OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The overall goal of the Programme is to provide quality Executive Masters level training and research to enable our students analyse crime and appropriate psychology required by the police to apply appropriate strategies to manage or resolve crime, resulting in sustainable peace. The specific objectives of the programme are to:
- Deliver a high-quality Executive Masters Programme.
- Give students theoretical, Methodological and practical foundations in the field of Peace and Security Studies.
- Educate students to appreciatethe causes of intrastate, interstate and International armed conflict peace building with special reference to Nigeria and Africa.
- Give students with interest in the field, but whose intial training was not in Peace and Security Studies, an opportunity to achieve their desied goal of obtaining an Excutive Masters qualification.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING AWARD OF M.Sc. DEGREE
In addition to the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, the following regulations shall govern the award of the Executive M.Sc. in Criminology and Police Psychology:
1. Candidates for admission into the programme shall possess an appropriate Bachelor’s Degree of the University of Port Harcourt or any other recognized University. Preference shall be given to candidates doing related jobs in Government Ministries, the Private sector, and Security services.
2. The maximum period allowed for the completion of the Executive M.Sc. Degree shall be 12 Calendar months.
3. Students may register for a maximum of 45 units, but assessment for the award of the degree is based on the attainment of 39 units.
4. The Executive M.Sc. Criminology and Police Psychology Degree shall be classified in line with the existing regulations of the University of Port Harcourt, School of Graduate Studies (SGS).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Master of Science degree in Criminology and Police Psychology must have one of the following:
(a) A good first-degree honour in any discipline with a minimum of second-class lower division.
(b) A minimum of third-class honours degree from a recognized university plus Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology or in related disciplines at credit level with a CGPA of 3.50.
(c) Upper Credit in HND with Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology or in related disciplines in a recognized University with a CGPA of 3.50.
(d) Evidence of NYSC discharge or exemption/exclusion certificate is required.
DURATION OF PROGRAMME
(a) The Executive M.Sc. Degree in Criminology and Police Psychology shall run for 12 calendar months.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
To qualify for the award of an Executive M.Sc. Degree in Criminology and Police Psychology, a candidate must pass a minimum of 37 credit units comprising core, elective and seminars courses and the Thesis.
MODE OF APPLICATION
(i) Requests for application forms should be made to The Director. Centre for Peace and Security Studies, University of Port Harcourt. Such requests must be accompanied by the stipulated fee made payable to the Centre with the Candidate’s name, address and course applied for, written at the reverse side.
FIRST MODULE
| S/No | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Unit |
| 1. | CPP 800.1 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| 2. | CPP 801.1 | Applied Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| 3. | SGS 801.1 | ICT & Science Research | 2 |
| 8 | |||
SECOND MODULE
| S/No | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Unit |
| 1. | CPP 802.1 | Advanced Research Methods in Criminology | 3 |
| 2 | CPP 803.1 | Advanced Theories in Criminology | 3 |
| 3 | CPP 804.1 | Policing and Law Enforcement in and Victimology in Nigeria | 3 |
| 9 | |||
THIRD MODULE
| S/No | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Unit |
| 1 | SGS 802.2 | Management and Entrepreneurship | 2 |
| 2. | CPP 805.2 | Cybercrime and Forensic Investigation | 3 |
| 3 | CPP 806.2 | Practical Psychology for Policing | 3 |
| 8 | |||
FOURTH MODULE
| S/No | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Unit |
| 1 | CPP 807.2 | Correctional Facilities, Technology and Crime Prevention and Control | 3 |
| 2 | CPP 888.2 | Dissertation | 12 |
| 15 | |||
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COURSES
CPP 800.1 Introduction to Criminology (3 Credit Units)
This course is aimed at introducing students to the issues of crime punishment and victimization. Topics covered include: Crime as a social phenomenon: Traditional Contextualization of crime; Trends in contemporary crime, domestic violence. Substance abuse and related crime, Kidnapping, Bandit and crime, the mass media and crime reports and mechanisms for responding to crime in Nigeria.
CPP 801.1 Applied Forensic Psychology (3 Credit Units)
This course has been designed against students with the challenges of working with mentally disordered offenders. The course aims to introduce students to the assessment and treatment of offenders, including thinking about context and considering ethical issues relating to working as a psychologist with this group. The topics taught within this module highlight to students the difficulties that can occur when dealing with mentally disordered offenders and provide students with an understanding of how such offenders are dealt with within the Nigerian criminal justice system.
SGS 801.1 ICT & Science Research(2 Credit Units)
This course should cover essentials of spreadsheets, Internet technology, Statistics Packages, Precision and Accuracy of estimate. Principal of Scientific Research, Concept of Hypothesis, Formulation and Testing, Organization of Research and Report Writing.
CPP 802.1 Advanced Research Methods in Criminology(3 Credit Units)
This module provides students with an advanced understanding of the research designs commonly employed within criminology and criminal psychology research. It combines both a theoretical and a practical approach to learning, which enables students to develop the research skills that are essential for completing their MSc thesis. Students will be taught both quantitative and qualitative approaches to criminological research through structured units that cover the entire research process from design to write up.
CPP 803.1 Advanced Theories in Criminology (3 Credit Units)
This course is an advanced study and critical appraisal of various theories of crime causation, including an examination of biological psychological, economic, and sociological perspective on the aetiology of crime. The course focuses on major theoretical approaches to the understanding of crime, and different types of crime and criminal behaviour. The purpose of this course is to provide the students with understanding of nature and causes of crime. This course provides students with an understanding of the issues involved in explaining, defining, and measuring crime. Additionally, the course focuses on the nature and causes of crime as well as on patterns and trends in criminal activity. Biological, psychological, and sociological theories are also discussed as explanations of crime and delinquency.
CPP 804.1 Policing and Law Enforcement and Victimology in Nigeria(3 Credit Units)
This course has details on Policing, Law Enforcement, Police Organisation, Police Administration, Functions of the Nigeria Police, Power of the Nigeria Police, Methodology of Policing, Crime Detection, Criminal Investigation, Police Discretion, Police Culture, police Sub-Culture, Community Policing, Police Ethics, Police Deviance, Human Rights, Law, Criminal Procedure, Effective Policing, Efficiency Policing, Reform, Victimology, Restitution and Police Cooperate Social Responsibility.
SGS 802.2 Management and Entrepreneurship (2 Credit Units)
This Course will cover business environment, General Management, Financial Management, Entrepreneurship Development Feasibility Studies, Marketing and Managerial Problem Solving.
CPP 805.2 Cyber Crimes and Forensic Investigation (3 Credit Units)
Cybercrime is closely associated with technology. The course first focuses on technology and crime, (CCTV, Surveillance and tracking: Drone Technology & Terrorism: Software early warning& response, Artificial Intelligence, Networking Technology). The course also explores the major types of cybercrimes and their criminological motivations; current law enforcement and prosecutorial responses to cybercrimes, protected right of computer Users and protection of the accused, existing punishment mandates and transitional issues in cybercrime.
This aspect of the course introduces students to the scientific method used to solve crime by gathering and analysing all crime-related physical evidence to come to a conclusion about a suspect. Topic covered will include: such evidence as blood fluid, finger Prints, residue, hard drives, computers or other technology to consider how any crime was committed.
CPP 805.2 Practical Psychology for Policing(3 Credit Units)
The course introduces students to the link between psychology and police practice and how Psychological knowledge can be applied in everyday police services. Topics covered include: Psychology and Policing, suspects interview strategies, street/neighbourhood psychology for police, police decision making, using nudge psychology to prevent crime and how knowledge of criminal career can be used to detect serious offenders.
CPP 806.2 Correctional Facilities, Technology and Crime Prevention and Control (3 Credit Units)
The course explores the various institution practices and procedure of the criminal justice of Nigeria. Students will be exposed to the roles of the police, court and corrections, as well as how the imposition of punishment affect offenders, victims, families and other members of the community. The course equally looks at the role that technology plays in the apprehension and punishment of offenders.
CPP 808.2 Dissertation (12 Credit Units)
The M.Sc. Dissertation should be an original work presented in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School. It shall be accepted and deemed necessary to have contributed to knowledge.
DEGREE IN VIEW
Executive Masters in Criminology and Police Psychology.
EXPECTED DATE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF PROGRAMME
First semester of the session.
DURATION OF PROGRAMME.
Twelve (12) calendar Months.