Start Date
Feb, May, Sept
Qualification
Undergraduate
Duration
3 years full-time / part-time equivalent
Subject
24 units
Fees
$16,992* / year
Mode
100% Online
Apply Now

Course Overview

If you have ever thought about the problem of crime, how we could prevent it or how society responds to it, our online Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice) degree could be for you.

This online degree gives you highly developed skills and knowledge in criminology and a comprehensive understanding of how these factors fit together. Study crime and criminal justice online, by examining the selective process of dealing with scenarios involving illegal activity.

You will graduate with highly sought-after skills that will set you up for success in a range of national and international careers.

There are many ways you can gain entry into a degree through Western Sydney University Online. We accept any one of the following, provided you meet the minimum requirements relating to that criteria:

  • Cert III, Cert IV or diploma in any field
  • Completion or partial completion of tertiary study
  • Work experience, in any industry (assessed on a case by case basis)
  • Completion of Year 12 HSC (or equivalent), with a minimum required ATAR
  • Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC)
  • Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
  • PTE or IELTS for English proficiency may be required depending on where entry documentation was completed
Western Sydney University’s Inherent Requirements

As a student, you may need to pay a number of fees throughout your studies, depending on your degree and your enrolment status. These fees may include student contribution and tuition fees. If you’re eligible, you may also be able to obtain a HELP loan for payment of your student contribution or tuition fees. For more information, please visit the Student Contribution Bands page.

Fees for undergraduate International students are different than for local students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, NZ citizens, and holders of an Australian permanent resident humanitarian visa). For more information on fees for International students, please visit the International program fees page.

*Please note that fees are an estimation of annual fees and are subject to change.

Download Course Brochure

Download the Course Brochure for more information on this innovative course and student support.

Career Opportunities

Equipped with a degree from one of the top universities in the world, you can enter the workforce with industry knowledge and confidence. Here are some of the options available to a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice) graduate:

Correctional Officer

$73,000* Annual Salary

Work in prisons and correctional centres to ensure the safe supervision of inmates.

Case Worker

4.1 Star Rating for Job Satisfaction

Provide advice, direction and services that will assist in the transition of men and women from prison into life.

Researcher / Analyst

$95,000* Annual Salary

Compile data and analyse trends in the area of criminal and community justice.

Youth Justice Officer

$75,000* Annual Salary

Provide counselling support for young people detained in a detention facility.

Learn more about Criminal Justice opportunities on SEEK

Subject Details

Course subjects are carefully selected and taught by industry experts and professionals to ensure a well-rounded education to all our students.

 

*You can add eight electives to your studies. When studying a degree in Social Science (Criminology and Criminal justice).

 

Here is a closer look at the subjects that will be covered in your 3-year degree in Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice):

HUMN 1041
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

People, Place and Social Difference

This subject focuses on the local experiences of cultural and socio-economic difference. This includes applied social science approaches to inequality, diversity, community, sense of place, and environmental sustainability in the urban setting. There is an emphasis on spatial literacy for social scientists (fieldwork, mapping, data analysis and place description).

BEHV 1021
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

The Individual in Society

Humanistic, biological, cognitive, behavioural and sociocultural: The Individual in Society introduces the main theoretical perspectives for understanding individual behaviour. The subject then progresses to social psychology and explores self and identity, attitudes and attitude change, conformity and obedience. It also explores prejudice and discrimination, aggression, pro-social behaviour and attraction and close relationships.

CULT 1017
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Understanding Society

The aim of this subject is to introduce students to key theories and concepts for understanding social action, social policy, social institutions, social structure and social change. Developing skills in critical reading and sociological analysis, students will interpret and analyse subject content to acquire an understanding of contemporary societies.

CULT 1020
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies introduces students to the methods and principles of community participation, capacity-building, community needs assessment, and resilience. Students will explore scholarly ideas and debates that provide insight into working with communities and acquire an understanding of how these are applied in a range of professional settings. Students will identify and analyse global, local, government and organisational aspects and interests in the development of their own and wider communities.

CULT 2005
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Ethics in the Social Sciences

This subject introduces students to the nature of western ethics and moral discourses, ethical methodology and the possibilities and limits of ethical discourse and practice. It covers the history of the formalisation of ethics, as well as its current philosophical and sociological dimensions. Students will be invited to reflect on moral discourses, and on the use of ethics for social justice and fairness.

HUMN 2066
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems addresses research practices in the social sciences. Students will gain an understanding of the research process, its epistemological and theoretical underpinnings, ethical questions in social research, research design and methodology. Students will also gain an understanding of methods of data collection and data analysis and reading and interpreting research and its impacts.

CULT 3001
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Applied Social Research

Building on the Social Research Methods subject, students will continue their education in social research. Students will gain experience in using tools and techniques for the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data using real world examples. Students will learn to gather primary data through surveys and interviews, then support their findings with secondary data.

CULT 3007
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

This subject will provide social science students with an opportunity to improve their career readiness. Using a combination of practical and theoretical framework, this subject will teach students how to translate their social science knowledge to a professional setting. Students will also engage with contemporary social issues such as diversity, work and employment, and sustainability.

CULT 1005
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime, Deviance and Society

Crime, Deviance and Society introduces students to the study of criminology and the sociology of deviance. Students will examine the theories of the Chicago school, labelling and deviance theory, Marxism, feminism and queer theory in a criminal context. Using contemporary case studies, students will explore topics such as crime in the media, alcohol and drug abuse and Indigenous incarceration.

CULT 2017
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Youth Justice and Practice

In this subject, students will develop an understanding of juvenile crime complexity by exploring historical, political, cultural and socio-economic factors associated with youth crime. Students will critically assess a range of interventions for working with young people within the juvenile justice system.

CULT 3025
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice

This subject provides a historical and sociological examination of the models, practices and justifications for punishment and incarceration. Topics include mass imprisonment, probation and parole systems and community corrections. Students will examine how factors such as age, gender, social class and ethnic identity can influence the imprisonment and corrections of different individuals and groups of people.

CULT 2018
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime Prevention and Drugs

This subject will examine the theory, politics and practice of crime prevention. Students will evaluate the effectiveness of theoretical approaches while discussing the challenges posed by unreported crime and fear of crime. Students will also investigate the relation between patterns of victimisation and social disadvantage.

CULT 3024
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime, Media, Culture

This subject will explore depictions of crime in society with a focus on the value of ethnographic studies and the cultural origins of different forms of crime. Utilising comparative studies, students will examine different theoretical explanations of crime and culture in relation to topics including media, writing, film and television.

CULT 3013
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Gender, Crime and Violence

In recent decades, models and understanding of gender have become a major way of explaining crime and victimisation. This subject will critically engage with material from feminist researchers on the impact of gendered discourses on the criminal justice system. Students will use contemporary case studies to explore links between criminal offending and different violent and non-violent masculinities.

CULT 3018
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Perspectives in Criminology

The subject will focus on the criminological concern with individual offenders and the implications of this for responses to crimes. Students will analyse explanations of offending, victimisation, prevention and safety, while evaluating these matters from a perspective of unequal power, social division and exclusion.

CULT 1024
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Introduction to Criminal Justice

This subject introduces students to criminology, policing, and criminal justice issues and practices through an examination of the Australian criminal justice process. Students will examine how the criminal justice system works (and sometimes fails to work), and how police, courts, and corrections influence the processes of criminalisation, victimisation, and (in)justice.

HUMN 1041
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

People, Place and Social Difference

This subject focuses on the local experiences of cultural and socio-economic difference. This includes applied social science approaches to inequality, diversity, community, sense of place, and environmental sustainability in the urban setting. There is an emphasis on spatial literacy for social scientists (fieldwork, mapping, data analysis and place description).

BEHV 1021
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

The Individual in Society

Humanistic, biological, cognitive, behavioural and sociocultural: The Individual in Society introduces the main theoretical perspectives for understanding individual behaviour. The subject then progresses to social psychology and explores self and identity, attitudes and attitude change, conformity and obedience. It also explores prejudice and discrimination, aggression, pro-social behaviour and attraction and close relationships.

CULT 1017
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Understanding Society

The aim of this subject is to introduce students to key theories and concepts for understanding social action, social policy, social institutions, social structure and social change. Developing skills in critical reading and sociological analysis, students will interpret and analyse subject content to acquire an understanding of contemporary societies.

CULT 1020
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies introduces students to the methods and principles of community participation, capacity-building, community needs assessment, and resilience. Students will explore scholarly ideas and debates that provide insight into working with communities and acquire an understanding of how these are applied in a range of professional settings. Students will identify and analyse global, local, government and organisational aspects and interests in the development of their own and wider communities.

CULT 2005
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Ethics in the Social Sciences

This subject introduces students to the nature of western ethics and moral discourses, ethical methodology and the possibilities and limits of ethical discourse and practice. It covers the history of the formalisation of ethics, as well as its current philosophical and sociological dimensions. Students will be invited to reflect on moral discourses, and on the use of ethics for social justice and fairness.

HUMN 2066
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems addresses research practices in the social sciences. Students will gain an understanding of the research process, its epistemological and theoretical underpinnings, ethical questions in social research, research design and methodology. Students will also gain an understanding of methods of data collection and data analysis and reading and interpreting research and its impacts.

CULT 3001
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Applied Social Research

Building on the Social Research Methods subject, students will continue their education in social research. Students will gain experience in using tools and techniques for the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data using real world examples. Students will learn to gather primary data through surveys and interviews, then support their findings with secondary data.

CULT 3007
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

This subject will provide social science students with an opportunity to improve their career readiness. Using a combination of practical and theoretical framework, this subject will teach students how to translate their social science knowledge to a professional setting. Students will also engage with contemporary social issues such as diversity, work and employment, and sustainability.

CULT 1005
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime, Deviance and Society

Crime, Deviance and Society introduces students to the study of criminology and the sociology of deviance. Students will examine the theories of the Chicago school, labelling and deviance theory, Marxism, feminism and queer theory in a criminal context. Using contemporary case studies, students will explore topics such as crime in the media, alcohol and drug abuse and Indigenous incarceration.

CULT 2017
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Youth Justice and Practice

In this subject, students will develop an understanding of juvenile crime complexity by exploring historical, political, cultural and socio-economic factors associated with youth crime. Students will critically assess a range of interventions for working with young people within the juvenile justice system.

CULT 3025
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice

This subject provides a historical and sociological examination of the models, practices and justifications for punishment and incarceration. Topics include mass imprisonment, probation and parole systems and community corrections. Students will examine how factors such as age, gender, social class and ethnic identity can influence the imprisonment and corrections of different individuals and groups of people.

CULT 2018
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime Prevention and Drugs

This subject will examine the theory, politics and practice of crime prevention. Students will evaluate the effectiveness of theoretical approaches while discussing the challenges posed by unreported crime and fear of crime. Students will also investigate the relation between patterns of victimisation and social disadvantage.

CULT 3024
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Crime, Media, Culture

This subject will explore depictions of crime in society with a focus on the value of ethnographic studies and the cultural origins of different forms of crime. Utilising comparative studies, students will examine different theoretical explanations of crime and culture in relation to topics including media, writing, film and television.

CULT 3013
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Gender, Crime and Violence

In recent decades, models and understanding of gender have become a major way of explaining crime and victimisation. This subject will critically engage with material from feminist researchers on the impact of gendered discourses on the criminal justice system. Students will use contemporary case studies to explore links between criminal offending and different violent and non-violent masculinities.

CULT 3018
Recommended 8- 10 hours of study per week

Perspectives in Criminology

The subject will focus on the criminological concern with individual offenders and the implications of this for responses to crimes. Students will analyse explanations of offending, victimisation, prevention and safety, while evaluating these matters from a perspective of unequal power, social division and exclusion.

CULT 1024
Recommended 8-10 hours of study per week

Introduction to Criminal Justice

This subject introduces students to criminology, policing, and criminal justice issues and practices through an examination of the Australian criminal justice process. Students will examine how the criminal justice system works (and sometimes fails to work), and how police, courts, and corrections influence the processes of criminalisation, victimisation, and (in)justice.

Western Sydney University Online invites you to study in an advanced and flexible digital environment. Our online program allows you to study on your time, when it works for you, your work, family and life commitments.

Student Support

We are here to support you when you need it. Our dedicated support team are available over the phone or online seven days a week to answer all your questions. From technical support through to academic questions, we have the tools and people to make your study journey achievable and enjoyable.

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“…What we’re proud of … We have staff who are going to be teaching on this who have national and international research reputation for their expertise on things like offending and crime prevention and law enforcement.”

Stephen | Professor of Sociology and Criminology

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the main advantages of studying online is not having to be logged on at set times. You can log into your learning materials when it suits you and participate asynchronously to discussion boards, complete readings or any other tasks required. Every now and then, your Online Learning Advisor will facilitate a ‘webinar’ and whilst we recommend you attend, it is not mandatory. The sessions are typically recorded for you to view at your convenience.

Whilst the content and learning outcomes of your course is the same as the on-campus option, your course has been purpose built for online learners to acknowledge the different needs and challenges for students studying virtually.

Of course. Whether you study on-campus or online, your learning outcomes and qualification are the same. Even to the point of when you graduate, you will receive the same testamur. A testamur is your graduation certificate and is does not specify your mode of study. Regardless of whether you study online or on-campus you will still be getting the same qualification from an internationally ranked university.

At Western Sydney University Online, we are dedicated to helping our students. Our Student Advisors are on hand to make your transition to university as smooth as possible. They are available via phone, email 7 days a week, 8am to 9pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends. Once you are in your online classroom, your Online Learning Advisors will be there to guide your learning and there is plenty of assessment support services at your fingertips throughout your studies.

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Are you ready to apply? Simply fill out the form below and a Course Consultant will be in touch to guide you through your application over the phone.

 

If you’re not ready to apply or want to know more before you complete your application, you can request more information by calling us on 1300 050 928.