A2014 Bachelor of Criminology and Policing

The course develops through five themes that combine to underpin criminology studies: Part A. Expert knowledge, Part B. Global reach and focus, Part C. Collaboration and innovation, Part D. Free electives and Part E. Policing studies.

Part A. Expert knowledge

This will provide you with a foundational 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. Students 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.

Part B. Global reach and focus

This will enable you to develop an understanding of crime as a truly global phenomenon. 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, students will study the ways that crime manifests in different jurisdictions and how different societies define, govern and respond to crime. Students will gain practical and theoretical knowledge. 

Part C. Collaboration and Innovation

You will develop a suite of transferable professional skills to respond effectively to pressing criminal concerns. Students 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 D: Free elective study

Free elective units enable students to further their knowledge of criminology and policing more broadly, or to select units from across the University in which they are eligible to enrol. For students in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree can also be credited as electives towards the criminology specialist degree.

Part E. Policing studies 

You will have the opportunity to apply to join the Police force and continue your studies in a practical way, gaining real world experiences. Please refer to ‘Special Requirements’. If you are successful in gaining entry to the Police Academy, you will complete two Monash Professional projects in policing units online whilst completing a Diploma of Policing at the Police Academy in your third year.

Course progression map

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

The course comprises 144 points structured in five parts: Part A. Expert knowledge, Part B. Global reach and focus and Part C. Collaboration and Innovation (66 points), Part D. Free electives (30 points) and Part E. Policing studies (48 points)  

Elective units may be at any level, however, no more than ten units (60 points) can be credited to the criminology and policing course at level 1 and a minimum of 36 points must be completed at level 3, of which four units must be from criminology and policing.

Part A. Expert knowledge, Part B. Global reach and focus and Part C. Collaboration and Innovation (72 points)

Core units (66 points)

 You must complete the following units:

• ATS1420 The global crime problem
• ATS1421 The complexity of crime
• ATS1422 Crime prevention and crime control
• ATS1423 Punishment, court and corrections
• ATS2458 Policing
• ATS2469 Victims, justice and the law
• ATS2552 Crime and justice policy
• ATS2553 Indigenous justice in Australia
• ATS2555 Foundations in researching crime and justice
• ATS3255 Developing professional skills: Data collection and evidence-based practice
• ATS3466 Sex, gender and crime

Part D. Free electives (30 points)

You must complete 30 credit points of free elective study. Elective units may be chosen from the criminology electives list, across the faculty or University as long as students have met the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. 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. 

Recommended criminology electives

• ATS2056 Crime and inequality

• ATS2278 Drugs, harm and crime
• ATS2456 Cybercrime
• ATS2457 Crime, media and culture
• ATS2847 Youth, crime and justice
• ATS3222 Developing research literacy
• ATS3223 Gender, family and violence
• ATS3224 Gender, family violence and criminal justice system responses
• ATS3256 Being a Criminologist: Research and professional practice
• ATS3462 International crime and justice
• ATS3866 Crimes of the powerful
• ATS3942 Crime and the city
• ATS3004 Crime, risk and security

Study Tours

• ATS2465/ATS3465 Human rights in the criminal justice sphere
• ATS3210 Study tour: Crime and criminal justice in Asia
• ATS3464 Study: Comparative criminology USA

Part E. Policing Studies (48 points)

a. You must complete the following units (24 points):

• ATS3941 Professional project in policing 1 (12pts)*
• ATS3945 Professional project in policing 2 (12pts)*

* Studied online whilst at the Police Academy.

b. Partner institution (24 points)

Successful applicants will complete the Diploma of Policing at the partner institution in the third year of study and will receive 24 points of credit for pre-approved units towards the Bachelor of Criminology and Policing.