Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology / Bachelor of Applied Innovation combines criminal justice, criminology, law, forensic psychology and social science with innovation and entrepreneurial problem-solving. Students investigate the causes of crime and examine how police, courts, corrections systems and victim-support services respond to crime. The Applied Innovation component develops creativity, innovation practice, multidisciplinary problem-solving and an innovation mindset.

Key benefits include:

• Understanding crime, criminal behaviour, justice systems and social responses to crime.
• Exposure to policing, criminal law, sentencing, corrections and youth justice.
• Study of forensic psychology and the relationship between brain, behaviour and crime.
• Understanding global crime and crime in an international context.
• Exploring how technology can be used to address contemporary crime and justice challenges.
• Developing innovation, creative problem-solving and adaptability skills.
• Industry-linked learning through Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning approach.
• Opportunities to develop analytical, strategic, communication and leadership capabilities.
• Combining two complementary disciplines rather than completing a traditional single-discipline criminology degree.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme combines two components.

Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology core subjects:

• Fundamentals of Criminology
• Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• Introduction to Law
• Law and Social Science
• Criminal Law and Process
• Brain and Behaviour
• Policing: Systems and Practice
• Global Crime
• Sentencing
• Crime and Punishment in the International Context
• Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime
• Deviance, Difference & Conformity
• Corrections: Systems and Practice
• Youth Justice and Crime
• Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
• Criminal Justice Capstone Project

Bachelor of Applied Innovation core subjects:

• Exploring Creativity and Innovation
• Fundamentals of Innovation Practice
• Innovation Sandpit
• Responsible Innovation Futures

Disciplines / Specialisations

This is a structured double degree rather than a degree with separately named majors or specialisations.

The two principal disciplines are:

• Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Applied Innovation

Programme Highlights

• Double degree combining criminal justice, criminology and applied innovation.
• 400-credit-point undergraduate qualification.
• 4-year full-time duration.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• CRICOS-registered programme: 108351B.
• Criminal justice studies cover policing, criminal law, sentencing, corrections and youth justice.
• Forensic psychology and brain-and-behaviour content provide a behavioural perspective.
• Global Crime and Crime and Punishment in the International Context provide an international perspective.
• Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime addresses the relationship between technology and contemporary crime.
• Criminal Justice Capstone Project provides a culminating applied component.
• Applied Innovation introduces creativity, innovation practice, innovation projects and responsible innovation.
• Work Integrated Learning is incorporated into Swinburne bachelor degrees.
• Career-oriented skills include critical thinking, research, communication, adaptability and creative problem-solving.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies career opportunities including:

• Victim support worker
• Government policy writer
• Law enforcement officer
• Innovation analyst
• Human-centred researcher
• Transformation lead

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current programme-specific update is that the course is in transition. Swinburne states that the course code, title, units and content may change. Students should therefore verify the final course structure at the time of offer and enrolment.

For international students:

• Student visa holders in Australia must study full-time and on campus.
• Online-only study is not available to international students in Australia holding a Student visa.
• The programme is CRICOS registered under 108351B.
• Work Integrated Learning is part of the bachelor-degree experience, but the exact format of any placement or industry component can vary.
• Credit transfer and RPL are assessed case-by-case.
• Meeting minimum admission requirements does not automatically guarantee an offer.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant visa is the Australian Student visa, Subclass 500.

For this programme, international students should generally prepare for the following:

• Valid passport.
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from Swinburne.
• Enrolment in a full-time CRICOS-registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
• Evidence of English proficiency where required.
• Evidence of financial capacity where required.
• Evidence relating to health and character where requested.
• Additional documents specified by the Department of Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool.