Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Course handbook
On this page you will find:
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
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
These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
- BUS10012 Innovative Business Practice
- ECO10004 Economic Principles
- FIN10002 Financial Statistics
- HRM10003 Human Resource Management
- ICT10001 Problem Solving with ICT
- INF10024 Business Digitalisation
- LAW10004 Introduction to Business Law
- MGT10001 Introduction to Management
- MGT10002 Critical Thinking in Management
- MKT10007 Fundamentals of Marketing
- HRM20020 Performance Management and Innovation
- MGT20006 Business and Society
- MGT20007 Organisational Behaviour
- MKT20019 Marketing Research and Analytics
- HRM30011 Human Resource Analytics
- LAW30005 Law of Employment
- MGT30008 Leadership Practice and Skills
Outcomes and course rules
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.
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