MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice

The MSc Criminal Psychology and Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University examines how psychology helps explain criminal behaviour and how justice systems respond, combining theory, research, and policy. It is suited for graduates interested in working in policing, probation, policy, research or other criminal justice agencies. 

Curriculum structure:
Across the one-year full-time programme, students begin with Criminal Psychology (40 credits), where they explore key models of offending, empirical case studies, and professional application of criminal behaviour theory. In Research Methods for Criminal Psychology & Criminal Justice (20 credits), they engage with advanced methodological issues, learning how research designs must account for the ethics, policing contexts, and power dynamics inherent in crime research. In Key Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (20 credits), students analyse how justice institutions—policing, courts, prisons—are shaped by social, political, and psychological factors. They also choose from optional modules such as Drugs, Alcohol & Criminal Justice, Advanced Critical Criminology, or Youth Justice to explore specialised areas. The programme culminates in a Dissertation (60 credits), where students independently design, conduct, and write up a piece of original research that bridges psychology and criminal justice. 

Focus areas:
“offending behaviour; justice institutions; psychological assessment; crime research; rehabilitation; youth & substance-use crime”

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will critically apply psychological theory to criminal behaviour, develop advanced research skills tailored to criminal justice contexts, evaluate intervention and policy frameworks, and complete an independent empirical dissertation relevant to crime and justice.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This course is not accredited by the BPS as a Stage-1 psychology programme, but it provides strong applied knowledge for roles in policing, probation, research, NGOs, or policy. 

Reputation (employability rankings):
LJMU reports that 97% of its postgraduates are in work or further study within 15 months, and this MSc prepares graduates for careers in criminal justice agencies, research organisations, and public sector roles.