Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Cyber Security
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Cyber Security |
| Deakin course code | D380 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2017 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| 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 2025. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2025. 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 | 091788E 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
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Articulated courses
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
In our increasingly digital world, cyber security is a significant challenge for individuals and businesses alike. This course will equip you with an understanding of the major drivers of criminal behaviour, along with the industry-relevant skills to tackle what is quickly becoming a critical threat to society. You will gain expertise in securing data and data communications, as well as investigating and providing solutions to cybercrime.
Develop strong practical and theoretical knowledge, with an emphasis on assessing cyber security in a working environment, developing security solutions for businesses, and understanding the ethical and legal implications of risk management.
You will have access to specialised cyber security labs with state-of-the-art tools, putting you at the cutting edge of cyber security and criminology research.
Are you ready to join the fight against cybercrime?
Designed in conjunction with leading organisations in the field, including Victoria Police and the Australian Crime Commission, this combined course will equip you with in-demand industry skills valued by employers.
The unique partnership of criminology and cyber security provides you with a thorough understanding of the motivations, causes and consequences of crime, as well as the technical skills and cyber security literacy to help prevent and combat cybercrime and cyber terrorism.
Get practical learning with our careers-focused units, which allow you to bridge theory with practice and better understand how criminological thinking applies across industries and sectors.
You will have access to our brand-new specialised capstone project and co-working space, which offers you an inspiring environment to collaborate with your teammates. As part of your cyber security stream, you will undertake two capstone units – allowing you to develop solutions to real-world problems from industry and learn agile project management methods widely used across industry.
Our past students have collaborated on capstone projects such as:
- is my smart home secure enough?
- virtual penetration testing lab
- one-time pad (OTP) VPN
- voice-activated password security
- secure Australian online voting system.
Need more flexibility in your studies? Take advantage of our flexible learning options and find the right balance for you. You can choose to study part-time or full-time, on campus or 100% online. You can also take advantage of Deakin’s trimester system and fast-track your degree by completing your combined course in a shorter time frame.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Cyber Security part of this double degree is professionally accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
Career opportunities
Promising career opportunities await in the areas of both criminology and cyber security. As a graduate, you may find employment in areas such as government agencies, state and federal police, security and intelligence agencies, research and policy development, correctional services, community services, and private security and consultative industries. You will also be equipped for more technical roles such as security analyst, security systems manager, security system developer/programmer, anti-virus software developer or computer forensic specialist.
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.
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.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Criminology (A329) | |
| Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) |
Equipment requirements
The learning experiences and assessment activities within this course require students to have access to a range of technologies beyond a desktop computer or laptop. Students will be required to purchase minor equipment, such as small single board computers, microcontrollers and sensors, which will be used within a range of units in this course. This equipment is also usable by the student beyond their studies. Equipment requirements and details of suppliers will be provided on a per-unit basis. The indicative cost of this equipment for this course is AUD$500.
For information regarding hardware and software requirements, please refer to the 'Bring your own device (BYOD) guidelines' via the School of Information Technology website in addition to the individual unit outlines in the Handbook.
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400) | |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) (S470) |
Course learning outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Criminology (A329) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Develop a broad, coherent knowledge of the IT discipline including its dynamic environment, with detailed knowledge of project management principles and in depth knowledge in IT Security. Design, develop and implement IT systems and software, and associated policies and procedures for optimal use and apply industry standards and best practice in one or more specialised areas of IT. Acquire in-depth knowledge and skills to develop, implement and manage security solutions for systems, networks, and data according to industry-accepted standards and best practice. |
| 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 professional context to inform, explain and drive sustainable innovation through cyber security, utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse 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 digital technologies, platforms, frameworks and tools from the field of cyber security to generate, manage, process and share digital resources and solutions. |
| 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. | Critically analyse information provided to inform decision making and evaluation of plans and solutions associated with the field of cyber security. |
| 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 cognitive, technical, and creative skills from cyber security to understand requirements and design, implement, and operate solutions to real-world and ill-defined computing 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. | Work independently to apply knowledge and skills to new situations in professional practice and/or further learning in the field of cyber security with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner. |
| 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. | Work independently and collaboratively to achieve team goals, contributing knowledge and skills from cyber security to advance the teams objectives, employing effective teamwork practices and principles, and comprehending distinct workplace roles and their functions. |
| 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. | Apply professional and ethical standards and accountability in the field of cyber security, and engage openly and respectfully with diverse communities and cultures. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Cyber Security students must pass 32 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
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Criminology
- 6 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of criminology course electives
- 4 credit points of course electives from Arts courses
- a minimum of 6 credit points of art coded units at level 3
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Cyber Security
- SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 13 credit points of core units
- 3 credit points of Cyber Security capstone units
- A maximum of 12 credit points at level 1
- A minimum of 10 credit points at level 3
- course requirements for both Bachelor of Criminology (A329) and Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) must be satisfied
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
Bachelor of Criminology
Core Units
| ACR101 | Introducing Crime and Criminology (also offered in Trimester 3) |
| 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 |
| ACR206 | Criminology in Action |
| ACR211 | Crime Prevention and Security |
| ACR214 | Inequality, Power and Justice |
| ACR304 | Surveillance and Social Justice |
| ACR305 | Crime, Terrorism and Security |
| ACR306 | Careers in Criminal Justice |
| MAE266 | Black Market Economics: Exploring the Underworld of Illicit Trade |
Bachelor of Cyber Security studies
Core units
| SIT010 | Safety Induction Program (0) credit point |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability (0) credit point |
| SIT102 | Introduction to Programming |
| SIT111 | Computer Systems |
| SIT182 | Real World Practices for Cyber Security |
| SIT192 | Discrete Mathematics |
| SIT232 | Object-Oriented Development |
| SIT202 | Computer Networks and Communication |
| SIT223 | Professional Practice in Information Technology # |
| SIT218 | Secure Coding |
| SIT282 | Computer Forensics and Investigations |
| SIT324 | Malware Analysis |
| SIT327 | Network Forensics |
| SIT384 | Cyber Security Analytics |
| SIT379 | Ethical Hacking |
Cyber Security capstone
| SIT374 | Team Project (A) - Project Management and Practices |
Plus, two (2) credit points from the following capstone options:
| SIT378 | Team Project (B) - Execution and Delivery |
| SIT306 | IT Placements and Industry Experience |
OR
| SIT344 | Professional Practice |
# Corequisite of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
It is important to ensure your course plan meets the course rules detailed above. Students should contact Student Central for assistance with course planning, choosing the right units and understanding course rules.
Work experience
This course includes a compulsory work placement with an approved host organisation to take your learning beyond the classroom and prepare you to be work and career ready. Work Integrated Learning units offered in this course provide you with the opportunity to develop your professional networks and work practices while completing your degree.
Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
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.
- Contact Student Central
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
Fees and charges
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.