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Understanding Crime
UndergraduateLTU-LST1UNC2025
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Understanding Crime
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate applicability of the criminological approaches in explaining crime and criminality.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental differences between different criminological approaches by being able to clearly distinguish between them.
- Analyse the relationship between criminological theory and practical responses to crime within and beyond the criminal justice system.
- Critically engage with key theoretical ideas and ideological concepts about crime and criminal justice system.
- Present your understanding of criminological perspectives on crime and criminality in a concise, relevant, and well-informed manner.
- Crime, Criminology, and the Context
- Explaining Crime Theoretically
- Social Inequality
- Intersectionality
- Types of Crimes
- Criminal Justice
- Crime Prevention
This is a level one subject, which explores how different understandings of crime have emerged as a response to changing social, political and economic contexts. It explores the usefulness of understandings developed since the eighteenth century to date, for explaining and responding to different types of crime today. The nature and impact of key criminological approaches ranging from classicism and positivism through to current day critical perspectives will be illustrated and analysed through consideration of contemporary case studies. The way in which criminological theories inform practical responses to crime within and beyond the criminal justice system will also be highlighted. In this subject we also consider social inequalities, intersectionality and how theory can help us understand these in the context of criminal justice system.
- Multiple choice quizzes (1200 words)One quiz as early assessment task (10%) (30%)
- One research essay (1200 words) (30%)
- This task requires you to engage with specific weekly content through reflections in a written format (1600 words equivalent) (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 15
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
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Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-CRM-DEG
Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-CPS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DIP
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