RPPOSECS - Professional Doctorate in Policing, Security and Community Safety

The course is part time, for a minimum of 4 years study.

It consists of 6 taught modules in the first two years,and at least two years study for compiling, researching and writing the thesis (SS7P75) under supervision.

Students are strongly encouraged to start researching their chosen thesis topic form the start of the course, at the beginning of the first year. The taught module assignments are designed to facilitate the research and collection of data relevant to the individual students’ chosen thesis topic.

The whole is a course combining academic discipline and rigour of doctorate level study with enhancing and developing law enforcement/criminal justice/security related practitioner knowledge,

The course is the only doctorate level course specifically in policing and security in the UK.

The educational aims of the course are:

• To produce competent, informed, reflective, ethically and professionally competent practitioners who have a sophisticated and critical academic understanding of wider policing theories and issues.
• To provide students with a comprehensive and advanced ability to utilise a range of analytical and research skills to critically interpret police policy and practice in a range of contexts.
• To enable students to develop advanced skills and competencies in designing, conducting, evaluating and presenting research relevant to policing, security and community safety.
• To ensure that the specialised and diverse skills and competencies developed by students during the programme can be contextualised to wider policing issues.

Learning outcomes of the taught part of the course are grouped the following four headings:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive/intellectual skills
• Transferable skills
• Subject-specific practical skills

Knowledge and Understanding
On completing the course, students will know and understand:
• key issues in contemporary law enforcement and security policy developments
• a wide range of relevant theoretical perspectives
• the role of policing and community safety within wider social dynamics
• the impact and significance of the growing security industry
• the academic literature dealing with policing and community safety policy
• the impact of policy on both partnership and community practice
• research evidence and methodologies relevant to law enforcement and community safety practitioners

Cognitive skills
On completing the course, students will be able to:
• apply critical perspectives to a range of social science research methodologies
• engage critically with a range of theoretical perspectives
• display skills of oral and written presentation of research and policy issues
• analyse, interpret and argue clearly both in writing and orally
• address policing, security and community safety policy issues in the workplace
• show a critical awareness of the social justice implications of policing policy and professional practice

Transferable Skills
On completing the course, students will be able to:
• reflect on their professional practice, informed by relevant research and theoretical sources
• apply analytical research skills to own professional activities and wider policing contexts
• present outcomes of research in a written and oral form
• carry out independent research and write up the results within agreed deadlines

Subject specific practitioner skills
On completing the course, students will be able to:
• Understand, analyse, apply and contribute to debates on key policing, security and community safety policies
• Communicate the results of research on the subjects of the degree effectively both in writing and verbally
• Design and conduct research appropriate to the research questions, context and timescale

The course articulates fully with the QAA Academic Infrastructure both in respect of the relevant aspects of the Code of Practice. It is a level-8 course and the learning outcomes are framed in terms that match the QAA descriptors for this level.
There are no QAA subject benchmark statements for the course.

During the taught module stage Yrs 1 and 2:

in house group written and verbal assignments and presentations,
and following each module, individual assignments

During Years 3 and 4:
Completion of thesis, examined by external examiner and internal examiner, and viva voce exam

N/A

The programme specification model followed is that prescribed by the University

The course fully conforms to the University Frameworks and requirements. This includes amendments in accordance with the post September 2012 university postgraduate doctorate changes in regulations.

MSc Policing, Security and Community Safety: All Core modules except the Thesis.

The course will be of direct benefit to law enforcement officers who wish to progress their careers through a high-level doctoral qualification. As this qualification is more interactive and practical than a traditional PhD, it is an opportunity to gain a recognised qualification while making a significant contribution to your professional environment.

Applicants normally need to have:

• A first degree
• Experience as policing officers and law enforcement professionals
• At least three years of full-time experience in a senior role, and already making a significant contribution to policing policy or processes

For any further information or details about this course, please contact direct Dr Nick Ridley and/or Dr Dan Silverstone: n.ridley@londonmet.ac.uk and d.silverstone@londonmet.ac.uk