Faculty of Arts

 Criminology

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions
        Fourth Year Honours

Criminology is the study of the processes of criminalisation and social control developed by the state. Criminology is inherently a multi-disciplinary subject involving contributions from law, the social and behavioural sciences, psychiatry, history, philosophy and statistics, among others. Criminology's practical focus lies in an integrated study of the components of the criminal justice system such as law enforcement agencies, the courts and correctional systems, and includes issues relating to public policy and political decisions regarding crime and crime control.

Criminology offers a broad range of both theoretical and policy related analyses relevant to students interested in preparation for a professional career related to delinquency or crime control, for example, community corrections officers, police officers, teachers, lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists and senior administrators.

 1. Career opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts who have majored in Criminology have found employment in the following areas:

research institutions dealing with the criminal justice system such as the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Australian Bureau of Statistics;

government agencies in the areas of criminal justice and welfare such as the Departments of Justice, Departments of Health and Welfare, police organisations, the criminal courts, the correctional system and community welfare services;

non-government and private sector organisations which provide welfare and security services; and

teaching services at secondary and tertiary levels in fields of law, crime and criminology.

 2. Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for entry to Criminology.

The general prerequisite for second-year Criminology subjects is usually successful completion of 25 points of Criminology at first-year level. The general prerequisite for entry to third-year Criminology subjects is successful completion of at least two second-year level Criminology subjects. However, in exceptional circumstances, exemption from these prerequisites may be granted by the Head of Department.

Prerequisites for individual subjects may be waived for students enrolled in Criminology as part of an inter-disciplinary program at the University of Melbourne. Applications for prerequisites to be waived must be made to the Course Coordinator.

 3. Requirements for a major

A major in Criminology consists of at least five subjects taken at second or third year level, totalling 83.3 points.

 4. Entry to Honours

Admission into the Honours year in Criminology requires the completion of the Pass degree including a major in Criminology with an average grade over the major of H2A standard or higher. Students who do not meet that standard may be granted admission to Honours with the special approval of the Head of Department (or nominee) and the Faculty of Arts. Completion of the subject 191-203/303 Introduction to Research Methods or one other research methods subject within the major is highly recommended.

 5. Honours requirements

 5.1. Pure Honours

Students undertaking Pure Honours in Criminology complete:

• Two single-semester fourth-year subjects in Criminology (191-423 Supervised Field Study is recommended as one of these subjects) (33.3 points), and;
• A single semester methods subject (16.7 points);
• 191-442 Criminology Honours Seminar (Pure Honours) (16.7 points);
• 191-441 Criminology Honours Thesis (33.3 points).

 5.2. Combined Honours

Students undertaking Combined Honours complete:

For students not completing the thesis in Criminology:

• Two single-semester fourth-year subjects in Criminology (191-423 Supervised Field Study is recommended as one of these subjects) (33.3 points) and;
• a thesis and subjects in the combining department (66.6 points).

For students completing the thesis in Criminology:

• A single semester methods subject (16.7 points);
• 191-443 Criminology Honours Seminar (Combined Honours) (16.7 points);
• 191-441 Criminology Honours Thesis (33.3 points), and;
• subjects in the combining department according to the requirements of that department.

 6. Opportunities for further study

The Department offers the following courses for graduates:

• Graduate Diploma in Arts (Criminology)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Criminology)
• Master of Criminology
• Master of Arts in Criminology
• Doctor of Philosophy

 7. For more information

For Information please contact:

Subject descriptions

191-101 Perspectives On Crime
191-102 Institutions of Criminal Justice
191-202 Crime and Public Policy
191-203 Introduction To Research Methods
191-204 Criminal Law and Criminology
191-206 Law Enforcement
191-208 Correctional Theory and Practice
191-210 Sociology of Crime and Deviance
191-401 Crime, Law and Punishment in Australian History
191-407 Sentencing Theory and Practice
191-409 Contemporary Issues in Criminology
191-311 Criminology Research Seminar
191-412 Principles of Research
191-413 Psychiatry and Law
191-414 Psychology, Crime and the Criminal Justice System
191-415 Youth, Crime and Society
191-417 Corporate and White-Collar Crime
191-418 Current Research in Criminology
191-419 Violence in Australia
191-420 Qualitative Research Methods
191-421 Contemporary Crime Prevention
191-422 Women, Gender and Crime
191-423 Supervised Field Study
191-424 Advanced Psychiatry and Law
191-425 Supervised Reading
191-426 Violence and the Nation State
191-427 Crime, Ethnicity and Race
191-428 Crime and Culture
191-429 Human Rights and Criminal Justice
191-432 Medico-Legal Criminology
191-433 Psychological Aspects of Criminal Justice Decision-Making
191-434 Victims
191-435 Drugs and Justice
191-436 What Works in Criminal Justice
191-438 Storytelling and Crime

Fourth Year Honours

Status:                   Official 1998
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au