Criminology

The Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) in Criminology is an advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level and is designed to augment students’ ability to apply innovative solutions to complex problems in Criminology and related fields. The Criminology Honours degree provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing into research higher degree at the Masters or PhD level, or improving the scope of employment options and professional advancement.

Through undertaking both coursework and a minor thesis, the Criminology Honours program enhances students’ ability to acquire advanced research and analytical skills and develop original ideas. Students may specialise in the discipline of Criminology (pure honours) or in two disciplines (combined honours) depending on specialisation.

For entry into the Ciminology honours students must have completed a major in Criminology with an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent. Students must have satisfied the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts (or equivalent) within the last five years.

On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will:

• have a rounded knowledge of criminological theory regarding the nature of crime and its control; and
• acquire skills in research procedures for the analysis of criminological issues, including the ability to plan and organise research; and
• gain an understanding of major elements of public policy debates relating to crime and its control, especially as these impact upon various parts of the criminal justice system; and
• develop an overview of the emerging alternatives posed for organising various aspects of the criminal justice system; and
• receive instruction and advice, and have experience, in writing a preparatory research thesis on a criminological topic.

Students undertaking pure honours in criminology must complete:

• A 15,000 word thesis: CRIM40007 Criminology Thesis (50 points);
• One Compulsory subject (12.5 points);
• One Core Methods subject (12.5 points);
• Two elective subjects or CRIM90006 Criminology and Sociology Internship (25 points)

Students undertaking combined honours in criminology and another program must complete:

• CRIM40007 Criminology Thesis (50 points);
• POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points);
• Coursework subjects in the combining discipline (37.5 points)

or

• Thesis in the combining discipline (50 points);
• Coursework subject from the combining discipline (12.5 points);
• CRIM40002 Qualitative Research Methods (12.5 points); and
• Two Criminology elective subjects or CRIM90006 Criminology and Sociology Internship (25 points)

Total 100 points

Compulsory subjects:

50 points for students in pure criminology honours. Combined honours students need to refer to the structure above.

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Core methods subject:

Elective subjects: