Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology

Graduates will be equipped to work in a range of government, non-government and private employment, including:

• Department of Defence
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Law Enforcement and Police
• Australian Border Force
• International/Regional organizations
• Think tanks and policy advising.
• Media
• International Non-Government Organisations

Higher education

AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent

English Proficiency Requirements

The required standard of English for this program is:

Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.

All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. 

For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.

You may be eligible for credit against individual units in your course at Macquarie if you have additional postgraduate-level study or qualifications beyond those required for admission.

For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.

In studying this course you will develop an understanding of the different dimensions of security issues and criminology. All units are provided through the Department of Security Studies and Criminology and focus on synthesising the latest developments in security studies and criminology. These units of study will provide you an in-depth understanding of theoretical and practical issues at a global, regional and national level.

Recommended Study Pattern

Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology students must:

• Complete the compulsory requirements as indicated in the degree structure at the time of admission

Please note: It is NOT recommended to enrol in more than 2 subjects per Session.

A student who is taking an unduly long time to complete a program of study may be excluded from further enrolment. An unduly long period of time is considered to be effective enrolment longer than 4 years for Graduate Certificate.

Essential units: 10 credit points

• PICX8012 Critical Thought and Research Design

Elective units

Option set 1: 20 credit points from:

• PICX8013 History of Intelligence
• PICX8020 Advanced Terrorism Studies
• PICX8043 International Terrorism
• PICX8045 Intelligence: Theory and Practice
• PICX8060 Geopolitics and Geostrategy
• PICX8061 Transnational Security
• PICX8080 Cyber Conflict, Cyber Espionage and CyberTerrorism

Option set 2: 10 credit points from:

• PICX8040 Cyber Crime and Cyber Policing
• PICX8062 The Crimes of the Powerful
• PICX8088 Advanced Criminology Theory

Total credit points required: 40

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology students must complete four subjects. The subjects should include the compulsory subjects as indicated in the degree structure.

On completion of admission you are bound by the University Terms and Conditions and must comply with present and future By-laws, Rules, Codes, and Policies, Procedures and Schedulesof Macquarie University

Students who did not commence their program in the current year are required to follow the program structure provided to them at the time of admission.

Please note:

Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.

 https://students.mq.edu.au/study/faculties/open-universities-australia/degree-information.

Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

Changes in 2020

In 2020 the Macquarie subject codes have changed. All subjects previously studied under the old subject code will be recognised as equivalent.

• The structure for this degree has changed.