Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Psychological Sciences/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology combines APAC-accredited psychology study with criminology, criminal justice, law and forensic psychology.
• The degree is designed for students interested in understanding criminal behaviour, its causes and consequences, and how crime can be prevented, detected and addressed.
• Students develop knowledge and skills relevant to areas such as offender rehabilitation, law enforcement, victim support, corrections, policy development, research and criminal justice.
• The programme incorporates contemporary technology and scientific approaches to crime, including technological advances in dealing with crime.
• Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning is incorporated into the degree. The course includes an industry-linked Psychology Project and a problems-based project briefed by an industry partner in Criminal Justice/Criminology.
• Skills developed include communication, criminal justice knowledge, research skills and cultural awareness.
• The Psychological Sciences component is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), providing an academic pathway towards professional psychology, although additional study is required to become a registered psychologist in Australia.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme combines 28 core units with four elective units.

Psychological Sciences core study includes:

• Introduction to Research Methods – PSY10005
• Brain and Behaviour – PSY10007
• Fundamentals of Psychology – PSY10008
• Foundations of Statistics – STA10003
• Cognition and Human Performance
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Psychology Project
• Psychology of Personality
• History and Philosophy of Psychology
• Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment
• Analysis of Variance and Regression.

Criminal Justice and Criminology core study includes:

• Fundamentals of Criminology – CRI10002
• Introduction to Forensic Psychology – FOR10001
• Introduction to Law – LAW10021
• Law and Social Science – LAW10022
• Criminal Law and Process – LAW10024
• Brain and Behaviour – PSY10007
• Policing: Systems and Practice – CRI20001
• Global Crime – CRI20002
• Sentencing – LAW20030
• Crime and Punishment in the International Context – LAW20031
• Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime – LAW20032
• Deviance, Difference & Conformity – SOC20020
• Corrections: Systems and Practice – CRI30002
• Youth Justice and Crime – CRI30010
• Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology – FOR30001
• Criminal Justice Capstone Project – LAW30025.

Disciplines / Specialisations

This is a structured double degree rather than a programme offering a long list of selectable majors.

The two principal disciplines are:

• Psychological Sciences
• Criminal Justice and Criminology

Within Psychological Sciences, students study areas including:

• Research methods
• Brain and behaviour
• Cognition
• Developmental psychology
• Social psychology
• Personality
• Mental health
• Psychological measurement and statistics
• Psychology research/project work.

Within Criminal Justice and Criminology, the principal areas include:

• Criminology
• Criminal law
• Criminal justice
• Forensic psychology
• Policing
• Corrections
• Youth justice
• Sentencing
• Global/international crime
• Technology and crime
• Deviance and conformity.

Programme Highlights

• Four-year double degree.
• 400 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus.
• Two semester intakes.
• APAC-accredited Psychological Sciences component.
• Combination of psychology, criminology, law and forensic psychology.
• Strong focus on understanding, preventing and responding to criminal behaviour.
• Coverage of emerging technology and crime.
• Industry-linked research/project learning.
• Criminal Justice Capstone Project.
• Psychology Project.
• Skills development in research, communication, criminal justice and cultural awareness.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne currently identifies career opportunities including:

• Social welfare consultant
• Clinical worker
• Medical researcher
• Law enforcement officer
• Victim support worker
• Corrections officer.

The combined qualification can also support broader career directions in:

• Criminal justice
• Criminology
• Corrections and rehabilitation
• Victim services
• Community services
• Government policy
• Law enforcement
• Forensic-related services
• Social research
• Youth justice
• Mental health and community support.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current CRICOS code: 0100753.
• Current course code shown for the international/full-fee pathway: 3400211642 (IFP).
• Standard course requirement: 400 credit points.
• Standard duration: 4 years full-time.
• International Student visa holders must study full-time and on campus.
• The Psychological Sciences component is APAC accredited.
• Work Integrated Learning is included through the Psychology Project and an industry-partnered Criminal Justice/Criminology project.
• Professional placements are competitive and can add 50 or 100 credit points, but international students holding a Student visa are currently not permitted to undertake these professional placements in this course because of government regulations.
• The maximum academic credit available is 200 credit points, subject to Swinburne's assessment.
• The course's online study option is not available to international students in Australia who hold a Student visa. 

International Student Visa Requirements

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

For an international student studying this degree in Australia, the principal requirements generally include:

• admission to Swinburne;
• acceptance of the offer;
• a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE);
• enrolment in a full-time CRICOS-registered course;
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC);
• satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement;
• financial capacity where evidence is required;
• applicable health requirements;
• applicable character requirements; and
• any additional documents requested by the Department of Home Affairs.

Genuine Student requirement:

• The GS requirement applies to relevant Student visa applications.
• Applicants need to demonstrate that they are genuine students and understand that study in Australia is the primary reason for their visa.
• Applicants are asked about their current circumstances, reasons for choosing the course/provider and Australia, expected benefits of the course and other relevant matters.
• The GS responses are subject to Home Affairs' prescribed word limits and must be completed in English.