Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the fields of criminology and criminal justice, including an in-depth understanding of various theoretical frameworks underpinning the study of criminal behaviour, victimisation and criminal justice responses to crime and crime prevention.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will have:

• cognitive skills to engage in critical reflection on a broad range of theoretical concepts, synthesise knowledge from a broad range of disciplinary areas, apply knowledge to solve a range of criminal justice problems
• cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate an understanding of ongoing theoretical debates in criminology and criminal justice, to synthesise and analyse information and data from a range of criminal justice sources
• cognitive and creative skills needed to engage in independent analysis of disciplinary data to solve identified problems in criminal justice related areas
• communication skills needed to effectively disseminate knowledge in a clear and articulate fashion.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:

• with initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in criminal justice settings and academic contexts
• to apply knowledge and skills in a variety of professional and academic contexts
• to take responsibility and accountability for one’s own continued learning and professional development in collaboration with other professionals in a diverse range of professional contexts.

Griffith University’s Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, offered through Open Universities Australia, is a broad-based social science degree examining crime, the criminal justice system and related social issues. All the specialised knowledge and skills necessary for a career in the highly demanding criminal justice system are taught in this degree. This degree focuses on the causes of crime and society's response to crime. It will give you a well-rounded perspective on the various arms of the justice system and the relationships between them. You will graduate with a professional qualification in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Recommended study pattern

Students are recommended to follow this study pattern:

• Start with CCJ113 Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice then complete the rest of the Level 1 core subjects
• Complete Level 2 core subjects, CCJ Major & Electives
• Complete Level 3 core subjects, CCJ Major & Electives

Award requirements

The degree will normally be of three years duration for full-time students. Prior to 2016 part-time students may take up to 10 years to accumulate subjects towards the degree. However, students commencing from 2016 will have 8 years to accumulate subjects towards the degree.

To obtain this degree, students must complete 24 subjects and meet the following criteria:

• At least eight subjects must be Griffith University subjects, studied at second or third year level
• Completion of eight subjects at first year level in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Completion of five level 2 and 3 Criminology and Criminal Justice subjects
• Completion of eight subjects from the Criminal Justice Major
• At least six subjects in the degree must be at third-year level
• Completion of three elective subjects
• Students must not study more than 10 subjects at first year level

Choose your subjects

Electives

There are three elective subjects in this degree. These subjects can be studied at any level and are free-choice subjects. Students can study additional Criminology and Criminal Justice subjects if they wish.

Please note: Although these electives can be studied at any level, no more than 2 of your electives can be taken at the first year level.

Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.

This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.

• Level 1 Core Subjects

• Level 2 and 3 Core Subjects

• Major in Criminal Justice

Students who have completed more than 2 OUA subjects (GPA 4.0+) and are planning on completing the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged to enrol into a Commonwealth Supported Place if they are eligible.

Part of this process will involve registering your study plan with Griffith University, which will help to ensure that you are studying the required subjects. Once enroled in a CSP, the normal fee for registering your study plan with Griffith is waived. Additionally, there are several benefits for students enroled in the course, including the ability to join the Criminology Student Society (CSS) and participate in events, eligibility for the Criminology Undergraduate Research Internship Program (CURIP) and access for high achieving students to the Academic Excellence Society (ACES).

Students who are ineligible for CSP can register with Griffith University for this award by completing a registration for a study plan (Griffith OUA - Study Plan) by paying the required fee. The non-refundable $150 registration fee is payable when the registration is submitted.

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

Indicative total fee $49,500

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.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University.

Explore Griffith courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

• At least 2 OUA undergraduate subjects or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 4.0, completed in the last 12 months at the time of application for admission

An OP of 15, a Rank of 68 or an ATAR Score of 63.15*

*These scores/rankings apply to this program for 2020. Until this information is updated in 2021, applications will continue to be assessed using the requirements listed above as a guide.

More in-depth information regarding Griffith entry requirements can be found at the below website: The Selection Rank Profile

Students may be able to receive credit for previous studies conducted at other institutions. Please contact the Griffith (OUA) Services at Griffith prior to registering in any subjects through Open Universities Australia.

A prospective student who has previously completed or partially completed a degree, may be eligible for a CSP and may also be eligible for credit transfer. For more information, please visit the following website:

• Credit Transfer