Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Psychological Science
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	Yes
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	079572M Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course code	D390
Approval status	This 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.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Develop a new understanding of crime in Deakin’s Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science, as you explore the social justice and rehabilitation themes that intertwine with why crime occurs.

Not only will you be able to study two of your interests, you will graduate with two sought-after degrees and a wealth of study and career options.

The psychological science stream of the course is professionally accredited, meaning you can graduate and enter the workforce with excellent job opportunities, or continue your studies with further training to gain general registration as a psychologist.

Everything you learn, from forensic psychology techniques to a deep understanding of criminal justice, is enhanced by practical learning. You will even get the chance to undertake a psychology placement in your final year. Apply your skills in a real-world setting and get a taste for your future role under the guidance of industry professionals.

Do you want to understand the true reasons why crime occurs – and how to address it with empathy?

If you are interested in the many areas where psychology and criminology overlap, this is the degree for you. Whether it is crime prevention or the subsequent justice and rehabilitation of offenders, you will develop knowledge and an understanding of the ‘why’ behind psychological science. This will put you in high demand when starting your career.

By studying the two disciplines simultaneously, you will 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.

The psychological science component of this combined course recognises the importance of, and interrelationships between, a range of human factors you will encounter in your future career. You will explore diverse areas of psychology, including behavioural neuroscience, cognitive psychology, forensic psychology and psychopathology, and be able to use this knowledge when analysing the causes and consequences of crime.

In this combined course, you will have the opportunity to complete two careers-focused units, which bring your new profession to the classroom (including online) with practitioner-driven seminars, activities bridging theory and practice, and the development of an e-portfolio that can be used for employment or career development.

Additionally, you will get the chance to build real-world experience by electing to undertake the Psychology at Work (Internship) unit in your final year of study, giving you 140-hours of practical psychology industry placement, strengthening your employment prospects.

Professional recognition

All of the psychology courses offered at Deakin meet the requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) translating into excellent job and career opportunities for our graduates. Upon graduation of this degree, you’ll have gained a three-year undergraduate psychology sequence that is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and recognised for registration purposes by the PBA, enabling you to undertake additional study in pursuit of provisional registration.

Career opportunities

Promising career opportunities await in the areas of criminology and psychology. 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
private security and consultative industries.

Students wanting to take the next step towards becoming a psychologist must apply for an honours year (e.g. Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or Graduate Diploma of Psychology). Once completed, you will be able to gain provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).

If you are ready to take your psychology career further, the option to gain general registration as a psychologist is available by undertaking a masters or doctorate qualification in psychology.

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 Psychological Science (H344)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and 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.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

See course entry for Bachelor of Criminology (A329) or Bachelor of Psychological Science (H344)

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science students must complete 32 credit points. Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Psychological Science (H344) and Bachelor of Criminology (A329) must be satisfied.^

16 credit points of Arts course grouped units and 16 credit points of Health course grouped units

^No more than 10 credit points at level 1

Psychological Science

4 credit points of Foundations of Psychology (HPS104, HPS105, HPS111, HPS121)

8 credit points of Psychology Essentials (HPS201, HPS202, HPS203, HPS204, HPS301, HPS307, HPS308, HPS310)

4 credit points of Psychology in Practice (HBS110, HPS206, HPY210, HPY306)

Criminology

6 credit points of Criminology core units (ACR101, ACR102, ACR201, ACR202, ACR301 and ACR302)

At least 6 credit points of Criminology course electives (ACR coded units) taken at level 2 or above

At least 4 credit points at level 3 including ACR301 and ACR302

Up to 4 credit points of electives chosen from Arts course grouped units.

AAI018 Academic Integrity (0 credit point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Core units

Note: Many of the HPS coded units are also offered in Trimester 3, offering students the opportunity to accelerate their studies.

Criminology core units

ACR101

Introducing Crime and Criminology

ACR102

Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice

ACR201

Issues in Criminal Justice

ACR202

Criminology Theory

ACR301

International and Comparative Criminal Justice

ACR302

Criminology Research

Psychological Science core units

HPS105

Foundations of Psychological Practice

HBS110

Health Psychology (Behaviour Change)

HPS104

Foundations of Psychological Science

HPS111

Introduction to Psychology: Human Behaviour

HPS121

Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development

HPS201

Psychology Research Methods (Introductory)

HPS202

Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent)

HPS203

Cognitive Psychology

HPS204

Social Psychology

HPS206

Forensic Psychology (this is a core only for the D390 course in the list)

HPS301

Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate)

HPS307

Personality Psychology

HPS308

Psychopathology

HPS310

Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour)

HPY210

Applied Counselling Skills (Introductory)

HPY306

Applied Counselling Skills (Intermediate)

Course Electives

Criminology

ACR203

Crime, Victims and Justice

ACR204

Crime, Media and Justice

ACR206

Criminology in Action

ACR214

Inequality, Power and Justice

ACR215

Contemporary Perspectives in Criminology

ACR304

Surveillance and Social Justice

ACR305

Crime, Terrorism and Security

ACR306

Careers in Criminal Justice

ACR211 Crime Prevention and Security [No longer available for enrolment]

ACR212 Crime, Surveillance and Technology [No longer available for enrolment]

The remaining Arts course grouped electives can be found within the Bachelor of Arts.

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

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.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.