Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 7 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

The teaching team consists of a range of policing and academic subject specialists in the fields of operational policing, counter terrorism; cyber security; risk management; law; and intelligence.

The team work closely with Dyfed Powys, South Wales and Gwent Police and associated partners.  Officers of various ranks in each of these constabularies have been consulted by way of focus groups, on the proposed content which would aid the career and personal development of serving officers and serve as employment enhancing knowledge development for progressing undergraduates. Feedback from these groups has been positive in relation to proposed course content in meeting the needs of forces by developing officers of the future who are employable and meet the recruitment needs of forces.  Following the feedback from forces the following enhancements have been made to our proposed course provision in order to embed the skills necessary for deployment and prepare officers of the future to respond to the ever changing needs of the communities they serve:

• Inclusion of applied investigation and PPU as a standalone module.

• Emphasis on Leadership to align with College of Policing leadership direction.

• Removal of mind-point summative assessments.

The feedback on the proposed amendments to the course was positive, with many officers expressing an interest in studying some of the modules from this course as part of their own continual professional and personal development.  The Course Leader is currently working with representatives from the College of Policing’s workforce development team to examine the viability of offering a variety of standalone 20 credit modules to support bite size learning as a future development of this course.

Visiting Speakers - Guest speakers will feature on the course in the form of ‘Ted Talks’ many of which will be recorded at the USW Media Suite. Speakers will be invited to supplement and contextualise learning for learners and guest speakers will include operatives from local and national police forces, the College of Policing, the Welsh Extremism Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU), National Crime Agency, Regional Cyber Crime Unit (ROCU) and visiting Professors.

Volunteering - The majority of the postgraduate learners will be in employment, however, to support career changes and enhancements, online Careers and Employability sessions will be held on a regular basis. An agreement is in place for non-force learners to have the option of undertaking an observation day with either Gwent or Dyfed Powys police forces, in addition to, or in place of working as a Special Constable, or Police Volunteer.

Fieldwork - Postgraduate project learners are encouraged to undertake field work in relation to their topic of research if it suits their methodology.

Work Placements - The course is online and postgraduate in taxonomy and likely to attract those already in employment. For progressing undergraduate learners, engagement with Careers and Employability will be encouraged, however due to the vetting requirements of the police and the wider agencies, placements may not be viable. However, there is a strong existing relationship between USW Policing and Gwent and Dyfed forces where learners are invited to apply for force advertised volunteering positions subject to standard force vetting procedures.

Work-based Learning - The Recognition for Prior Learning element of the course which is available to serving officers will function as a work based learning element, as applicants will need to draw on their work based experience and provide evidence to be approved for RPL. There is no work based learning element for full time learners. However, many graduates from policing and criminology course, volunteer with local forces. Arrangements are in place with three local forces to support this.

Employer Forums - USW meet regularly with officers of various ranks, from constables to Chief Constable to elicit their views in terms of course currency and policing priorities. Module specifications can be amended using the USW minor modification process to ensure that learners receive the most up to date and relevant content. For this programme of study, focus groups were undertaken with Gwent and Dyfed forces.

Means of Assessment

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all learners have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However, some specific needs may remain, details about how students can apply to have their needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Learning Support

Induction - Learners will be invited to an induction with the Course Leader and Module Team. The ‘Virtual USW Welcome Week’ will be used to familiarise learners with campus facilities, course content, with scheduled collaborate sessions for Q&A and meet the team.  Induction and other ‘on boarding’ activities will continue throughout induction week and the first week of the course. 

Personal Academic Coach - The MSc Course leader will act as a personal tutor throughout the course. The University’s Wellbeing and Chaplaincy services are available outside of these hours.  PACs will be allocated and Faculty arrangements will be adhered to as with other learners in this subject area.

Due the wide spread geographic location of the learners on an online course, extra support PAC’s will be available to ensure mental health and wellbeing is maintained as learners will not have the option to have face to face meetings on a regular basis. The course organisation page will feature enhanced links to USW support services with Ted Talk videos from each team to foster the learning and environment.

Office Hours - Once a week, a timetabled live discussion forum will be held for each module outside of standard office working hours to accommodate employed learners. Outside of this, emails and phone calls will be responded to within standard USW policies. Additional links will be embedded within modules to help learners direct their enquiry to the correct person, to avoid any delays whilst waiting for a response. The live discussion forum session will also be recorded and made available to students.

Tutorials - Tutorials offer the opportunity to contextualise and apply the knowledge gleaned during the lecture to a practical scenario with the support of their academic. The online learning session will be a mixed lecture and tutorial.

Seminars - Seminars offer the opportunity to discuss and debate topics in smaller learning environments.

Formative Assessment - Formative assessment is ongoing throughout the course and will be given verbally or during one to one online meeting.  Feedback and ‘feed-forward’ will be regular within tutorial and seminar sessions.

Progress Meetings - Module leaders will be available at regular intervals via online technologies to develop a rapport with their learners that equates to on campus teaching.  The course leader will undertake a mid-term progress meeting, well-being and progress will also be covered during final research project meetings.

Research Supervision - Learners will undertake a 40 credit, evidence based research project. Each learner will be allocated a research supervisor for their project and is entitled to a supervision meeting each week which will be undertaken via Teams/Blackboard Collaborate or Skype for Business or telephone. Arrangements are in place with Gwent, South Wales and Dyfed forces for evidenced based research topic ideas for non force learners.

Online Resources - Learners are able to access our Virtual Learning Environment 24/7. The VLE contains teaching and learning resources, assessments, and materials for wider contextualisation. Online study skills and library sessions have been arranged for all learners and Ted Talk self help guides will be embedded into the course organisation page.

Advice Centres - The Advice Zones are available in Glyntaff and Treforest between 9am and 6pm in person, the services are also available online with an e-booking facility. Ted Talks on the course organisation page will help foster a relationship between online learners and on campus support teams.

DDS Service - The DDS Service is available at USW Pontypridd Campus in person and via online platforms for remote learners.

IT/Library - IT support and library facilities are available at all USW campuses and remotely. All books on module suggested reading lists will be available online. Louise Wallace, faculty librarian has recorded small bite size library services “how to” guides which will be embedded on the course and module pages.

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

MPhil and PHDIf the award is a progression route for other courses, please specify which and where they are delivered: USW BSc Professional Policing - USW BSc Criminology

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

A good honours degree in a relevant discipline or appropriate professional qualification(s); or HND/HNC and relevant experience; or equivalent international qualifications. 

Applicants without formal qualifications are encouraged to apply if they have relevant experience in the sector under the faculty approved Recognition for Prior Learning Admissions statement which is rank based. Further information on this is articulated later in this document.

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component. Applicants who have successfully studied at this level in the Medium of English will be deemed eligible. 

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A