Master of Science - Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security

In recent years, issues of terrorism and organized crime have gained an unprecedented profile, provoked significant social concern, and dominated both law-and-order and many wider social policy agendas. Essex draws on state-of-the-art research to address key critical issues surrounding organized criminality and terrorism in contemporary society. University of Essex involves multi-level analyses of organized crime as a concept, alongside the impacts of urbanization, migration and globalization upon both the practice of crime and the ways in which humans understand them. Students address cutting-edge critical, conceptual and theoretical analyses of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

The course provides students with a strong grounding in the key theories, understandings and issues relating to organized crime and terrorism. Students explore topics including: the analysis, politics and prevention of terrorism; globalization and organized crime; security and the state; the hacker ethic; human rights. Essex's Department of Sociology was rated top 10 in the UK for research quality. They are a large and friendly department, offering a diverse range of research interests and with staff members who are committed to teaching, research and publication that covers a broad geographical spectrum. This course provides excellent preparation for further academic study, and many of Essex's postgraduates go on to successful academic careers, both in the UK and overseas. Employment opportunities for graduates of this course include careers in security, policing, research, intelligence and justice professions. Others have established careers in non-governmental organizations, local authorities, specialist think tanks, government departments, charities, media production, and market intelligence.