Criminal Justice Work

Are you interested in legal, governmental, and social views on law enforcement, crime control and crime prevention in different countries? 

The minor Criminal Justice Work gives you the opportunity to specialize in this certain area of social sciences, law and safety and security. 

Crime is all over the world and has no borders. Well-known examples are international terrorism or organized crime. However, it shows itself also in petty crimes, like illegally downloaded content. Most crimes are transnational, and it forces law enforcement of different countries to work together. 

This also means that professionals working in law enforcement and crime prevention – police, policy makers, paralegals, and social workers – have to work closely together with their international counterparts. They all play a part in either enforcing the law, crime prevention, upholding legal procedures probation and reduction of reoffending rate. 

Admission

There are no formal entry requirements. You are expected to have attained English language skills at CEFR level B2. 

You can also follow this minor as a part-time student. Ask the minor contact person for the possibilities. 

The Examination Board determines which minors do not have a higher professional education level and/or have an unacceptable overlap with the compulsory curriculum of your own study programme. Check at the page Not allowed minor courses under your institute which minors are not allowed. This page will be updated from 29 February for the 2024-2025 minor offer.

Content

Although globalization requires a globally minded view of all professionals working in the field of criminal justice, each country has a different law enforcement culture. 

Important is to understand the perspective and context of the professionals in the field of criminal justice abroad, in order to achieve a good, mutual cooperation. 

Their national values and norms are part of their respective definition of and dealings with crime. Typical ‘Dutch’, ‘German’, ‘Australian’, ‘British’, ‘Romanian’ or other ways of crime fighting, forces professionals to adjust their interventions once they are confronted with transnational crime. You have to understand the perspective of your colleagues in the field of criminal justice abroad in order to achieve a good, mutual cooperation. 

For more information see this flyer.

Learning objectives

The general course aim of the minor courses is to contribute to the fulfilment of the European (Dublin) descriptors for the bachelor’s degree: knowledge and understanding, applying knowledge and understanding, making judgements, communication and learning skills. 

Every course has a specific learning output which is connected with these descriptors. You can find more information about the content, the learning output and goals of the minor courses on the CANVAS course sites. You can also contact the programme coordinator. 

Courses

This programme offers you a virtual journey through culturally diverse legal, governmental and social views on crime control and prevention. The programme consists of six courses, three per period. 

The classes and lectures are truly international, with students from all over the world. The courses will focus on current developments in the field of Criminal Justice. Assignments and lectures have a practical approach and are developed in co-creation with practitioners in the field. 

Assessment

The minor courses have different assessment methods. Some courses have individual assessments, other courses have group assessments or combinations of both. 

Literature

Literature will be announced via e-mails and the CANVAS course sites before the minor period starts.

Schedule

This minor takes place in the periods C and D. The minor starts in February.  

Except for the first teaching period of the academic year (starting September), the lesson and test schedules are always posted on Mijn Rooster four weeks before the start of each teaching period. The schedule for the first teaching period of the academic year can be found on the site three weeks before the start. The most up-to-date schedule is always visible on Mijn Rooster.  

At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00. 

Additional costs

N/A

This minor course is marked by the Green Office as a sustainable minor. This means that by participating in this minor course, you can contribute to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals from the UN.