Criminal psychology courses

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: 

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.

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.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.