Criminal psychology courses
Help me choose a courseIntroduction to Criminal psychology
Criminal psychology is the study of understanding what makes people act in antisocial ways. Studying criminal psychology online will give you the skills and knowledge to apply key psychological principles to criminals and their actions.
As well as giving insight into offenders and how they think, criminal psychology courses explore the impacts of criminal behaviour. You’ll get to learn about the theory and key principles of criminology, criminal justice studies and related law, and the sociological impacts on victims, offenders and their communities.
Explore online criminal psychology courses offered by leading universities to see the range of options available to you, whether you want to extend your existing knowledge by taking individual subjects, or work towards a full qualification. Our helpful team of student advisors can offer their advice on course entry requirements, flexible study arrangements and more.
Explore criminal psychology coursesDiscover criminal psychology courses
Online criminal psychology subjects and short courses
Postgraduate
CUR-PSB560100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 27 May 2024, 25 Nov 2024
Undergraduate
USA-JUST3007100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
Postgraduate
CUR-PSB540100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 26 Aug 2024
Online criminal psychology degrees
Undergraduate
ECU-PCJ-DEGPrepare for a fascinating career in the criminal justice system
Learn how to use psychology to understand criminal behaviour. Explore the theories of criminology and get to know the major institutions of criminal justice in Australia. Graduate ready for meaningful roles in justice, police, and human services.
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Undergraduate
USA-PSY-DEGChoose a career with a human touch
Explore the ways people act, think, react and relate to others. Examine cause and affects in behaviour and reveal human health consequences. Examine social policy and counsel communities. Choose to specialise in criminal justice or ageing and disability.
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Postgraduate
GRF-FMH-GCEBecome a recognised forensic mental health specialist
Gain a broad knowledge of forensic mental health and its overlap with the criminal justice system and mental health services. For psychologists, social workers, nurses and psychiatrists to be able to practice at an advanced level.
100% online
6 months full time or part time equivalent
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Criminal psychology study FAQs
A criminal psychology course is the study of criminals and behaviour, to understand what makes people think about, plan and commit crimes. It can also extend to studying the broader systems and individuals that impact or are impacted by crime. This includes looking at the legal and justice systems, sociological drivers and impacts of crime, and the experiences of victims as well as criminals.
Through Open Universities Australia, you can either upskill by enrolling in standalone criminal psychology subjects, or complete a full qualification.
You can apply your knowledge of criminal psychology in a variety of legal and justice roles, whereas forensic psychology is a formal field of psychology that requires a significant amount of study. To become a registered forensic psychologist, you first need to become a certified psychologist and then seek endorsement in the field of forensic psychology from the Psychology Board of Australia.
Through Open Universities Australia, you can access courses offered across criminal psychology, forensic mental health and psychology.
What you learn in a criminal psychology course depends on the specific course, but will generally cover one or more aspects of criminology—what makes people commit antisocial acts, the psychological drivers and impacts of criminal acts, and the broader systems that interact with crime in society.
Individual criminal psychology subjects will generally focus on one aspect of this wide and complex field, while a degree offers a more generalist and holistic skill set.
It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:
Course Duration Single subject 10-18 weeks Short course 10-18 weeks Undergraduate certificate 6 months (if full time) Diploma 1 year (if full time) Associate degree 2 years (if full time) Bachelor degree 3 years (if full time) Graduate certificate 6 months (if full time) Graduate diploma 1 year (if full time) Masters degree 2 years (if full time) If you study a degree in criminal psychology through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.
You should study criminal psychology if you’re interested in a career in criminology, forensic mental health or the criminal justice system, or if you’re looking to increase your skills in the area to support your existing work.
You should study criminal psychology online if you are looking for a flexible and accessible way to gain your qualification. Studying online also gives you access to a wide range of criminal and forensic psychology subjects from different universities, which you can undertake individually without having to commit to a degree.
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.
- You can enrol without entry requirements
There are a variety of jobs you can get with a criminal psychology degree, across numerous industries. Your degree will equip you to work in criminology and forensics; as a social worker or victim advocate; within prison systems as a behavioural therapist or correctional counsellor; in criminal justice and the courts; or in research, to name just a few.
You can speak to our student advisors to understand more about the job prospects available to graduates of criminal psychology degrees.
Enrol in a single subject to get a taste of the content for any qualification you’re interested in. The subjects available through us are covered by HELP funding, which means eligible students aren’t obligated to pay for their studies upfront.
Or book a free phone consultation with a student advisor to discuss your available study options. We’ll help you find the course that suits you best.
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 may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.
Chat with us to find out more.
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 us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
Student stories and study advice
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