General Information

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.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR10001
Introduction to Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW10021
Criminal Law and Process
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW10024
Fundamentals of Criminology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI10002
Law and Social Science
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW10022
Crime and Punishment in the International Context
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW20031
Fundamentals of Psychology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10008
Crime, Deviance, and Conformity
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI20003
Victims, Justice and the Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW20048
Policing: Systems and Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI20001
Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW20032
Youth Justice and Crime
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI30010
Family Violence
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAW30031
Corrections: Systems and Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI30002
Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR30001

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results.

  • Unit type heading (e.g. Accounting, Biotechnology, Global Studies, etc.) 

  • Accounting 

  • Advertising 

  • Animation 

  • Biotechnology 

  • Business Analysis 

  • Business Analytics and Analysis 

  • Cinema and Screen Studies 

  • Climate and Social Justice 

  • Computer Science 

  • Creative Writing and Literature 

  • Criminology 

  • Data Analytics 

  • Digital Advertising Technology 

  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

  • Environmental Science 

  • Environmental Sustainability 

  • Ethics and Technology 

  • Finance 

  • Financial Planning 

  • Games and Interactivity 

  • Global Studies 

  • History 

  • Human Resource Management 

  • Indigenous Studies 

  • Information Systems 

  • Journalism 

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management 

  • Management 

  • Marketing 

  • Media Industries 

  • Neuroscience 

  • Perspectives on Globalisation 

  • Philosophy 

  • Politics and International Relations 

  • Politics, Power and Technology 

  • Professional and Creative Writing 

  • Professional Writing and Editing 

  • Psychology 

  • Public Relations 

  • Screen Production 

  • Screen Studies and Popular Culture 

  • Social Media 

  • Space Technology 

View co-major units

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Accounting

  • Applied Psychology

  • Data Analytics 

  • Diversity and Multiculturalism

  • Human Resource Management

  • Indigenous Studies

  • Management 

  • Management for Health

  • Managing Information Systems

View minor units

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:

  • sixteen [16] core units of study (200 credit points)

  • eight [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:

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

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

  • six [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:

  • sixteen [16] core Criminal Justice units (200 credit points)

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

  • seven [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).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments 

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne

Subject Adjustments 

A study score of 25 in any Humanities, Legal Studies or Psychology equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 72.3 78.65
Median rank to receive an offer 60.92 63.5
Lowest rank to receive an offer 50.05 56.6

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.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2024
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 36 25%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 37 26%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 38 27%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether 61 this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 22 15
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
5 3%
International students 6 4%
All students 144 100%

Notes: 
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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