Bachelor of Criminology and Justice Edith Cowan University

Why people commit crime, how society should respond to crime and how can we prevent and minimise the harms associated with criminal behaviour are some of the issues you’ll consider when you study criminology and justice at ECU.
Your studies will encompass the whole system – from how laws are made, through to how police, courts and corrections deal with people who break these laws. You’ll also examine the concept of justice, and what it means to different groups of people in the criminal justice system, and to society more broadly.

Importantly, we start to prepare you for employment as soon as you start. This preparation culminates in amazing opportunities such as workplace practicums, involvement in industry-based projects and work integrated learning via our own Criminal Justice Review Project’.

Our goal is to ensure that you’re exposed to cutting-edge content and opportunities to help you decide how and where you want to contribute to the world of criminal justice.

This course is recommended for students with an interest in criminology, social justice and the justice system. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the nature of criminology and justice and the principal disciplines of law, political science, psychology and sociology, which inform criminological and justice-related issues. The course adopts a contemporary, international approach to criminology and justice education and seeks to develop well-educated practitioners. Students examine the nature of crime and social control, as well as a broad range of areas in the domain of justice, including policing, courts, law, corrections and alternative dispute resolution.

Students are required to complete 11 Core units. This will be supported by a supplementary programme comprising: an 8-unit major plus 3 elective units and either a capstone unit or 2 practicum units. Alternatively, students may complete any 12 unit major in the School of Arts and Humanities from discipline areas such as Social Science, Youth Work, Psychology, Arts, Addiction Studies, Management or Security studies or any other combination of majors, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other schools where available. Note: Students are required to complete no less than 6 units at Level 3000.

Majors you can study in this course

One or more of the majors in this course is externally recognised when studied within this course. Refer to the major for more information.

• Addiction Studies

• Corrections

• Family and Child Support

• Policing

• Professional Youth Work

• Security Management

Semester availability

• Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup
• Semester 2: Study full-time at Joondalup

Course Learning Outcomes

• Apply broad discipline knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical criminology and justice issues.
• Communicate knowledge of criminology and justice ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
• Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
• Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for own learning in scholarship and professional practice.
• Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in criminological situations.
• Think critically to identify, conceptualise and analyse complex criminology issues.
• Use digital technologies to access, evaluate and synthesise criminological information.
• Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values in criminology and justice.