Criminal Policy Compulsory 1st semester 3
Criminal Enforcement and Alternative Measures Optional 1st semester 3
Criminal Proceedings: Procedures and Guarantees Optional 2nd semester 3
Criticism of Legal and Political Representations of Suffering Optional 2nd semester 3
Cultural Psychology and Criticism of Criminal Control Optional 1st semester 3
Drug Policies and Human Rights: Prohibition Versus Regulation Optional 2nd semester 3
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
18
Gender Violence Compulsory 1st semester 3
International Human Rights Law Optional 1st semester 3
Mediation Optional 2nd semester 3
Organizations and Institutions in the Penal System Optional 2nd semester 3
Organized Crime and White-Collar Crime Optional 1st semester 3
Research Techniques in Criminology Compulsory 2nd semester 3
Research Workshop Compulsory 2nd semester 3
Sex Offences Optional 2nd semester 3
Social and Punitive Control Criminological Thought Compulsory 1st semester 3
Social Deviation, Control and Change Compulsory 1st semester 3
Social Space and Control Optional 2nd semester 3
Society and Contemporary Sociological Theory Optional 1st semester 3
Static and Dynamic Criminal System: Globalization and International Perspectives Compulsory 1st semester 3
Structures, Elements and Functions of Criminal Legislation Compulsory 1st semester 3
Theory of the State and Criminal Control Optional 1st semester 3
Violence and the Philosophy of Evil Optional 2nd semester 3
Woman and the Criminal System: Gender Discrimination and Stereotypes Compulsory 2nd semester 3
Specialization: Sociology of Crime
Advanced Criminology Optional 2nd semester 3
Analysis and Assessment of Security Policies Optional 1st semester 3
Assessment and Treatment of High-Risk Offenders Optional 2nd semester 3
Community, Environment and Prevention Optional 1st semester 3
Contemporary Criminal Policy Compulsory 1st semester 3
Criminal Enforcement and Alternative Measures Optional 1st semester 3
Criminal Proceedings: Procedures and Guarantees Optional 2nd semester 3
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
18
Gender Violence Compulsory 1st semester 3
International Human Rights Law Optional 1st semester 3
Mediation Optional 2nd semester 3
Organizations and Institutions in the Penal System Optional 2nd semester 3
Organized Crime and White-Collar Crime Optional 1st semester 3
Research Techniques in Criminology Compulsory 2nd semester 3
Research Workshop Compulsory 2nd semester 3
Sex Offences Optional 2nd semester 3
Social and Punitive Control Criminological Thought Compulsory 1st semester 3
Social Deviation, Control and Change Compulsory 1st semester 3
Social Space and Control Optional 2nd semester 3
Society and Contemporary Sociological Theory Optional 1st semester 3
Static and Dynamic Criminal System: Globalization and International Perspectives Compulsory 1st semester 3
Structures, Elements and Functions of Criminal Legislation Compulsory 1st semester 3
Violence and the Philosophy of Evil Optional 2nd semester 3
Woman and the Criminal System: Gender Discrimination and Stereotypes Compulsory 2nd semester 3

Previous years

Placements

Placements in a company or another type of organization are an integral part of university studies, providing first-hand experience of working methodologies in students' chosen professional fields. They offer invaluable practical experience for the transition into work after graduation.



Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment. They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 750 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.



Institutional information


Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

This master's degree is intended for those interested in a career in the criminal justice system or as a specialist or management-level professional in penitentiary services, juvenile justice, social services, victim services, etc. Additionally, the programme is suitable for those wishing to embark on a career as a criminologist, lawyer, judge, public defender, member of public or private security forces, sociologist, political scientist, psychologist or anthropologist or work in teaching or advanced research.

Access to the labour market

Dades del sistema universitari català.

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