Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year

2020 course information

Award grantedBachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Laws
Course Map

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020.

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

Campus
Cloud CampusYes
Duration5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code060431B Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Deakin course codeD335
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.

Students enrolled in this combined course at Geelong will be required to undertake units of study at both Waurn Ponds (Geelong) and Waterfront (Geelong).

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws gives you a broad understanding of all major legal areas. You’ll explore 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.

Do you want to take the first step towards a rewarding legal or professional career?

By studying criminology and law, you’ll gain broad theoretical, applied knowledge and skills concerning the forms, causes, meaning and prevention of crime, directly correlating to policy development and policing matters.

Deakin’s accredited Bachelor of Laws integrates sound legal training with real-world experience, developing key skills in problem-solving, analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.

A distinctive feature of Deakin’s law program is its focus on experiential learning. The legal profession is highly commercialised and lawyers are increasingly required to provide clients with practical and commercial advice (in addition to pure legal advice). As credit towards your degree, you’ll undertake work-integrated learning placements.

All major areas of law are covered, including:
* contract
* torts
* property
* legal practice and ethics
* constitutional law
* criminal law and procedure
* administrative law.

In the criminology stream, study the relationship between criminal behaviour and sociology, the impact of mental health, education and substance abuse. Better understand what drives criminal behaviour, and how to develop systems and programs to prevent it from happening.

Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology is led by a team of academics who are experts in their field, so you’ll always be learning the latest concepts, ideas and approaches from inside the industry. Plus, you’ll benefit from networking with and learning from their real-world connections.

Our global study itinerary includes the Chinese Commercial Law Study Tour, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Tour to the United States, the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong and Vienna, and options to study one or more elective units (such as international human rights law) at an overseas institution.

 

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. The minimum expected workload for a Law unit will normally be around 150 hours, which includes attendance at class, reading, completion of any assessment, and preparation for the exam.

Professional recognition

Upon finishing your degree, you’ll have satisfied the university component of becoming an Australian lawyer set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).

In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, you’ll be required to work for one year as a legal trainee, or to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course.

Matched with criminology, you’ll have a broader understanding of the criminal justice system than most other graduates, making you a highly desirable candidate when entering the legal sector.

Career opportunities

As a graduate, you can choose to pursue a career as a lawyer, or take on business and management roles in a range of corporate and private organisations and government agencies.

Opportunities also exist within state and federal police, ASIO (Australia’s national security service) and various correctional services, community services and private security industries.

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.

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)

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

Please refer to the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of each of the single degrees.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws, students must attain a total of 40 credit points consisting of 16 credit points from the Faculty of Arts and Education and 24 credit points from the Faculty of Business and Law, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point unit, MAI010 Academic Integrity. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.  Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

Course structure

Units

The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Criminology (A329) include:

  • at least 12 credit points of ACR coded units (including the core units ACR101, ACR102, ACR201, ACR202, ACR301 and ACR302)
  • At least 6 credit points at level 3 including ACR301 and ACR302;
  • 4 credit points of elective units available from within the Bachelor of Arts major sequences. Please refer to A300 Bachelor of Arts for a list of Faculty of Arts and Education units.

The 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws (M312) include:

  • 18 credit points of core units
  • 6 credit points of law elective units^, including 1 credit point of an experiential unit from the WIL/Practical Elective Units list.

^Law electives are offered on a yearly rotational basis. Not every unit is offered every year

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point unit

To be completed in the first trimester of study:


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.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.