Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Business
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Business |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Deakin course code | D332 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2024 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Campus note | Students and Applicants to Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus: Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined course. The Bachelor of Criminology degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds campus and the Bachelor of Business degree will be taught at Waterfront campus. |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 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 | 113877G Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| 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
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Articulated courses
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Analyse and address real-world problems where criminology and business intersect by studying Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Business. Your knowledge of business fundamentals, the Australian criminal justice system and a deep understanding of the causes and impacts of crime will offer you a range of unique career opportunities.
Deakin’s criminology course is one of the most established in Australia. Our curriculum has been developed in conjunction with professional bodies including Victoria Police, the Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria and the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers. With complementary business expertise, you will graduate with sought after skills tailored to your career goals.
Do you want to understand the legal and ethical implications of business practices?
Through your criminology degree you will study a range of individual and organised criminal activities, from homicide and domestic assault, to environmental crime and illicit digital surveillance. You will learn how to develop effective responses to crimes committed in Australia by low-level offenders through to sophisticated international crime syndicates. Discover how crime and justice are defined and by whom, how our courts and correctional processes operate, and the desirable outcomes of criminal justice processes.
Your business degree gives you the skills and experience needed to succeed in the business world. You’ll solve practical business challenges, explore innovative and emerging business trends, and prepare for the nuances of international business relationships. Your business degree provides adaptable skills and practical experience to help you thrive in today’s dynamic business world. You will tackle real challenges and explore innovative trends that drive growth. Ranked #3 in Victoria* and recognised globally, Deakin Business School offers a Bachelor of Business designed for bold thinkers. Combining hands-on learning, data-driven insights, and people-centred management, this degree prepares you to lead and make a meaningful impact.
By combining criminology core units with a choice of electives and business majors, this course allows you the flexibility and opportunity to personalise your degree to your interests. You'll develop strong analytical skills to interpret trends relating to crime and business, learning how to examine policies that will impact institutions.
The business majors have been determined by looking at emerging growth areas in industry. Areas on offer include business and digital communication, people management to retail and supply chain management and more.
Through Deakin Business School’s work-integrated learning opportunities you will work on real-world projects that count as credit towards your degree. Our curriculum is supported by a range of experiential learning opportunities including:
- mentoring
- volunteering
- consulting
- internships
- student clubs and societies
- local and international business competitions
Criminology is an unusual discipline in that career internships are not practical given the dangerous work environments or security clearances associated with many criminal justice professions (e.g., police officers, intelligence analysts). You will, however, get hands-on experience through our work-integrated learning units, which allow you to bridge theory with practice and gain insight into how the study of criminology applies across different industries and sectors.
International experiences across Asia, Europe or North America help improve your global employability, developing skills in teamwork and intercultural communication. You can apply for:
- overseas internships
- study tours
- exchange programs
You will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and career enhancing critical thinking skills, integral for decision making for organisations from government to private business.
*AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 2024
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing course improvement and innovation, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.
Career opportunities
Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment and step confidently into your future. Graduates from this course can look forward to a diverse and challenging career, in roles such as:
- business analyst
- business development manager
- crime researcher and analyst
- crime prevention adviser
- corporate regulator
- crime trends analyst
- criminologist
- digital communications manager
- federal and state police officer (requires further training)
- project manager
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
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. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Business (M325) | |
| Bachelor of Criminology (A329) | |
| Diploma of Arabic (A221) | |
| Diploma of Arts (A215) | |
| Diploma of Business Studies (M201) | |
| Diploma of Chinese (A222) | |
| Diploma of Indonesian (A223) | |
| Diploma of Spanish (A224) |
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Criminology (A329) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Business(M325) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Evaluate, analyse and apply business theory and practice for real world business problems. |
| 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. | Communicate in a coherent manner using a variety of platforms for a range of purposes and 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. | Use a range of digitally based technologies to communicate and create solutions to business issues. |
| 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. | Evaluate information, exercise and express sound judgement, ideas and reflection in relation to a range of business issues. |
| 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. | Create solutions to a diverse range of authentic business challenges and problems. |
| 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. | Manage independent work and study, reflect on own performance, take personal responsibility for actions, and plan for future development needs. |
| 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. | Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. |
| 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. | Engage and apply business knowledge in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainability, ethical, economic and global perspectives. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2014
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Business you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Criminology
- 6 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of course electives (criminology units)
- 4 credit points of Arts electives
- a minimum of 4 credit points of art coded units at level 3
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Business
- 8 credit points of core units
- a major (8 credit points) from the list below
- a maximum of 12 credit points at level 1 across both courses
- a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 or above across both courses.
Course requirements for both Bachelor of Criminology (A329) and Bachelor of Business (M325) must be satisfied.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Bachelor of Criminology
Core Units
| ACR101 | Introducing Crime and Criminology |
| ACR102 | Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice |
| ACR201 | Issues in Criminal Justice |
| ACR202 | Explaining Crime |
| ACR301 | International and Comparative Criminal Justice |
| ACR302 | Criminology Research |
Plus at least six credit points from the list below:
| ACR203 | Crime, Victims and Justice |
| ACR204 | Crime, Media and Justice |
| ACR216 | Careers in Criminology and Criminal Justice |
| ACR211 | Crime Prevention and Security |
| ACR214 | Inequality, Power and Justice |
| ACR304 | Digital Criminology: Technologies of Crime and Control |
| ACR305 | Crime, Terrorism and Security |
| ACR314 | Organised Crime (replaces ACR306) |
| MAE266 | Black Market Economics: Exploring the Underworld of Illicit Trade |
ACR206 Criminology in Action [No longer available for enrolment]
ACR306 Careers in Criminal Justice [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ACR314]
Electives
Select from a range of elective units offered across many courses. In some cases, you may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).
It is important to note that some elective units may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.
Bachelor of Business
Core Units
Six credit points of Foundation units:
| MAA104 | Financial Literacy |
| MAE120 | Money, Growth and the Economy |
| MIS203 | Managing Information in the Digital Age |
| MMK101 | Marketing Fundamentals |
| MMM132 | Management |
| MMM267 | Business Logistics |
Plus two credit points of Personal Skills units:
| MMM111 | Managing Self and Others |
| MMM311 | Global Mindset and Citizenship |
Major sequences
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
All students in the Bachelor of Business are required to complete one major sequence chosen from the following:
- Business and Digital Communications
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Event Management
- Organisational Psychology
- People Management
- Project Management
- Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
- Retail and Supply Chain Management
- Sustainability and Development
Work experience
Both elements of the Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Business course have units that address aspects of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and the dynamic nature of work relevant to the course.
Criminology is an unusual discipline in that career internships are not practical given the dangerous work environments or security clearances associated with many criminal justice professions (e.g., police officers, intelligence analysts). Further, there are no accreditation requirements for graduates to work in these professions. Consequently, WIL units are structured to inform students with practical insights and advice regarding securing work within the many agencies comprising the criminal justice system and related professions. In addition, for the business component of this degree, MMM111 and MMM311 provide similar opportunities to provide practical guidance for preparation for work. Furthermore, each of the business majors includes a required WIL unit, including the choice of undertaking the internship unit: MWL318 Internship.
Consequently, these diverse units provide practical insights and experiences drawn from industry that contribute to employability by identifying opportunities related to the contemporary nature of work within these fields and offering internship possibilities.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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.