Academics
The 30-credit Vulnerability and Violence Reduction Masters of Science program explores critical approaches to the understanding of vulnerability and risk within communities challenged by violence.
As a student in this program, you will acquire expertise in crime control and community safety. Your classmates will most likely be practicing professionals with a background in
- Policing
- Community organizing
- Education
- Social work
- Individuals working with vulnerable adults and young people
Program Completion Timeline
- All courses will be offered at least once each year to enable you to complete the program within 2 years.
- Although most students complete the program 2 years, you will be allowed up to 5 years to complete the program.
- Participants can start the program in the fall term.
With this degree program, we intend to create an opportunity for students to explore and analyze principles of vulnerability, violence, risk, and community safety in order to solve complex health and social challenges.
Upon completion, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain some of the root causes of many types of vulnerability, aggression, and violence.
- Evaluate the multiple theories of vulnerability in relation to specific cultural communities/contexts.
- Apply reflection to evaluate and explain violent behavior.
- Analyze variations in violent crime using relevant research findings.
- Develop prevention strategies using theories related to causation of violence and aggression.
- Evaluate developments and dominant paradigms in contemporary crime control and community safety.
- Develop specific area of expertise within the field of crime control and community safety using self-reflection and critical analysis.
- Analyze the efficacy of policy and practice aimed at crime control and community safety using relevant research findings.
- Develop advanced knowledge of 'best practices' in relation to crime control and community safety.
- Describe the types of childhood experiences associated with vulnerability, trauma, and the risk of offending.
- Discuss the social environmental factors affecting vulnerability and risk.
- Evaluate the evidence on what works in early intervention.
- Analyze early intervention and public protection policies drawing on theory and research on risk.
- Critique examples of empirical research in criminology and criminal justice.
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of research concepts, terminology and methods; and an enhanced knowledge of the methodological literature.
- Apply criminological research methodologies to their own research practice.
- Apply ethical principles and methodologies within social-behavioral and / or community-based research.
