1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
  3. Specialisation (Formal)
  4. Criminology
  5. Print

Criminology

Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)Specialisation (formal)Year: 2025

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Overview

Please be advised that the Criminology Specialisation does not accept applications for mid-year admission. Candidates can only commence in Semester 1.

The Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) in Criminology is an advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level and is designed to augment students’ ability to apply innovative solutions to complex problems in Criminology and related fields. The Criminology Honours degree provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing into research higher degree at the Masters or PhD level, or improving the scope of employment options and professional advancement.

Through undertaking both coursework and a minor thesis, the Criminology Honours program enhances students’ ability to acquire advanced research and analytical skills and develop original ideas. Students may specialise in the discipline of Criminology (pure honours) or in two disciplines (combined honours) depending on specialisation.

For entry into the Criminology honours students must have completed a major in Criminology with an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent. Students must have satisfied the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts (or equivalent) within the last five years.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this specialisation, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a rounded knowledge of criminological theory regarding the nature of crime and its control
  • Acquire skills in research procedures for the analysis of criminological issues, including the ability to plan and organise research
  • Gain an understanding of major elements of public policy debates relating to crime and its control, especially as these impact upon various parts of the criminal justice system
  • Develop an overview of the emerging alternatives posed for organising various aspects of the criminal justice system
  • Receive instruction and advice, and have experience, in writing a preparatory research thesis on a criminological topic.

Last updated: 14 January 2025

Structure

100 credit points

Students undertaking pure honours in criminology must complete:

  • A 15,000 word thesis: CRIM40008 Criminology Thesis Part 1, and CRIM40009 Criminology Thesis Part 2 (50 points);
  • Compulsory subject ANTH40012 Explanation & Understanding (12.5 points);
  • One Core Methods subject (12.5 points);
  • Two elective subjects or CRIM90039 Criminology Internship (25 points)

Students undertaking combined honours in criminology and another program must complete:

  • A 15,000 word thesis: CRIM40008 Criminology Thesis Part 1, and CRIM40009 Criminology Thesis Part 2 (50 points);
  • ANTH40012 Explanation & Understanding (12.5 points);
  • Coursework subjects in the combining discipline (37.5 points)

or

  • Thesis in the combining discipline (50 points);
  • Coursework subject from the combining discipline (12.5 points);
  • CRIM40002 Qualitative Research Methods (12.5 points); and
  • Two Criminology elective subjects or CRIM90039 Criminology Internship (25 points)

Total 100 points

Please be advised that the Criminology Specialisation does not accept applications for mid-year admission. Candidates can only commence in Semester 1.

Subject Options

Compulsory subjects:

50 points for students in pure criminology honours. Combined honours students need to refer to the structure above.

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ANTH40012 Explanation and Understanding
March (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM40008 Criminology Thesis Part 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 25
CRIM40009 Criminology Thesis Part 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Core methods subject:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
CRIM40002 Qualitative Research Methods
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Elective subjects:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
CRIM90020 Crime, Culture & the Media Not available in 2025 12.5
POLS90063 Indigenous Social & Political Movements
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90039 Criminology Internship
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
 25
CRIM90009 Judging Crime
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90011 Criminal Justice Knowledge Production
March (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90019 Advances in Criminological Research
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90016 Community Justice Project
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90018 Making Sense of Crime and Justice
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90010 Crime Prevention: Critical Approaches
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90017 Violence, Trauma and Reconciliation
August (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90008 Sovereignty, Justice, Indigenous Peoples
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90015 Terror, Law and War
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90035 Victims: Recognition and Redress
September (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CRIM90041 Carcerality
March (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Links

http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/students/honours

Last updated: 14 January 2025