Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

at Keele University United Kingdom

The creative industries are now well-established as one of the fastest-growing and increasingly important sectors of the world economy, generating some $2,250 billion in revenues and representing 3% of world GDP, according to 2020 figures from Ernst & Young. Yet to manage creative activities and enterprises successfully requires both creative expertise and business acumen.

Combining media, cultural, management and business studies, our course provides a unique insight into global media and culture from both a corporate and creative perspective. Delivered jointly by the School of Humanities and Keele Business School, it considers production, distribution, marketing, consumption and regulation across a broad spectrum of creative industries, from advertising, gaming and publishing to art, fashion, music, film and TV.

Our practical approach means that you’ll learn about relevant theories, principles and concepts in real-world contexts and actively apply them – whether designing a communications campaign from a client brief for D&AD’s New Blood Awards or undertaking a ‘live’ consultancy or work placement project. One previous student mocked up a digital recruitment campaign for his employer, England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf, while another produced a set of online marketing videos for the World of Wedgewood visitor attraction.

You’ll benefit from our close links with a wide range of local arts and cultural organisations, such as the New Vic Theatre, which ensures content remains relevant and up-to-date. We will examine how social, political and corporate attitudes to media, entertainment and culture have changed over time and how form, content and distribution has been affected as a result. We’ll share case studies from our own research, as diverse as Korean cinema or South American rap.

Our Environmental Science combined honours course at Keele draws on the expertise of scientists within the disciplines of life sciences, chemical sciences and geosciences to emphasise the role and importance of scientific understanding and practical skills in the analysis and management of environmental problems. Alongside studying topical global environmental issues, you will have the opportunity to develop a broad range of practical, laboratory and field-based skills to take into future employment. You’ll also have the opportunity to do fieldwork and gain valuable work experience or study abroad at one of our partner institutions.

You’ll use mathematics to describe the physical world, and learn to plan and conduct investigations before reporting your results. Your course will be informed by the research interests of your teaching staff and laboratory sessions will enable you to investigate unfamiliar phenomena and acquire specialist techniques, but you’ll also develop invaluable transferable skills such as communication, IT and interpersonal skills. We are committed to supporting you throughout your studies, providing you flexible access to our staff to seek advice or feedback

This programme is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), meaning you can gain free membership of the IES to support your personal and professional development in the environmental sector. The programme is also accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and therefore you may apply for free Student Membership of the IEMA which provides a range of benefits.

On our exciting new flagship MSc, you’ll interact with entrepreneurs and start-ups, working on real-life business projects while you learn to give you the skills, knowledge and versatility to create and lead change with confidence in dynamic, unpredictable, complex and diverse environments.

Capitalising on Keele Business School’s co-location with the Smart Innovation Hub, you’ll engage not only with leading academics but with start-ups and entrepreneurs to gain a thorough grounding in current theories and concepts of enterprise and innovation, while watching entrepreneurs in action.

Thanks to our involvement in the EU-funded Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP), you’ll be able to experience the challenges business managers face first hand, giving you a unique insight into broader business operations and the technological, legal, financial, ethical and economic constraints in developing new products, processes or services. To date, we’ve helped over 200 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Team building, group work, research, presentations and projects will help you develop vital management skills, such as business planning, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, delegation and time management.

In Astrophysics, you will learn to formulate and tackle problems – from below the level of the atomic nucleus to astronomical scales. Astrophysics is active wherever the laws of physics are being tested to the limit – and beyond. Keele will help you to use astronomical observations, mathematical models and computer simulation to develop theories explaining some of the most complex phenomena.

Our Single Honours Physics programme builds upon, and then goes beyond, the core topics defined by the UK Institute of Physics to provide both breadth and depth of study, with an additional emphasis on mathematics and computing as tools for physical problem-solving. This occurs in problem classes where practice problems are solved with staff and teaching assistants available to help, in laboratory teaching where practical and computational problems are addressed, and in directed work for assessment.

You will explore the subject fundamentals (including quantum mechanics, relativity and electromagnetism) and apply this knowledge to solve problems, plan investigations, analyse results, and to report and present your work. Your course will be informed by the research interests of staff, and laboratory sessions will enable you to investigate unfamiliar phenomena and develop valuable transferable skills such as scientific writing, programming and presentation. You'll benefit from a flexible approach to learning the mathematical and computational skills that are essential to the learning and application of physics.

This course aims to cover many topics which examine the geological and geophysical aspects of the Earth, its structure, formation, composition, history, processes, resources, hazards and materials. It aims to look at rocks, minerals and fossils, how they were formed, how they are found and exploited sustainably as a resource, and what they tell us about the history of the Earth. It also covers geological and geophysical processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics.

Geophysics is a practical subject with applied problem-solving laboratory classes and field courses where you will learn how to collect, process and interpret geophysical data, and explore for future geological resources. This course aims to focus particularly on applied geophysical research skills and you will learn to carry out your own research using specialist geophysical software and equipment. Furthermore, you will complete a comprehensive and integrated fieldwork programme. All of our single honours students are offered a work placement module in year 2.

Astrophysics is active wherever the laws of physics are being tested to the limit – and beyond. Keele will help you to use astronomical observations, mathematical models and computer simulation to develop theories explaining some of the most complex phenomena.

You’ll develop your mathematics and computing skills, and apply them to solving a range of problems in the laboratory and beyond (you’ll have access to Keele’s own on-site observatory). We are committed to supporting you throughout your studies, providing you flexible access to our staff to seek advice or feedback.

Biology at Keele focuses on the amazing world of organisms – from how they’ve evolved to their relationships with the environment and each other. Keele takes a broad approach to biology, examining the diversity of life and its evolution from the geological past. You’ll consider a range of biological concepts which may include the complexity of biological processes and mechanisms at molecular, cellular, organismal and ecosystem levels, and the related philosophical and ethical issues.

You’ll engage in activities to strengthen your skillset which may include sampling, recording and analysing data in the field and in our well-equipped labs. Complete this course over three years, or it may be possible (subject combination dependant) to add an extra year with an applied life sciences work placement or a one year study abroad placement between the second and third year.

This degree is combined with the study of geology. Geology is a science fundamental to modern day living, with geologists discovering society’s major resource needs including metals, minerals, energy and groundwater. The combined honours geology course at Keele looks at rocks, minerals and fossils - how they were formed, how they might have been deformed or altered over geological time, and what they can tell us about the history of the Earth and its past environments.

You will look at philosophical topics about knowledge, ethics, language and the nature of the mind and world from both historical and contemporary perspectives. You will learn reasoning skills, how to evaluate arguments and be encouraged to present and defend your own views. You'll explore a broad range of topics which may include the Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Science, which specifically address philosophical questions concerning psychology.

In psychology, you will learn about what the latest psychology research, including studies published by our own friendly and approachable staff, tells us about human behaviour from social, developmental, biological and cognitive perspectives. We will show you how to design and conduct your own psychological studies in our well-equipped laboratories, using a range of techniques including interviews, surveys and experiments. You will also learn about how our understanding of psychology changes over time.

Studying this course will allow you to cover the forensic process from the collection of evidence at the crime scene, to its presentation in court. You will explore key forensic areas such as genetics, anthropology, toxicology, ballistics and arson, alongside newer fields such as digital forensics. You will also develop your analytical science skills, so that you are able to analyse a wide variety of evidence types. This is complemented by additional emphasis on professional practice and an understanding of the roles of the crime scene investigator and the forensic scientist as an expert witness in the court.