Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Laws degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Criminology degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.
Gain a broad understanding of all major areas of the law while exploring the underlying drivers behind criminal behaviour. As a graduate of Deakin's Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws you will earn two in-demand degrees that complement each other and the dual expertise to see crime and law from a unique perspective.
Learn from leading academics who are experts in their field. Explore the latest concepts, ideas and approaches from inside the industry and benefit from networking with and learning from real-world connections.
A distinctive feature of Deakin's accredited Bachelor of Laws is its focus on practical learning. In addition to being guided through the latest theory and topical case studies by criminology and law academics who are true subject matter experts, you will also be challenged to apply your skills in real-world settings at the Deakin Law Clinic. Working on real cases, you will address criminal justice issues alongside industry professionals.
Want a significant career advantage with combined knowledge in law and criminology?
Study criminology and law and gain broad theoretical and applied knowledge and skills relevant to the forms, causes, meaning and prevention of crime. This directly relates to policy development and policing matters.
Through the combination of sound legal training with real-world experience and work-integrated learning, you will develop key skills, such as problem solving and analytical thinking, in studying all major areas of law, including:
contract law
tort law
property law
constitutional law
equity and trusts
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. Find out what drives criminal behaviour, and how to develop systems and programs to prevent it from happening.
Interested in studying through an international lens? Take advantage of our global study itinerary, which includes the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong and Vienna, and options to study one or more elective units at an overseas institution.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. 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 academic qualifications necessary for admission to the legal profession. In Victoria these have been set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to satisfying the academic qualifications, a person seeking admission to the legal profession in Victoria is required to have satisfactorily completed certain practical legal training requirements and must be considered a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession.
Requirements for admission in jurisdictions outside Australia vary. Please check the relevant jurisdiction’s legal admissions authority to confirm the required academic qualifications criteria, including any restrictions on online study or distance education.
Matched with criminology, you will 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. Upon completion of your degree and the additional practical legal training, you will be qualified to work as a solicitor or barrister in a variety of legal fields.
With criminology expertise, 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.
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.
Demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the fundamental areas of knowledge required for legal practice as situated within international contexts and the broader contexts within which legal issues arise.
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 legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.
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 locate, evaluate and disseminate information.
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 thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.
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.
Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal 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.
Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development.
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 effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others.
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.
Reflect on the ethical and professional behaviours and responsibilities of legal professionals and demonstrate an understanding of the impact that different social, ethical, global or environmental perspectives have on exercising legal practice in the community.
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 and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
Students may select 4 credit points of open 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.
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.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
