Bachelor of Criminology

2019 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2019 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year

2019 course information

Award granted Bachelor of Criminology
Course Map

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2019.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2019.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2019.

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser.

CampusOffered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Cloud CampusYes
Duration3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code057849B Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course codeA329
Approval statusThis course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Learn the who, why and how of crime with Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology. With the perfect balance of theory and practical learning, join the university with the most established criminology program in Victoria and graduate armed with the critical thinking skills to tackle criminal justice issues. We’ll help you understand the inner workings and impacts of criminal behaviour and various responses to it, from environmental crime to terrorism, and how to use this understanding when making decisions within the criminal justice system. 

Are you ready to make a change in understanding and preventing crime? 

Do more than learn theory in the classroom. Understand the thinking and research surrounding a breadth of criminology topics, while building a portfolio that will showcase your knowledge and set you up for your future career. Study topics that are crucial to the prevention of crime, such as cyber security, surveillance, anti-terrorism and policing.

Understand the historical repercussions, technological developments and media representations of crime and the desirable outcomes of criminal justice processes. Get hands-on experience with our work-integrated learning opportunities, which allow you to bridge theory with practice and gain insight into how the study of criminology applies across different industries and sectors. You can even take your learning overseas and gain a global perspective on how other countries approach criminology.

Our course is designed in conjunction with professional bodies including Victoria Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. This means you’ll develop the skills in demand by employers and graduate ready to confidently advise on criminal justice issues in fields including:

  • anti-corruption agencies
  • correctional services
  • community services
  • crime prevention agencies
  • intelligence agencies
  • law enforcement
  • local, state and federal government
  • private security industries
  • state and federal police.

Need more flexibility in your studies? Take advantage of our flexible learning options and find the right balance for you. You can choose to study part time or full time, on campus or 100% online. You can also take advantage of Deakin’s trimester system and fast-track your degree and complete your Bachelor of Criminology in just two years.

Complement your studies by pairing the Bachelor of Criminology with another degree. From arts to cyber security, you’ll graduate with a unique course combination valued by employers that will further expand your career opportunities.

Be ready to thrive in a field that challenges perceptions of crime. Get in touch and learn how you can graduate ready to tackle criminal issues.

Career opportunities

Graduates from this course can look forward to a diverse and challenging career as:

  • crime analysts
  • jury consultants
  • police development managers
  • private investigators
  • forensic psychologists
  • correctional officers
  • parole officers
  • crime reporters
  • crime researchers
  • criminologists
  • intelligence officers
  • federal police officers (requires further study).

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.


Assessment

Assessment within the award of Bachelor of Criminology varies from written assignments and/or examination to practical and technical exercises and performance. In some units assessment may also include class participation, online exercises, seminar exercises and tests.

 

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities

Review and analyse major social science theories and key criminological concepts, theories and technical knowledge relating to crime and criminal justice issues, including the causes and consequences of crime, ways of responding to crime, media representations of crime, core debates in policing, security and surveillance, as well as broader issues of policy and politics, inclusion and exclusion, governing and governance, security, social justice, citizenship and human rights.

Communication

Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of criminological concepts, theories and technical knowledge, in a selection of written, digital and oral formats, to a range of audiences. 

Digital literacy

Employ a range of generic and specialist criminal justice-specific digital communication technologies to apply criminological knowledge and conduct social and criminological research and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences within and outside the field. 

Critical thinking

Analyse and critically evaluate theoretical approaches to crime problems and current policies and practices of governments and criminal justice practitioners and professions in the context of broad social change, new crimes, new responses and an increasing responsibility for preventing and controlling individual and complex crimes at local, state, national and international levels. 

Problem solving

Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with accepted evidence-based criminological methods to generate innovative and pragmatic approaches and solutions to complex problems in the areas of individual crime, complex and organised crime, the criminal justice process, questions of justice and injustice, local, national and international policing, surveillance, privacy and technology, and domestic and international crime and security issues. 

Self-management

Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development, as a reflective practitioner, while working in the criminological field. 

Teamwork

Work and learn collaboratively with others in the criminology field and from different disciplines and backgrounds while still maintaining responsibility for their own learning. 

Global citizenship

Analyse and address criminological issues in the domestic and global context as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards. 

Approved by Faculty Board May 2014

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Criminology, students must complete 24-credit points as follows:

  • At least 12-credit points of ACR coded units, including the compulsory core units of ACR101, ACR102, ACR201, ACR202, ACR301 and ACR302;
  • Up to 12-credit points can be non-ACR coded units;
  • No more than 10-credit points at level 1 including ACR101 and ACR102;
  • At least 14-credit points at level 2 or above including ACR201 and ACR202;
  • At least 4-credit points at level 3 including ACR301 and ACR302; 
  • No more than 8-credit points taken outside the Faculty of Arts and Education.
  • AAI018Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Students are encouraged to consider completing a second major sequence and therefore may wish to select elective units in accordance with that major sequence. Please refer to A300 Bachelor of Arts for a list of Faculty of Arts and Education major sequences.

Students are also encouraged to consider taking electives from the Professional Experience and Practice Minor sequence APE101, APE201, APE202and APE301.

 

Transition to University study

The faculty offers two units AIX160 Introduction to University Study and AIX117 Professional Writing for Work which are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one of both or these units in their first year.

Course structure

Students commencing from 2014

Level 1

ACR101Introducing Crime and Criminology (core)

ACR102Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice (core)

Level 2 & 3

ACR201Issues in Criminal Justice (core)

ACR202Criminology Theory (core)

ACR301International and Comparative Criminal Justice (core)

ACR302Criminology Research (core)

Plus at least six credit points from-

ACR203Crime, Victims and Justice

ACR204Crime, Media and Justice

ACR210Crime, Surveillance and Society *

ACR211Crime Prevention and Security *

ACR212Crime, Surveillance and Technology **

ACR213Crime, Terrorism and Security **

ACR303Criminology Practicum (2 credit points)

*ACR210, ACR211 - Trimester 1 (alternate years 2020, 2022) and Trimester 3 (alternate years 2019, 2021)

**ACR212, ACR213 - Trimester 3 (alternate years 2020, 2022) and Trimester 1 (alternate years 2019, 2021)

Course structure

Students commencing prior to 2014

Continuing Criminology students who commenced prior to 2014 to contact Student Services Office for re-enrolment advice and to review Course Plans.  From 2014, most Criminology ASL coded units have been replaced with Criminology ACR coded units.

Students applying with prior study or recognition for prior learning will need to contact the student services office to review their enrolment plans.

Course structure

Course structure

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.


Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Other learning experiences

There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.