Graduate Certificate of Criminology
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Criminology |
| Deakin course code | A504 |
| Course credit points | 4 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2021 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 1 year part-time |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 0102047 Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Pathways
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Study Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Criminology and gain foundational knowledge in criminological theory, crime policy and prevention. You will begin to explore how crime is understood and addressed in contemporary society.
Designed with input from police, policy and regulatory organisations, the degree helps you build industry-relevant skills you can apply in further study or directly in the workforce. You will examine key issues in crime and justice and develop early critical thinking around how systems of justice operate and evolve.
Your core subjects focus on crime and innovative justice, criminological policy and criminal justice practice. You can also choose electives such as Populism and Policing Futures, Human Rights in World Politics and Terrorism in International Politics, allowing you to tailor your study to your career goals.
Career opportunities
As a graduate, your deeper understanding of crime and criminal justice will be in high demand by agencies focused on specific areas of the community. If you're already in the workforce, you'll be prepared for roles that require advanced knowledge, ensuring you're capable of making well-rounded decisions that will positively impact lives.
Once successfully completing this course, you'll also be eligible to apply for the Master of Criminology - a further step in the right direction to becoming a senior criminological expert.
With a Graduate Certificate of Criminology, you can confidently apply for roles as a corrections officer, case manager/worker or specialist adviser and explore a variety of areas, including:
- anti-corruption agencies
- correctional facilities and prisons
- community services
- criminology research
- government agencies
- intelligence and security services
- sociology and youth work
- state and federal police
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Pathways
Students who successfully complete this course would meet the entry requirements and therefore be eligible to apply for admission into the A704 Master of Criminology (or similar).
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Use advanced and integrated knowledge of criminological scholarship to review and analyse key issues in the definitions, history, causes, harms and prevention of different types of crime and criminal behaviour within Australia and internationally |
| Communicate the findings and analyses of criminological theories, concepts and their application to real-world contexts, in a broad range of written, oral and digital formats, to different audiences associated with or engaged in criminological activities |
| Employ a broad range of digital technologies to communicate types and forms of crime and appropriate prevention responses to a diverse range of audiences, including the public and individuals and groups associated with or engaged in criminal justice policy and practice |
| Exercise independent and critical judgement to organise, synthesise and evaluate complex theoretical approaches to defining and explaining crime and criminal behaviour in order to make recommendations to improve current policies and practices that address crime and criminal behaviour |
| Analyse differing perspectives and approaches to preventing and responding to crime and criminal behaviour in a variety of contexts and employ creative problem solving skills to investigate complex problems in a systematic manner as well as to generate creative, contextually aware solutions to those problems |
| Collaborate productively in teams to research and evaluate explanations for and responses to complex issues in crime and criminal behaviour in a variety of national and international contexts |
| Analyse and respond to criminological issues, in domestic, regional and international contexts, as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into account cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and adherence to professional and ethical standards in a variety of contexts |
Approved at Faculty Board March 2020
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Criminology you must pass 4 credit points . This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 2 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Units
| ACR701 | Crime and Innovative Justice |
| ACR703 | Critical Criminological Perspectives |
Electives
Plus 2 credit points of electives from:
| ACR705 | Digital Surveillance, Law Enforcement and Civil Liberties |
| ACR707 | Populism and Policing Futures |
| ACR709 | Global Crime, Prevention and Responses |
| AIP781 | Political Communication and Citizen Engagement |
| AIR726 | Human Rights in World Politics |
| AIR732 | Terrorism in International Politics |
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.