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Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ-DEG2025
Qualified criminology practitioners are in demand nationally
Examine crime and its causes, society’s response and related social issues. Qualify for a career in the demanding criminal justice system in policing, corrections, security, regulatory law enforcement, crime prevention and customs
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 17 Aug 2025,
- 16 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
About this degree
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.
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.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2025 Changes:
The following Subjects will be offered from 2024:
- CCJ115 Victims and Justice
- CCJ329 CCJ Clinic
- CCJ206 Qualitative Methods for Social Research
- CCJ301 Environmental Criminology
- CCJ332 Evidence-Based Policing, Policy and Practice
- CCJ331 First Nations and Justice
They will replace the following subjects, which will no longer be offered in 2025:
- CCJ109 Doing Criminology
- CCJ330 Applied Criminal Justice
- CCJ306 Punishment, Justice and Reform
- CCJ317 Youth Justice
- CCJ319 Race, Crime and Justice
Students that have completed CCJ109 Doing Criminology as part of their program structure, do not need to complete CCJ115 Victims and Justice, however if they wish to take this subject, it can be added as a free choice elective.
Students that have completed CCJ330 Applied Criminal Justice, do not need to complete CCJ329 CCJ Clinic, however if they wish to take this subject, it can be added as part of their Criminal Justice major or a free choice elective.
Students that have completed CCJ306 Punishment Justice and Reform, CCJ317 Youth Justice and CCJ319 Race, Crime and Justice can include these subjects towards the Criminal Justice major.
2024 Changes:
The following Subjects will be offered from 2024:
- CCJ102 Developing Professionally 1
- CCJ201 Developing Professionally 2
- CCJ205 Understanding Prevention
- CCJ334 Understanding Domestic and Family Violence
They will replace the following, which will no longer be offered in 2024:
- CCJ101 Criminology Skills
- CCJ217 Forensic Science & Criminal Justice
- CCJ218 White Collar Crime
- CCJ307 Developing Professionally
- CCJ318 Crime Analysis and Investigation
Students that have completed the above subjects will have them counted towards the completion of their degrees.
Students that have completed CCJ101, as part of their program structure, do not need to complete CCJ102, however if they wish to take this subject it can be added as a free choice elective.
Students that have completed CCJ307 Developing Professionally, cannot complete CCJ201 Developing Professionally 2 as these subjects are equivalent.
For program advice contact oua.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,500
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
Entry requirements
- 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:
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is a professional qualification. It equips students with the knowledge and skills required to gain employment in the criminal justice system.
Graduates of this degree will have the skills and knowledge required for employment in criminal justice areas such as policing, corrections, justice, security, regulatory law enforcement, crime prevention and customs in both private enterprise and government departments.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Officers | $75K to $93K | N/A^ |
| Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
| Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
| Prison Officers | $93K to $120K | Up 27.7% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.