Bachelor
The Bachelor of Criminology and Justice at ACAP offers a comprehensive exploration of crime, criminal justice responses, and prevention strategies in Australia. It focuses on applied knowledge, real-world relevance, and the needs of vulnerable populations, preparing students for diverse careers in criminology.
If you're fascinated by criminal behaviour and eager to make a lasting difference in Australia's criminal justice system, our Bachelor of Criminology and Justice is the first step towards a career you're passionate about.
As one of three criminology courses available at ACAP, this degree offers a comprehensive exploration of the social, psychological and legal factors that influence crime, criminal justice responses, and crime prevention strategies in Australia.
Throughout your degree, you'll examine key criminological theories and apply them to real-world contexts, including drug-related crime, organised crime and the role of mental illness within the justice system. You'll explore the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies - from situational and developmental approaches to social and environmental design (CPTED) - while gaining insight into how laws, policies and community programs shape positive outcomes.
ACAP's Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice also focuses on the needs of vulnerable populations, including Indigenous Australians and young people. It unpacks the multidisciplinary responses required to address mental health, drug dependency and victimisation in criminal justice settings.
You'll develop practical skills in case management and policy analysis, and explore the ethical and professional responsibilities involved in working in this complex and evolving field.
With a strong focus on applied knowledge and real-world relevance, our Bachelor of Criminology will teach you to make informed, evidence-based decisions in your professional practice and set you up for long-term success in your criminology career.
Whether you're wondering how to become a criminologist, how to become a detective or how to become a police officer, our courses in criminology can help you determine your ideal career path and equip you with the skills you need to get there.
This course is accredited by the Navitas Professional Institute (NPI) under its self-accrediting authority.
Domestic students must meet one of the following requirements:
Domestic students must also:
International students must meet one of the following requirements:
International students must also:
Minimum English Language Requirements International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic IELTS minimum overall band of 6.0 with no individual band below 5.5 (completed in the past two years); or Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic PTE score of 52 (completed in the past two years).
If an alternative to IELTS or PTE is being supplied as part of the application, please read more information on English Language Test Equivalency.
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by ACAP as equivalent to Australian qualifications.
The units offered in ACAP's Bachelor of Criminology and Justice are diverse and fascinating. Here are just some of the core and elective units you'll study as a part of this degree:
Once you graduate from the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice, you will open doors to a range of possible career opportunities. Listed below are a few typical roles you could consider.
The Bachelor of Criminology and Justice course is made up of 24 units, which are level 100, 200 and 300 units. To find out unit delivery information view the relevant Yearly Planner.
The course duration is 3 years full time or part time equivalent. For more information on the recommended course sequence click here.
Level: 100 level core / electiveCredit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None
Unit Description:
Throughout the unit, students will examine the historical and social contexts within which criminological theories have arisen, as well as their current relevance to the Australian criminal justice system and society.
The unit commences by introducing students to the broader perspectives and orientations within which criminological theories are situated. Following an introduction to these foundational concepts, students will then examine major criminological theories, beginning with classicism, positivism and social theories. Labelling perspectives will then be introduced, and the sociological origins of these models explored. The final major theoretical areas to be outlined are the conflict and radical perspectives, Marxist and feminist perspectives. The critical ideas inherent in these models will be used to analyse the assumptions of previously analysed theories. The contemporary perspectives of new right criminology and left realism will also be examined, and the subject will conclude by examining the optimistic approach and initiatives espoused by republican theory, and critical criminology's post-modern and structuralist approaches.
Learning Outcomes:
Learning and Teaching Process:
This unit is taught over 13 weeks and totals 3 student contact hours per week.
Students will participate in teaching and learning activities including:
Depending on the delivery mode, this unit's content is delivered to students via a weekly 2 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial via Zoom.
In addition to timetabled contact hours, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of personal study each week to review lectures and read prescribed and recommended materials for this unit. The total individual workload of this unit will be around 72 hours (including assessments, lecture and tutorial preparation, individual self-study and reading).