Taylah Sharp’s Master of Criminology has her now contemplating a PhD
Next week sees the first eleven students graduate with a Master of Criminology (MCRIM). Among them will be Taylah Sharp, whose Master’s research has inspired her to consider a PhD.
Taylah was keen on postgraduate study, but as she completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology, the latter compelled her the most. She loved the fact that criminology allowed her the chance to be open to critical thinking, theory, and interdisciplinary approaches.
She feels proud not only of her achievement but recognises she was part of something unique, in that the first cohort helps to shape the programme going forward. “It feels really cool to have been part of something new from the start. I look forward to seeing how the programme grows from here.”
Taylah’s research focus was around advocating for the rights of drug users and the reality of certain freedoms of theirs being removed. She aimed to understand how different sources of stigma, such as media and government, contributed to the erosion of rights, and perceptions around criminality.
The postgraduate study was an increase in workload, but Taylah found it manageable, perhaps even more so than with her undergraduate studies, because she was fascinated by the content. “I really wanted to learn the concepts and theories.”
Some of the classes were collaborative, which pushed her a little out of her comfort zone, but she coped due to the class members all getting on so well, and says she really liked having the smaller ratio of students to lecturers.
The lecturers helped Taylah to gain a deeper confidence in her abilities, as well as broader knowledge of the fundamental concepts. In fact, she believes the Master of Criminology has planted a seed for potential PhD study and considers that “an ultimate goal for the near future”. Something she believes she would never have considered prior to undertaking the MCrim.