What is a Master of Criminology?
By Sarah VercoePublished on
Thinking about postgraduate study in criminology? Whether you're already working in the justice sector or changing careers, this guide explains what a Master of Criminology involves and who it's best suited to.
Understanding the Master of Criminology
A Master of Criminology is a postgraduate degree that explores crime, criminal justice and how society responds to offending in greater depth than undergraduate-level study. You develop more advanced, practical training in research, policy and analysis.
It's a popular choice for people already working in corrections, policing, courts or related fields who want to move into a different role. It can also suit career changers and graduates who want to go deeper into criminology before deciding on a direction.
Want to learn more about the field of criminology? Read our guide to what criminology is.
What do you study in a Master of Criminology?
A Master of Criminology builds on what you learn at undergraduate level, with a stronger focus on applying research to practical problems.
Jeff Ackerman, Program Director of Griffith's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, describes the degree as being built around real work rather than theory for its own sake.
Where a bachelor degree gives you the basics of reading and interpreting research on crime, offending and the justice system, a masters pushes you into applying it.
You'll take on genuine research questions using real data, whether you've collected it yourself or sourced it elsewhere, and turn it into findings you can use directly in your profession, explains Jeff.
Most courses focus on:
Advanced criminological theory
You’ll take a closer look at why crime happens, and the different ways criminologists explain offending, justice and social control.
Rather than simply learning established theories, you’ll be expected to critically evaluate them and consider how they apply to contemporary problems.
Crime, justice and social policy
You’ll explore how governments and justice systems respond to crime, including the policies behind those responses.
Depending on your course, this could include questions of inequality, justice reform, crime prevention and how evidence is used to shape social and criminal justice policy.
Policing, corrections and punishment
Expect to examine how different parts of the criminal justice system respond to crime, from policing and surveillance through to sentencing, prisons and corrections.
Rather than looking at these issues only in theory, you may work with case studies, crime data and existing policies or programs to assess what happens in practice – including whether an approach reduces crime or reoffending, who it affects and where improvements could be made.
Contemporary crime and justice issues
You may examine how crime and justice are changing in response to technology and wider social and global trends. This can include global crime, cyber fraud, intelligence-led policing, artificial intelligence, and questions around how emerging technologies are used in policing, surveillance and criminal justice decision-making.
Research and evaluation
Importantly, you’ll learn how criminologists use research to understand patterns in crime and evaluate how well policies, programs and interventions are working. This can involve analysing crime and justice data, examining people’s experiences, and using evidence to assess approaches to issues such as offending, policing, corrections and crime prevention.
What skills can you develop in a Master of Criminology?
Postgraduate study sharpens the research and analytical skills students develop at an undergraduate level, but it pushes them further, asking students to work with real data, using more advanced statistical software, and to clearly articulate their findings to people who need to act on them.
There’s a real emphasis on:
Advanced statistical analysis
You'll build on the basic statistical skills picked up at undergraduate level, using more advanced software to analyse data on crime and the justice system.
This could include looking at patterns in offending, victimisation, reoffending or criminal justice outcomes, and learning how to draw reliable conclusions.
It's a step up in complexity, but the goal is still to be able to work with real data and produce results that hold up under scrutiny.
Qualitative research
Alongside statistics, you'll study qualitative research methods, including how to run interviews and focus groups. You might use these methods to explore people’s experiences of crime, policing or the justice system, or understand how a particular policy or program affects a community.
Applied research
One of Jeff's recent students, a supervisor in corrections, used these exact skills to pull together monthly statistics on incidents within a facility and present that clearly to senior leadership – exactly the kind of hands-on, workplace-ready skill this degree is built around.
Who is a Master of Criminology suited to?
A Master of Criminology is most suited to students who already have one foot in the field, says Jeff, with many coming to the degree already working in a criminal justice agency, corrections, policing, courts, or a related area, and who are looking to move into a senior role that calls for a more advanced qualification.
Others come straight from an undergraduate degree, while some use the degree to shift into a field such as law, policy or immigration.
A masters degree in criminology could suit you if you:
- Want to deepen your understanding of crime and the justice system
- Enjoy working with research, evidence and data
- Want to assess how policies and programs work in practice
- Are comfortable engaging with complex issues that don’t always have a clear answer
- Aren't sure yet if a PhD is for you, but want to keep that door open.
What can you do with a Master of Criminology?
Graduates use this qualification to move into more senior or specialised roles within corrections, policing, courts, government policy and research, often building on experience they already have. It can also complement existing qualifications in law, social work or psychology.
Want to find out more about where this degree can lead? Our guide to criminology jobs and career pathways in Australia is a great place to start.
How can you get started in a Master of Criminology?
You may be able to apply directly for a Master of Criminology, or start with a graduate certificate and build towards further postgraduate study. Online options can also give you more flexibility around where and when you study.
Here’s what we suggest you do next:
- Compare Master of Criminology courses available online through different Australian universities
- Read about entry requirements for criminology to understand if you’re eligible for a masters degree now or if you might like to start with a different option.
- Reach out to a student advisor for free advice on your study options
- Enrol with your uni through Open Universities Australia when you’re ready
Explore your study options through us
Browse online Master of Criminology courses in one place on Open Universities Australia.
We help you weigh up your options, understand how to apply, and find a pathway into postgraduate study. You become a student with your chosen university.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about the Master of Criminology
How long is a masters degree in criminology?
If you choose to study a Master of Criminology, you're looking at around a year of full-time study (or the part-time equivalent), depending on the course you choose.
Can you study criminology at postgraduate level without intending to become a criminologist?
Of course. Many masters students already work in corrections, policing, courts or related fields and are studying to move into a different role within their existing career, not to become criminologists in the academic sense.
What can you do with a Master of Criminology?
Graduates typically move into more senior or specialised roles within corrections, policing, courts, government policy and research, often building on experience they already have.
What's involved in a Master of Criminology?
A Master of Criminology focuses on applying research skills rather than producing purely academic work. You'll build on statistical skills from undergraduate study, move into more advanced tools, and learn qualitative research methods, all aimed at helping you use data and evidence in your profession.
Do you need a criminology background to study a Master of Criminology?
Not at all. While many students come from an undergraduate criminology degree, others enter with experience in a related field, such as law, policing, social work or corrections.
If you don't have a relevant background, there are pathway options worth exploring first. Chat to a student advisor to find out more.
