Why study this course with LJMU?
The programme curriculum has been designed for current or former professionals working in law enforcement and criminal justice. You will be joining and contributing to a vibrant learning community. As part of this doctorate, you will generate original knowledge through the research related to your own area of professional involvement, as well as participating in taught sessions around research planning, research methodology, and critical reflection.
About your course
By completing this doctorate, you will achieve formal recognition and accreditation of your professional development and a raised profile within your profession, and you will have the chance to contribute to academic debate, and influence policy and practice.
- Aims to develop competent, informed, reflective, ethically and professionally competent practitioners who have a sophisticated academic understanding of wider policing, and criminal justice theories and issues
- Enables students to develop advanced skills and competencies in designing, conducting, evaluating, and presenting
- Research relevant to policing, and criminal justice
- Provides a framework in which students can generate original knowledge through the research of policing, and criminal justice, related issues in their own area of professional involvement
- Enables and encourage those graduating with a Professional Doctorate from the programme to disseminate the results of their research with a view to contributing to academic debates or influencing policy and practice
- Enhances the development of reflective practice through discussion and networking with others who may be working in different sectors of policing and criminal justice
- Makes an original contribution to the status of police studies and criminal justice as a discipline, through the advancement of knowledge and professional practice within the sector and through the development of advanced practitioner researchers
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
The programme follows the LJMU Professional Doctorate Framework, and consists of four modules which map onto the three stages of this framework.
In Stage 1, you will work towards the completion of two 30 credit modules: Research Planning and Research Methodology. Research Planning will help you develop your research question as well as enhance your skills at synthesising and critically evaluating research, and will expose you to real-life examples of how research is developed and used to improve practice. The module Research Methodology will equip you with knowledge of a range of different research methodologies that could be used in practice-based research, help you develop an understanding of how to measure the impact of your research (via evaluation techniques), and give you the skills to carry out an ethical and feasible research project.
Stage 2 consists of the Investigative Research Project where you will conduct and write-up your planned research.
In Stage 3 (which will be carried out at the same time as Stage 2), the Critical Reflection on Research Project will help you learn about the theory and practice of critical reflection and how to complete a reflective journal of your research experience.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Contracts, Copyright and Intellectual Property
15 credits
15 credits
Students will gain confidence in their understanding of and engagement with UK Copyright Law, Intellectual Property legislation and the primary purposes of Contracts, as they relate to the Creative Industries and Performing Arts.
Content Creation
15 credits
15 credits
Students will gain a confident understanding of how secondary creative content is used and produced across the performing arts and creative industries. Students will also be taught, mentored, and guided in the application of specific contemporary creative digital skills, regarding the production and delivery of media content, relevant to the creative industries and performing arts.
Fundraising
15 credits
15 credits
By the end of this module students will have developed students will gain an understanding of and engaged with a variety of funding and subsidy opportunities and application processes. They will also be able to produce a balanced break even budget, giving them important skills that they will draw on during the rest of their careers.
Essential Management Skills
15 credits
15 credits
Students will become confident in the use of Critical Skills, including referencing, research, information analysis, presentation techniques and analytical objectivity.
The Contemporary Creative Industries
15 credits
15 credits
Students will develop an understanding and analysis of the contemporary creative industries and performing arts landscape.
They will learn about the industry's key organisations, leading practitioners and executives and recognise how cultural policies impact upon the creative industries and performing arts locally, nationally, and internationally.
Marketing
15 credits
15 credits
What is marketing? How do we connect with audiences in a way that is authentic, planned and most importantly, relevant? How do you begin to gain attention for your artist, show, project or event? Marketing is a sales tool, but it is also something that needs to be creative, engaging, unique and visible. In this module, you will study marketing theory and develop your understanding of concepts, tools and campaign planning. You will examine case studies, looking at examples of marketing campaigns with a focus on target markets and reaching that all important target audience.
The invaluable tools you will learn will be adaptable to whichever path you take for your chosen future career and a key preparation for studying marketing strategy at Level 5.
Practical Creative Project
30 credits
30 credits
Under the guidance of their module leader, students will form small groups, and collaboratively devise, design, manage and deliver a limited but engaging, practical creative project, of any sort, appropriate to the creative industries and performing arts sector.
The design and format of their project will be negotiated with their Module Leader, in line with the Learning Outcomes.
Students will also be supported in both identifying and involving themselves with a range of other collaborative practical creative projects, both internal and external to LIPA.
Core modules
Marketing Analytics
15 credits
15 credits
Word of mouth is still cited as the biggest influence on a consumer's cultural decision making, but how do you know when youve created that buzz and more importantly, once you have, how do you know its working? This module will introduce you to the types of research and marketing methods that professional creative industries and performing arts managers use when designing and analysing their own marketing campaigns. You will work with various online insights platforms and more importantly, be guided on how to ask the right questions of the data in front of you.
The digital world is a crowded marketplace, and as the international marketing expert Seth Godin said, You cant be seen until you learn to see.
Business and Enterprise
15 credits
15 credits
Students will be introduced to business concepts that are relevant to small to medium sized commercial enterprises operating within the creative industries and performing arts.
A particular focus will be on, establishing a start-up business, methods of financing, managing the legal requirements set by the UK Government, and the important relationship between copyright legislation and the viability of SME organisations operating in the creative industries and performing arts.
Strategic Marcomms
15 credits
15 credits
Building upon the Level 4 Understanding Marketing module and looked at from the perspective of the Creative Industries and Performing Arts, students will learn and apply the key steps to developing a strategic marketing plan and expand their knowledge of broader marketing techniques and their cultural context. The course also introduces students to brand identity, messaging and communication, e-marketing, pricing strategy and PR practice.
Personal and Professional Development for Managers
15 credits
15 credits
Students will be guided, mentored, and taught how to engage with their own personal and professional development, helping them construct a flexible and coherent strategy, in respect of their own learning and career aspirations.
A series of guest seminars with professional industry executives will also contribute to students' understanding of management as it exists within the creative industries and performing arts.
Practical Management Project
30 credits
30 credits
Building on their learning and experience at Level 4, students will be taught, guided, and mentored in understanding, analysing and applying the skills, strategies and managerial creativity, required to successfully produce and deliver a practical project, of any sort, appropriate to the broad creative industries and performing arts sector.
Optional modules
Legal, Safe and Sustainable Events and Projects
15 credits
15 credits
This module will equip students with the requisite skills, competencies, and knowledge to effectively design and deliver well planned and appropriately resourced legal and safe events and projects across the Creative Industries and Performing Arts.
This module will be delivered utilising a range of teaching and learning strategies to include:
- Lectures to introduce key issues and concepts
- Workshops, and a range of innovative classroom and online methods, incorporating application of concepts to different situations, utilising group activities where appropriate
- Site Visits
- Engagement with sector professionals
- Self-directed study.
Managing Live Events
15 credits
15 credits
This module will equip students with the requisite skills, competencies, and knowledge to effectively plan and deliver creative industry and performing arts events and projects that account for all stakeholder and audience needs
This module will be delivered utilising a range of teaching and learning strategies to include:
- Lectures to introduce key issues and concepts
- Workshops, and a range of innovative classroom and online methods, incorporating application of concepts to different situations, utilising group activities where appropriate
- Site Visits
- Engagement with sector professionals
- Self-directed study.
Music Industry Management
15 credits
15 credits
In this Module students will gain the knowledge, insight, and skills needed to analytically devise, design and deliver a coherent and constructive, music industry management project of their own choosing.
The assignment project will be mentored and supervised by the Module Leader and will facilitate the development of the students' personal and professional resilience, planning techniques, research methods and creative managerial acumen, with a specific focus upon the Music Industry.
Popular Music - Context and Culture
15 credits
15 credits
In this Module, students will be provided with an engaging and contextual insight to the development of post 1950 Western mainstream popular music culture.
Looking at Western popular music, from both an aesthetic and cultural perspective, students will advance their knowledge and understanding of the developments which have shaped, and continue to shape, the creation and consumption of mainstream popular music across the West.
Original Production
15 credits
15 credits
Students will be guided by the Module Leader in their engagement with this Module's 'Original Production' management assignment. Students will be encouraged to manage creatively and resiliently, within limited means, in order to ultimately deliver an engaging and creative theatre or screen output.
Producing for Theatre and Screen
15 credits
15 credits
This module will introduce students to the fundamental aspects of producing professional Theatre and Screen work.
Building upon much of the students' prior learning, they will be guided in the essential preparation and research work needed for producing an original production.
Students will negotiate with the Module Leader as to whether their preparation and research work will be completed in a group or on an individual basis.
Core modules
Management Research Paper
60 credits
60 credits
A research project, that enables students to gain a deeper understanding of, and engagement with, a contemporary issue from within the creative industries, performing arts and entertainment sector.
Students will be guided and supported in choosing their own research question.
Options on how students will conduct their research and present their findings will be negotiated with the Module Leader, their assigned Supervisor and the Head of Department, in line with the module's Learning Outcomes.
Contemporary Issues In Management Conference
15 credits
15 credits
This Module will enable students to gain the skills, knowledge and understanding required, to confidently present the outcomes and findings of a research project to a lay audience.
Optional modules
Enterprise Project
45 credits
45 credits
Students, guided by the Module Leader and their assigned Supervisor, will embark upon a semester long Enterprise Project, focussed on the development of their own enterprise concept or business idea, located within the broad creative industries, performing arts or entertainment sector.
Industry Placement
45 credits
45 credits
Students, guided by the Module Leader and their assigned Supervisor, will embark on a Semester long placement, based within the broad creative industries, performing arts or entertainment sector.
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
Lectures and seminars are delivered in a face-to-face format, and these will be supplemented by asynchronous, online delivery. Our virtual learning environment (VLE) Canvas holds information on your modules, sessions, online delivery, reading lists, and much more.
Students can choose to attend campus for face-to-face teaching in 'learning blocks' across the first two years of the programme (Modules 1 and 2) (two one-week blocks in October and February, e.g., from 9am-4pm), or to attend campus once a month for a full day (e.g., 9am-4pm) for nine months of the year (September to May). These sessions will be supplemented by online asynchronous learning (2.5 hours a month), and monthly meetings with supervisors. For the rest of the programme (Modules 3 and 4), as you carry out your research project and critical reflection, taught delivery will be conducted by your supervisor and will be supplemented by supervisory meetings.
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
We want you to have the best student experience possible so please do not be afraid to approach LJMU staff if you need any advice. In addition to your personal tutor and other members of the programme team, we provide a range of support services. Details of these are available at www.ljmu.ac.uk/students/supporting-your-study.
Like any university, we have a range of rules and regulations that cover everything from freedom of speech and dealing with difficult personal circumstances to payment of fees and programme information. Their function is not to limit your experiences at LJMU but to protect your rights and to define your responsibilities as a member of the University. You will find more details on the website:
www.ljmu.ac.uk/students/supporting-your-study/student-policy-and-regulations.
We are committed to promoting an environment where everyone is treated equally, and with dignity and respect. We have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying, including cyber-bullying. Anyone engaging in this type of activity will be subject to the University’s disciplinary procedures.
For more information on what LJMU expects with respect to student behaviour, please read the Student Code of Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures:
www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/public-information/student-regulations/guidance-policy-and-process.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Assessments are clearly important, and we recognise that success is necessary for you to progress through the stages of your degree to your eventual graduation. We also recognise that students have different strengths, so we include a diverse range of assessment methods. Assessments will include a scoping review, learning agreement, data analysis portfolio, research proposal, final thesis submission (viva voce by external and internal examiners), mock viva, and critical reflection. Please be sure you are not alone in your doctorate, and we will support you in any way we can to make sure you succeed in your assignments. All assessments are graded on a pass/fail basis in line with the Professional Doctorate Framework.
Course tutors
Dr Freya O'Brien is a Senior Lecturer in Policing and Programme Leader of the Professional Doctorate in Policing and Criminal Justice. She is an experienced teacher and researcher, Chartered Psychologist and an internationally recognised expert in missing people research.
Freya specialises in various fields of Policing and Psychology, including Evidence-Based Policing, Vulnerability, Risk, and Harm, and Forensic Psychology. She applies fundamental research to applied contexts and has over 18 years’ experience working in partnership with regional and national law enforcement agencies and charities to conduct research and evaluation. Freya’s work has shaped policy and practice and she has the skills to measure impact.
Freya has also generated income and opportunities for Early Career Researchers and has disseminated her work to the wider community via international public engagement outlets. Freya supervises Professional Doctorate candidates, and PhD researchers.
Career paths
Work-Related Learning
The Professional Doctorate in Policing and Criminal Justice will enable you to contribute to research in new and applied areas; we shall also be engaging in an exchange of knowledge and practice.
You will benefit from formal recognition and accreditation of your professional development, and a raised profile within your profession and as a result of the outcomes of successful project work.
The activities carried out on the programme can also be expected to enhance your personal and professional capabilities for the future. It is anticipated that most if not all candidates will be currently employed within Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Agencies and therefore candidates may be in a position to have a transformative impact on professional practice. An overarching component of this doctoral programme is the establishment of a Community of Practice across those studying on the programme and those within related programmes within the School of Justice studies.
The exchanging of ideas and knowledge will be encouraged and facilitated by both the formal requirements of the programme (e.g., within the 8400DPCJ Research Planning and 8401DPCJ Research Methodology modules in seminars) and in more informal forums (e.g., you will be encouraged to 'network' with each other outside of sessions). This process will enable networks to build and to transfer knowledge between practitioners.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
Financial Support
The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications:
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
A levels
We are committed to accepting students on to this course who have the potential to succeed in making performance possible and who will gain sustained work in the performing arts and entertainment industries. With this in mind we wish to identify through applications and interview or audition key attributes and achievements. The key attributes that we seek to identify are:
• Knowledge, ability and experience of organisation and management
• Commitment to the performing arts and public events
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Broad interest and engagement
• Self-awareness
• Spirit of enterprise.
The minimum educational standard that we are looking for is:
GCSEs
We normally require a minimum of five GCSEs grade C. These should include Maths and English, plus a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points (2017 tariff) or 240 UCAS tariff points (2016 tariff).
We accept all types of equivalent qualifications, the following are the most common UK qualifications that people tend to apply to us with:
A/AS Level
This should be from three A Levels (i.e. grades C, C, C), excluding General Studies. Points from AS and Key Skills are not counted.
BTECs
Extended Diploma (i.e. Merit, Merit, Merit profile).
BTEC Diploma (i.e. Distinction, Distinction). Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications such as an A Level, in which case total needs to be 96 (2017 UCAS tariff points) or 240 (2016 UCAS tariff points) across both qualifications.
90 Credit Diploma. Only acceptable when combined with other qualifications such as an A Level.
International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate Acceptable on its own and with other qualifications. Welsh Baccalaureate Acceptable on its own but is ideally combined with other qualifications as it is equivalent to one A Level.
Alternative qualifications considered
Audition or Interview
Candidates are invited to audition/interview on the basis of completing the LIPA and/or UCAS application form. We look for evidence of the key attributes and an ability to achieve the qualifications standard. In exceptional cases people may be invited to audition/interview who have not met or are not on course to meet the qualifications standard. In these cases there must be substantial potential demonstrated against the other attributes. The audition or interview allows us to evaluate you as a practitioner in your area of interest. Offers of a place will follow where you demonstrate high ability and the potential to succeed. For this course the audition/interview format includes an introduction to LIPA, a critical writing exercise, a practical workshop, simple quantitative methods examination and an informal presentation of a prepared report and interview.
Equal Opportunity
LIPA is an equal opportunities organisation and aims to successfully recruit students from a wide range of different socio-economic and personal backgrounds. To ensure we provide effective equality of opportunity within the application process we carefully consider each application individually and acknowledge differences that can exist between applicants’ experiences from diverse backgrounds. We regularly update our approaches to take into account changing understanding of communities and cultures and we monitor applicant/student characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity.
Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning [RP(E)L] and Credit Transfers
If you can demonstrate that you have already achieved learning equivalent to a module or modules, or a level of study, in the programme then you may be eligible to be awarded credit for this learning or to have credit transferred from another UK institution. You will be required to complete an application to have your qualifications or experience approved by the Head of Discipline and the university. This requires the presentation of appropriate evidence and we will map the evidence against the programme outcomes to be certain of equivalence. If approved credit will be awarded and you will proceed on to the appropriate level of the course to complete the remaining credit for the award.
Applicants, without the standard academic awards, but able to evidence experience of, or commitment to, the creative industries, performing arts or other entertainment sectors, are always encouraged to apply.
International requirements
Other international requirements
We welcome applications from students with qualifications from outside of the UK. Each application is considered on an individual basis and mapped to the appropriate entry level. We value the diversity of experience that students from different backgrounds bring to the course. We require an IELTS score of 6.
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
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