Institute for Research in Criminology, Community, Education and Social Justice study options

The Institute for Research in Criminology, Community, Education and Social Justice provides a number of postgraduate programmes of study in the fields of Criminology, Policing Studies, Education, Youth Work and Social Work. If you are interested in finding out more about these options please email Dr. Christina Quinlan, Institute Director, at the following email address christina.quinlan@dmu.ac.uk

Please find below more information on two of our postgraduate options, the MA Education Practice, a taught postgraduate programme (PGT), and Postgraduate Research (PGR).

MA Education Practice

Our MA in Education Practice enables you to understand and focus on contemporary issues such as managing educational change, inclusion, educational technology, assessing learning and the latest policy developments.

Education Practice is for teachers employed in primary, secondary, further and higher education institutions, as well as DMU graduates interested in teaching, or related careers. You will be encouraged to use your own workplace and experience as the basis for your assignments, and to reflect upon the latest trends and developments in the field and consider how these apply to your own place of professional practice.

Our practice-and research-based academic team is recognised for excellence in teaching, curriculum design and innovation, enabling you to benefit from our strong partnerships with schools, professional organisations, universities, education charities, national subject associations and the British Education Research Association.

Postgraduate research (PGR)

The Institute welcomes applications for potential candidates who are interested in undertaking a PhD in any of our fields of study, criminology, policing, community, education, youth work, social work and social justice. Please see the staff list for a full description of interests and topics. For further information, please email Dr Christina Quinlan, Director of the Institute, at the following email address, christina.quinlan@dmu.ac.uk

The Education Division welcomes applications from potential candidates who are interested in undertaking a PhD in the field of education research. Broad topic areas may include for example: pedagogic practice, practice-based innovation and the use of educational technology in any education sector; policy analysis and implementation in relation to specific education sectors; education policy and practice in relation to creativity, entrepreneurship and student-as-producer; academic labour and the political economy of higher education; alternative and co-operative higher education; the impact of neoliberal education policy, in particular on primary and higher education; knowledge management in teacher education; critical race theory and critical feminism in the educational experiences of students and parents; intersectional experiences of schooling; education and social justice; educational psychology and the concept of resilience in the student experience, and in educational transitions; music education and the professional development of music educators; Forest schools and environmental education; schooling and spatial theory; prison education. Proposals may draw on disciplines of sociology, psychology and science and technology studies. Please see the staff list for a full description of interests and topics.

If you are interested in the possibility of undertaking a PhD aligned to the education in the Institute for Criminology, Education and Social Justice, please contact  Professor Richard Hall for an informal discussion in the first instance.


For information regarding postgraduate research contact Doctor Christina Quinlan, christina.quinlan@dmu.ac.uk