Bachelor of Criminology and Justice

At the end of the program, students of the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice can:

1. Apply broad discipline knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical criminology and justice issues.
2. Think critically to identify, conceptualise and analyse complex criminology issues.
3. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in criminological situations.
4. Use digital technologies to access, evaluate and synthesise criminological information.
5. Communicate knowledge of criminology and justice ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
6. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
7. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values in criminology and justice.
8. Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for own learning in scholarship and professional practice.

Crime and criminal behaviour are topics that fascinate many of us.

Why people commit crime, how society should respond to crime and how can we prevent and minimise the harms associated with criminal behaviour are some of the issues you’ll consider when you study criminology and justice at ECU.

Your studies will encompass the whole system – from how laws are made, through to how police, courts and corrections deal with people who break these laws. You’ll also examine the concept of justice, and what it means to different groups of people in the criminal justice system, and to society more broadly.

Importantly, we start to prepare you for employment as soon as you start. This preparation culminates in amazing opportunities such as workplace practicums, involvement in industry-based projects and work integrated learning via our own Criminal Justice Review Project.

Our goal is to ensure that you’re exposed to cutting-edge content and opportunities to help you decide how and where you want to contribute to the world of criminal justice.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• The Criminal Justice Process
• Criminology
• The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour
• Research Methods I.

Plus there’s a selection of majors, minors and electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

Students are required to complete 360 credit points.

Choose your subjects

Majors

Students are required to complete 11 Core units. This will be supported by a supplementary program comprising: an 8-unit major plus 3 elective units and either a capstone unit or 2 practicum units. Alternatively, students may complete any 12 unit major in the School of Arts and Humanities from discipline areas such as Social Science, Youth Work, Psychology, Arts, Addiction Studies, Management or Security studies or any other combination of majors, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other schools where available. Note: Students are required to complete no less than 6 units at Level 3000.

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

Indicative total fee $51,000

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.

ECU is ranked one of the world’s best young universities and Australia’s best public university for teaching quality. That quality extends to more than 30,000 students, many studying online through Open Universities Australia. ECU offers the same quality of teaching to you, regardless of where you’re studying in the world. Their flexible study solutions include a huge range of online courses, recognising your need to juggle work, family or other commitments.

Learn more about ECU.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

29

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

One or more of the majors in this course has admission requirements.

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• AQF Cert IV;
• Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Undergraduate Certificate;
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;
• For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

Alternatively, applicants can apply with the indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published.

Alternatively, applicants can apply via Experience Based Entry Scheme, subject to eligibility.

Students can satisfy English competency requirements by showing any of the following: 

• Results of Year 12 English ATAR or English Literature ATAR with a grade C or better or equivalent. 
• Results of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test to ECU’s standards. 
• An IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0). 
• Completion of 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada. 
• Completion of an ECU University Preparation Course, Indigenous University Orientation Course, or Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment. 
• Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree as described by the Australia Qualifications Framework. 
• Completion of 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or 
• Completion of other tests, courses or programs as accepted by ECU.

If you have completed units of study at University, undertaken a Diploma qualification or higher, or have relevant professional experience, you may be eligible for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning (CRPL).

To assess your eligibility for credit, we first need you to apply for and accept an offer in your course of interest with us. You can then submit an Application for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning via your Student Portal.

Students are required to undertake WIL in their final semester of study. Students must select one of two WIL opportunities: a practicum placement or a capstone project. The practicum placement is by application and approval only and requires students to complete a minimum of 270 hours in a relevant criminal justice agency. The capstone project is run on-campus and requires students to work in small groups on an real life industry-based project.