Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Justice
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Diploma
- Code
- E14
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 120 credit points
Description
Please note that this qualification will be withdrawn at the end of December 2010. In order to claim this qualification you must have completed the required 120 points by this time. This qualification is not available to new students. If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification please contact the Awards and Ceremonies Centre on +44(0) 1908 653003 or email us.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Justice offers an opportunity to develop and extend a specialised understanding of criminological policy formations and the relationship of these to the broader domain of social welfare regimes. It facilitates critical thinking, through an imaginative and interdisciplinary academic framework, about a diverse range of criminological themes and issues, with a particular focus on crime prevention, community safety, youth justice and systems of punishment and social control.
The diploma aims to:
- enhance your knowledge of the shifting arenas of criminological policy making and intervention in rapidly changing social worlds
- extend your evaluative and analytical skills
- provide an opportunity in which to relate and reflect on professional, work-based practices and experiences within a critical environment
- offer support and guidance for successful independent postgraduate study.
Planning your studies
Courses start in either May or November. 30 point courses are taught over a sixteen-week study period. Examinations are held in April and October.
Because of the demands that the courses in the diploma will make on you we recommend that you take only one course at a time. We cannot guarantee that the same selection of courses will continue to be available.
To claim this qualification you must complete the required 120 points of credit within eight years of the commencement of your study.
You must include at least 40 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
Courses
For this 120-point postgraduate diploma you require:
90 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Postgraduate compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Nov 2010 FINAL |
|
30 | May 2010 |
| And the discontinued 30-point course D820 |
And 30 points from the following optional courses:
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Nov 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 FINAL |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DZY843, DZY844
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of 120 points of required courses you will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Justice entitling you to use the letters PGD Crim Justice (Open) after your name.
You may continue your studies and add a further 60 points of credit to your diploma to gain a masters degree. It is possible to gain either the MA in Social Policy and Criminology (F18) or one of a number of specialised masters degrees depending on your choice of courses.
To fulfil the requirements for the MA in Social Policy and Criminology, it might be necessary for you to complete a further 90 points of study, depending on the courses you have already taken and whether you choose to complete a dissertation. For further information about these please consult the relevant qualification descriptions.
If you leave the programme before you qualify for the diploma you can be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24) if you have successfully completed 60 points of required courses (including the discontinued course D820).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Justice
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
A postgraduate qualification.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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