Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Criminology |
| Deakin course code | D335 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2017 to 2018 |
| Campus | For students who commenced prior to 2019 only |
| Duration | 5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS code | 060431B |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
The final intake for this course version was 2018. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
You’ll explore the meaning of crime and justice to graduate with a highly-regarded law degree from one of Victoria’s leading law schools. Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws brings together two independent degrees in an attractive five-year combined course.
Deakin Law School has been ranked among Victoria’s top three law schools by the prestigious QS World University Rankings (2017) and is the only School to hold a 5-star ranking. Our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is designed to produce first-class commercial lawyers and provides knowledge in each of the major areas of legal practice, with an emphasis on practical legal skills training.
Combining law with criminology means you’ll gain broad theoretical, applied knowledge and skills concerning the meaning of crime; the forms, causes and consequences of crime; the different institutions and processes involved in preventing and controlling crime; policy development, policing and security; and related fields.
Our Bachelor of Laws satisfies the university requirements to become an Australian Lawyer, as set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, you’ll be required to work as a legal trainee for one year, or to undertake a practical legal training course.
In the criminology stream you’ll learn about the various theoretical approaches that shape our understanding of crime in contemporary society. You’ll become familiar with the criminal justice system, crime prevention and security, criminal and civil law, the laws of evidence and crime prevention.
As a graduate you can choose to pursue a career as a lawyer, or to take on business and management roles in a range of corporate and private organisations and government agencies. Opportunities exist within state and federal police, ASIO (Australia’s national security service) and various correctional services, community services and private security industries.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, 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’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become an Australian Lawyer set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, a person seeking entry is required to work for one year as a legal trainee, or to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course.
Career opportunities
A Law degree, especially when combined with another degree, such as Arts, Commerce, Management, Criminology or Science, is a qualification that offers unequalled career opportunities. As an alternative to practising as a barrister or solicitor, you may enter many areas of work including business and management roles in a wide range of organisations, government services, and industrial relations. You may find a role in research, public administration, diplomatic service, the media, legal aid, law reform or teaching either in schools or universities.
For further information on career outcomes for this combined course, see the entries for Bachelor of Criminology and Bachelor of Laws.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain 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 Criminology (A329) | |
| Bachelor of Laws (M312) |
Course learning outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Criminology (A329) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Laws (M312) |
| 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. | Integrate theoretical knowledge and understanding of a coherent body of knowledge, including: (a) the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts, (b) the broader contexts within which legal issues arise, and (c) the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers’ roles |
| 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. | Justify and communicate well developed communication skills, including: a) communicate orally, in writing, and by any interpersonal means effectively, appropriately, and persuasively for both legal and non-legal audiences, and b) collaborate effectively, using technologies where the demonstration of autonomy, well developed judgement and responsibility takes place. |
| 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 technologies to identify, locate, evaluate information for problem solving scenarios as well as communicating legal solutions, including: a) identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues, effectively using technologies where appropriate. b) find, use, and disseminate information using technologies. c) the use of digital sources to organize and present information in authentic and complex legal situations |
| 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. | Exercise critical judgement with the ability to problem-solve in unpredictable and sometimes complex scenarios, including: (a) identifying and articulating legal issues, (b) applying legal reasoning and research to generate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues, (c) engaging in critical analysis and making a choice amongst alternatives using legal reasoning, and (d) thinking creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate legal responses. |
| 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 wide range of legal problems, utilizing analytical and critical thinking with the ability to problem-solve, including: (a) identifying and articulating legal issues, (b) applying legal reasoning and research to generate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues, (c) engaging in critical analysis and making a choice amongst alternatives using legal reasoning, and (d) thinking creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses |
| 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. | Reflect on performance feedback to demonstrate long term development and to facilitate self-improvement, including: (a) lifelong learning and working independently, (b) reflecting on and assessing capabilities and performance, and making use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development. (c) taking responsibility for personal actions. |
| 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. | Collaborate and communicate in teams, including: (a) communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences; and (b) collaborate effectively with others from different 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. | To be aware of and apply legal knowledge in different environments and global contexts, including: (a) an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making, (b) an ability to recognise and reflect upon with a developing ability to respond to ethical issues likely to arise in complex professional contexts, (c) an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community, (d) an ability to exercise professional judgement, (e) an ability to recognise and reflect upon cultural and community diversity. |
Approved by Faculty Board
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws students must pass 40 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
-
DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Criminology include:
-
12 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points of elective units from the Faculty of Arts and Education
The 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws (M312) include:
-
16 credit points of core units
- 8 credit points of course elective units
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University's vocabulary.
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point unit
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin [replaces AAI018]
Units
-
DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period [replaces AAI018]
The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Criminology (A329) include:
-
12 credit points of ACR coded units
- 4 credit points of elective units from the Faculty of Arts and Education
The 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws (M312) include:
-
16 credit points of core units
- 8 credit points of course elective units
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University's vocabular
Core units
Bachelor of Laws:
| MLL110 | Legal Research and Statutory Interpretation |
MLL111 Contract** [No longer available for enrolment, see note]
| MLP213 | Torts [previously coded MLL213] |
| MLP114 | Criminal Law [previously coded MLL214] |
| MLL215 | Commercial Law |
| MLP117 | Misleading Conduct and Economic Torts [previously coded MLL217] |
| MLP218 | Criminal Procedure [previously coded MLL218] |
| MLP323 | Constitutional Law [previously coded MLL323] |
| MLP331 | Corporate Law [previously coded MLL331/MLL221] |
| MLP327 | Property [previously coded MLL327] |
| MLP325 | Land Law [previously coded MLL325] |
| MLP235 | Legal Practice and Ethics [previously coded MLL235/MLL335] |
| MLP405 | Equity and Trusts [previously coded MLL405] |
| MLP334 | Evidence [previously coded MLL334] |
| MLP391 | Civil Procedure and Dispute Resolution [previously coded MLL391] |
| MLP424 | Administrative Law [Previously coded MLL324/MLL424] |
*** MLP119 and MLP219 replaced MLL111 Contract and MLL215 Commercial Law from T1 2022. MLL215 will remain as a core for students who commenced prior to T1 2022 and have completed MLL111 but not MLL215.
Bachelor of Criminology:
Level 1:
| ACR101 | Introducing Crime and Criminology |
| ACR102 | Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice |
Level 2 & 3:
| ACR201 | Issues in Criminal Justice |
| ACR202 | Explaining Crime |
| ACR301 | International and Comparative Criminal Justice |
| ACR302 | Criminology Research |
Plus at least 6 credit points from -
| ACR203 | Crime, Victims and Justice |
| ACR204 | Crime, Media and Justice |
| ACR211 | Crime Prevention and Security |
ACR210 Crime, Surveillance and Society^
ACR212 Crime, Surveillance and Technology^
ACR213 Crime, Terrorism and Security^
ACR303 Criminology Practicum^
^[No longer available for enrolment]
Course electives
Law course electives
Students must complete 8 Law course electives from the following list:
| MLL215 | Commercial Law |
| MLL225 | Personal Injuries Compensation Schemes |
| MLL228 | Alternative Dispute Resolution: Principles and Practice |
| MLL277 | International Law |
| MLC305 | Business Tax Law |
| MLL302 | Human Rights Law |
| MLL318 | Corporate Insolvency Law |
| MLL319 | Sentencing Law and Practice |
| MLL320 | Family Law |
| MLL329 | Financial Services Regulation |
| MLL330 | Health Law |
| MLL332 | International Arbitration |
| MLL336 | International Commercial Law |
| MLL338 | Legal Professional Practice |
| MLL339 | Corporate Governance and Sustainability |
| MLL342 | Workplace Law |
| MLL351 | Community Legal Internship |
| MLL362 | Succession Law |
| MLL364 | Animal Law |
| MLL394 | Migration and Refugee Law and Policy |
| MLT324 | Transnational Study Tour ^ |
| MLL406 | Taxation |
| MLL409 | Competition Law and Policy |
| MLL410 | Intellectual Property |
| MLL419 | Contemporary International Legal Challenges (Intensive) |
| MLL420 | Deakin Law Clinic |
| MLL425 | Environmental and Climate Law |
| MLL426 | Mining and Energy Law |
| MLL444 | Data Law, Privacy and Cybercrime |
| MLL460 | Mooting and Advocacy |
^MLT324 does not count as one of the WIL/Practical course elective units (listed above) required for the Bachelor of Laws.
Note:
Not all units will be offered every year.
The Law School might from time to time develop new units to strengthen the law elective list.
Criminology elective units:
Students are able to complete up to four credit points of study in any Faculty of Arts and Education unit.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.