Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology

During this program, students will learn:

1. Understand crime and its impacts: Analyse the causes of crime and evaluate its effects on individuals, communities and society.
2. Technology in crime management: Investigate how artificial intelligence, big data and digital technologies are reshaping policing, sentencing and criminal justice practice.
3. Compare global justice responses: Analyse how Australia and other countries respond to crime, and evaluate different approaches to justice and crime prevention.
4. Assess justice system responses: Examine how policing, corrections and youth justice systems respond to crime and support community safety.
5. Build professional communication skills: Develop the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with both professional and community audiences.

What is the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology?

Swinburne Online’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology explores what drives crime and its impact on individuals and communities.

You’ll examine how society responds to crime through policing, the courts, corrections, and victim support services. You’ll also explore crime and justice from both Australian and global perspectives, examining contemporary issues shaping the criminal justice sector and developing an understanding of the policies, practices and systems used to respond to crime.

The course also explores how technology, research and evidence-based approaches are influencing crime prevention, criminal investigations and justice outcomes.

Once you graduate, you’ll be able to pursue opportunities across the criminal justice sector, including law enforcement, corrections, offender rehabilitation, victim support services, and government policy.

Who is this course for?

• Future criminologists who want to understand the science behind crime and justice
• Career changers moving into law enforcement, corrections or government policy
• Analytical thinkers drawn to roles in intelligence, security, and crime prevention

How you’ll study

• The Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology runs across three Teaching Periods per year.
• Expected study load is between 8–10 hours per unit, per week.
• Set your own study pace by taking one or more units per Teaching Period.
• You’ll have 24/7 access to your online classroom, discussion boards, and learning content.
• Learning is delivered through interactive materials, including videos, quizzes, podcasts, diagrams, and written content.

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology you must complete 24 units in total made up of:

• 17 Core Units
• 7 Elective Units

Your learning will focus on technology and innovation within the criminal justice system. Your units will centre on understanding the different nuances of crime and how to adapt to new artificial intelligence technologies. For example, ‘Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime’ will introduce you to issues that emerge with sentencing as a result of artificial intelligence.

Studying criminology with Swinburne Online is a unique opportunity. Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to succeed come graduation.

Course Units

These are foundational units in major law study areas:

Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice (COM10011)

Fundamentals of Criminology (CRI10002)

Policing: Systems and Practice (CRI20001)

Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY10008)

Corrections: Systems and Practice (CRI30002)

Youth Justice and Crime (CRI30010)

Introduction to Forensic Psychology (FOR10001)

Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology (FOR30001)

Introduction to Law (LAW10021)

Law and Social Science (LAW10022)

Criminal Law and Process (LAW10024)

Crime, Deviance, and Conformity (CRI20003)

Crime and Punishment in the International Context (LAW20031 )

Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime (LAW20032)

Criminal Justice Capstone Project (LAW30025)

Youth Justice and Crime (CRI30010)

Victims, Justice and the Law (LAW20048)

Family Violence (LAW30031)

Electives

Electives are units that you choose to tailor your course to suit your strengths, interests and career goals. All students must complete 7 electives. See the Swinburne website for more details on our electives.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

• 17 core units of study (200 credit points)
• 7 units of other studies (up to 100 credit points) comprising of a co-major, minor/s or electives.

Students may not complete more than 125 credit points (normally 10 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $52,197

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

Learn more about Swinburne University of Technology

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

15

When applying for this bachelor’s, you are required to meet one of the following minimum entry requirements:

• A completed or partially completed tertiary qualification (e.g. relevant Certificate IVs, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, incomplete or complete Bachelor’s degree); or
• 4+ years of relevant work experience; or
• Recent Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent completion, with the required English study score.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case by case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.