Crime, Justice and the Environment
UndergraduateMAQ-CRIX30012026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 15 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 23 Feb 2026
- Price from
- $2,245
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Crime, Justice and the Environment
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to
- Define the concept of green criminology and explain the how interconnected social, economic and political structures and systems can contribute to environmental degradation.
- Identify the global dimensions associated with environmental crimes, examining the transnational factors, global trade, and international policies that influence ecological sustainability and justice.
- Critically assess instances of environmental harm perpetrated by corporations and nation states, analysing the role of economic interests and regulatory frameworks in shaping environmental practices.
- Investigate how environmental crimes affect vulnerable communities and ecosystems, and determine the social and environmental justice implications of such harms.
- Analyse the challenges in enforcing environmental laws at local, national, and international levels and integrate a harm perspective to propose potential solutions.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials
In the 21st century, environmental harm is an ever-present reality of our globalised world, with criminologists increasingly asking questions relating to how different political, social and criminal justice systems respond – or fail to respond – to the harm imposed on ecosystems and their human and non-human components. Such work has crystallised into the rapidly evolving field of green criminology. However, much of what we may think of as green crime is not in fact defined as 'criminal' by criminal justice agencies. In response, as leading criminologist Nigel South (2010: 242) states, the study of crime, justice and the environment requires not just "a new academic way of looking at the world but also a new global politics”. Drawing on a harm perspective, students will examine questions concerning rights, justice, moral and the nature of victimisation. Central topics include social justice, ecological consciousness, the destructive nature of global capitalism, the role of the nation state (and regional and global regulatory bodies) as well as inequality and discrimination as these relate to class, gender, race, Indigeneity and nonhuman animals. These debates enable students to think beyond a narrow focus on street-level and interpersonal crimes, turning their critical attention to the destructive and harmful effects of human activities on local and global ecosystems.
- Annotated bibliography (20%)
- News media article (40%)
- Media release (20%)
- Media presentation (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 9
Entry requirements
Prior study
To help set you up for success before you start this subject, we suggest completing or having equivalent knowledge in:
Others
Pre-requisite 40cp at 2000 level or above
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
CRIM3001 Crime, Justice and the Environment
Additional requirements
No additional 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.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-CRM-DEG
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