CourseBachelor DegreeBCrim

A2008 Bachelor of Criminology

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor of Criminology (A2008) is a 3 years full-time, 144-credit-point, bachelor degree course from the Faculty of Arts, taught at Clayton. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points: 144
Duration: 3 years full time; 6 years part time
Campus: Clayton; On campus
Guaranteed ATAR: 70

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Requisite map

Overview

Criminology is the study of crime and social control. Crime, how we define it, how we understand its causes, and the ways we respond to it provides a window into a society’s challenges, values and aspirations. You will consider the local, national and global aspects of crime and justice and become familiar with a range of lenses for understanding and assessing the efficiency and impact of society’s changing understandings and responses. You will gain an understanding of victimisation and perpetration, inequality and its impacts, and approaches to understanding crime and difference and learn about crime committed by individuals, groups, organisations and states and the mechanisms of the criminal justice system including police, courts and corrections.

You will engage with research and policy leaders in crime and justice and experience criminal justice in action in a range of international, national and local contexts. The course challenges you to apply abstract knowledge to real-world problems of crime and justice and develop solutions. You will be equipped to identify credible evidence, to understand how to measure and analyse the impact of policy, and to develop informed, independent thinking skills.

This course equips you with industry-relevant specialist skills to prepare for working and living in a world of constant technological, environmental, political and population change. These skills include the capacity to critically evaluate evidence, develop and support arguments, conduct research using a variety of methodological approaches, advanced oral and written communication and an understanding of the possibilities and challenges of reform.

You will also have the opportunity to enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE). For more information on eligibility please see FREE.

Course structure

Rules

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Criminology you must complete 144 credit points as specified in the course requirements, including:

- a maximum of 60 credit points at Level 1 and,
-a minimum of 36 credit points at Level 3, of which at least 24 credit points must be from criminology.

Part A. Core studies66 credit points

You must complete the following units:

Note: You can only complete one of ATS2456 or ATS2469.

Part B. Specified elective studies30 credit points

You must complete either option 1 or 2 below (30 credit points).

Option 1: 12 credit points at Level 1 in any Arts discipline and 18 credit points from the following elective units, including 6 credit points at Level 3; or

Option 2: 30 credit points from the following elective units, including 6 credit points at Level 3.

Elective list

Part C. Free elective studies48 credit points

You must complete 48 credit points of free elective study.

Units from Part B. Specified elective studies are recommended as they enable you to further your knowledge of criminology more broadly. Free elective units may be chosen from the faculty or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. The units may be at any level ensuring that the course rules are satisfied for the Bachelor of Criminology.

You can enrich your degree by using some of your free electives to take a study tour, field trip or exchange opportunity. You can also use this space to hone your academic and professional skills with an internship or a range of practical units. See Arts enrichment and Intercultural studies list of units to discover the breadth of options available.

The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

If you are enrolled in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree are credited as electives towards the criminology degree.

The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Core studies, Part B. Specified elective studies and Part C. Free elective studies.

Part A. Core studies

The core studies develop across the following themes that combine to underpin criminology studies.

Expert Knowledge

These studies will provide you with an understanding of crime as a complex phenomenon, its social, economic and political impact, and the advantages and limitations associated with different strategies to address it. You will gain an advanced understanding and develop critical thinking skills to reflect on important social issues such as inequality, vulnerability, and risk that have significant implications for the way we think about and deliver responses to crime, social justice, and security both in Australia and internationally.

Global reach and focus

You will learn about national and international criminal threats and develop the capacity to think critically about the role of states in creating crime and social harm. From a comparative standpoint, you will study the ways that crime manifests in different jurisdictions and how different societies define, govern and respond to crime. You will gain practical and theoretical knowledge.

Collaboration and innovation

You will develop a suite of transferable professional skills to respond effectively to pressing criminal concerns. You will learn the skills to engage necessary stakeholders to allow them to effectively formulate, influence and evaluate crime and justice policies and practices in a variety of professional contexts. You will develop a critical understanding and develop advanced communication skills for collaborative problem solving and be competent in working in teams to address the problem of crime.

Part B. Specified elective studies

Through these studies you will have the opportunity to expand and consolidate your knowledge and understanding of crime. You may choose units from one particular area or across a broad range of areas to tailor your degree.

Part C. Free elective studies

Free elective units enable you to further your knowledge of criminology more broadly, or to select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol. If you are in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree can also be credited as electives towards the criminology specialist degree. You can also use your free electives for study tours, field trips, internships, exchange opportunities or explore the Arts enrichment and Intercultural studies for other available options.

Masters Accelerated Pathway

If you satisfy the below requirements, you may be invited to join the master's accelerated pathway program:

have achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65%; and
have completed a minimum of 96 credit points in your bachelor degree.

Please note that you should also have a minimum of 24 credit points of free electives available.

On joining the accelerated pathway your 24 credit points of free elective units will be replaced with specified units from your destination master's degree. As long as you attain a minimum WAM of 60% at the end of your bachelor studies, you will be eligible to continue your chosen master's studies the following year.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 credit points, structured in three parts: Part A Core studies (66 credit points), Part B. Specified elective studies (30 credit points) and Part C. Free elective studies (48 credit points).

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Criminology you must complete 144 credit points as specified in the course requirements, including:

a maximum of 60 credit points at Level 1 and,
a minimum of 36 credit points at Level 3, of which at least 24 credit points must be from criminology.

Part A. Core studies (66 credit points)

You must complete the following units:

Note: You can only complete one of ATS2456 or ATS2469.

ATS1420 The global crime problem
ATS1421 Understanding crime
ATS1422 Crime prevention and crime control
ATS1423 Criminal justice in practice
ATS2555 Foundations in researching crime and justice
ATS2469 Victims, justice and the law
ATS2456 Cybercrime and cybersecurity
ATS2552 Crime and justice policy
ATS2553 Indigenous justice in Australia
ATS3255 Developing professional skills: Data collection and evidence-based practice
ATS3256 Being a Criminologist: Research and professional practice
ATS3466 Sex, gender and crime

Part B. Specified elective studies (30 credit points)

You must complete either option 1 or 2 below (30 credit points).

Option 1: 12 credit points at Level 1 in any Arts discipline and 18 credit points from the following elective units, including 6 credit points at Level 3.

Option 2: 30 credit points from the following elective units, including 6 credit points at Level 3.

Elective list

ATS1058 Deconstructing homicide
ATS2056 Crime and inequality
ATS2326 Youth social change and justice
ATS2456 Cybercrime and cybersecurity
ATS2457 Crime, media and culture
ATS2458 Policing
ATS2469 Victims, justice and the law
ATS3081 Investigation and intelligence
ATS3082 Hate crime: Theories, contexts and responses
ATS3084 Justice in practice: Interdisciplinary approaches to criminology and criminal law
ATS3106 Developing criminal justice policy
ATS3161 Prisons and punishment
ATS3187 Artificial Intelligence and algorithmic decision-making in the criminal justice system
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3223 Gender and family violence
ATS3224 Gender, family violence and criminal justice system responses
ATS3866 Crimes of the powerful
ATS3942 Crime and the city
ATS3004 Crime, risk and security

Part C. Free elective studies (48 credit points)

You must complete 48 credit points of free elective study.

Units from Part B. Specified elective studies are recommended as they enable you to further your knowledge of criminology more broadly. Free elective units may be chosen from the faculty or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. The units may be at any level ensuring that the course rules are satisfied for the Bachelor of Criminology.

You can enrich your degree by using some of your free electives to take a study tour, field trip or exchange opportunity. You can also use this space to hone your academic and professional skills with an internship or a range of practical units. See Arts enrichment and Intercultural studies list of units to discover the breadth of options available.

The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

If you are enrolled in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree are credited as electives towards the criminology degree.

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1
identify, define and describe key global challenges to crime and responses to it;
2
apply knowledge of contemporary criminological concerns to understand and examine crime and responses to it at the local, national and international level;
3
work independently and as part of a team to compare and contrast a number of approaches to crime across different cultural, historical and geographical settings;
4
demonstrate sophisticated knowledge of models of engaging government and wider society to improve responses to crime and criminality;
5
apply skills to construct and communicate effectively, a variety of socially just responses to crime to different audiences.

Entry requirements

Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank

70; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band Band 2 (75-77.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 2 (Credit)

Other applicants

VET Diploma graduates: To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 60%. Applicants who have not completed VCE but have completed a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 70% Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.

VET Certificate IV graduates: To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based Cert IV will require an average result of at least 80%.
Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements. No credit is granted for these studies.

University: To be considered on the basis of tertiary study alone, applicants who have completed VCE or equivalent will be required to complete the equivalent of one year (48 credit points) of a recognised university degree and will require an average result of at least 60% (including failed units). For applicants who have completed less than the equivalent of one year of study, both the senior secondary qualification results and the units completed will be considered.

For applicants who do not have any formal qualifications completion of two single units at an Australian higher education or equivalent overseas educational institution satisfy minimum entry requirements, but four units are recommended to be competitive for selection, especially in Humanities or Social Science areas. Applicants should have at least a 60% average in their studies (including failed units). Studies must have been completed within five years of intended commencement.

English language

Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

Pathways

Monash Transition Program

Monash College - Diploma of Arts

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a masters course. You must have completed all the requirements for your undergraduate degree with a 60% average

Notes for students

You can enrich your degree to hone your academic and professional skills with a range of Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE). These flagship rich educational experience units may be credited utilising your free electives, or alternatively in place of your discipline specific electives (up to 6 credit points) if approved by the faculty. There are both 6 and 12 credit point unit options available.*

For information on eligibility please see FREE.

*If you are enrolled in a double degree it may be possible to utilise credit from one or both of your degrees to do a 6 and/or 12 credit point flagship rich educational experience. For information on eligible double degree combinations please see FREE.

Other information

Criminology is the study of crime and social control. Crime, how we define it, how we understand its causes, and the ways we respond to it provides a window into a society’s challenges, values and aspirations. You will consider the local, national and global aspects of crime and justice and become familiar with a range of lenses for understanding and assessing the efficiency and impact of society’s changing understandings and responses. You will gain an understanding of victimisation and perpetration, inequality and its impacts, and approaches to understanding crime and difference. You will learn about crime committed by individuals, groups, organisations and states and the mechanisms of the criminal justice system including police, courts and corrections.

You will engage with research and policy leaders in crime and justice and experience criminal justice in action in a range of international, national and local contexts. The course challenges you to apply abstract knowledge to real-world problems of crime and justice and develop solutions. You will be equipped to identify credible evidence, to understand how to measure and analyse the impact of policy, and to develop informed, independent thinking skills.

This course equips you with industry-relevant specialist skills to prepare for working and living in a world of constant technological, environmental, political and population change. These skills include the capacity to critically evaluate evidence, develop and support arguments, conduct research using a variety of methodological approaches, advanced oral and written communication and an understanding of the possibilities and challenges of reform.

Contacts

Academic Coordinator: Dr Megan McElhone

Common questions

How long is Bachelor of Criminology?

3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.

What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Criminology?

The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2027 entry is 70.

Where can I study Bachelor of Criminology?

At Clayton.

How do I plan my Bachelor of Criminology units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification: Bachelor Degree
AQF level: Level 7
Credit points: 144
Full time: 3 Years
Part time: 6 Years
Maximum time: 8 years

Faculty: Faculty of Arts
CRICOS code: 096756F
Abbreviation: BCrim
Award title: Bachelor of Criminology
Handbook years: 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 20262027