Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology

Overview

In the first degree of its kind in Victoria, you'll unpack the causes of crime as well as the fallout. Examine the international dimensions of criminal justice, as well as the technological advances impacting the sector, including predicting the commission of crime, detecting and stopping criminal behaviour, and implementing effective and efficient criminal sanctions.

Double degree options

You can also study Criminal Justice and Criminology in a double degree with Laws or Psychological Sciences.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• describe the nature of criminal activity and evaluate the main causes of crime 
• Systematically review and undertake research to evaluate the consequences of crime on victims and the broader community
• Reflect critically on diverse experiences and impacts of the criminal justice system and its processes, with a focus on the impacts of the system on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Apply knowledge and skills to compare and analyse Australia’s response to crime with that of other nations
• investigate and evaluate proposed solutions to crime

• Effectively and persuasively communicate with legal and non-legal audiences

• Analyse information from a variety of sources to investigate and evaluate proposed solutions to crime
• Evaluate technological and other scientific approaches to reducing crime and dealing with the consequences of crime.

Career opportunities

The Criminal Justice and Criminology degree provides students with the knowledge and training necessary to meet the challenges of working in industries and sectors that deal with the causes of crime (criminology) and the consequences of criminal behaviour and the responses to criminality (criminal justice). The criminology aspect provides a pathway for people who want to develop and monitor rehabilitation programs and also more broadly to work in the area of community safety. The criminal justice aspects provide a pathway to jobs in policing, prosecution, the courts and prisons. The course prepares students to work in the areas of law enforcement, corrections, offender rehabilitation, victim support and government policy development.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

• 16 core units of study (200 credit points)

• 8 units of other studies (up to 100 credit points) comprising of a co-major, minor/s or electives.

Students may not complete more than 125 credit points (normally 10 units) at introductory level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Professional placements

Professional placements are subject to a competitive selection process.

International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. 
 
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

• 16 core Criminal Justice units (200 credit points);

• 4 units of study from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points)

• 6 units of study comprising an advanced minor, minor or electives (75 credit points).

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

• 16 core Criminal Justice units (200 credit points)

• 2 units of study from the Professional Placement minor (50 credit points)

• 7 units of study comprising an advanced minor, minor or electives (87.5 credit points).

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology is 150 credit points (normally 12 units).

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.