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University of South Australia

  • 17% international / 83% domestic

Bachelor of Criminal Justice

  • Bachelor

With increasing attention on national and international security and crime, this degree is your opportunity to learn how to make a difference to the safety and wellbeing of your community, and society at large.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
3 years full-time
Course Code
XBCJ
Study Mode
Online
Intake Months
Jan, Apr, Jun, Sep
International Fees
$23,000 per year / $69,000 total

About this course

With increasing attention on national and international security and crime, this degree is your opportunity to learn how to make a difference to the safety and wellbeing of your community, and society at large.

Employers look for graduates who can apply their knowledge and skills to real industry challenges. With a strong focus on applied learning, you'll learn the same principles, approaches and assessment techniques used across the criminal justice system - so you'll be ready to hit the ground running, no matter what area you choose to work in.

You'll learn to apply various approaches and techniques used by intelligence analysts and investigators in the field, evaluate crime prevention strategies, and understand the complex factors that have led to the over-representation of minority groups in the criminal justice system.

Our academics have decades of industry experience. They've brought their wealth of knowledge and connections to develop engaging, interactive and relevant course content using real and current case studies from the field.

Study locations

Online

What you will learn

This degree introduces you to a range of contemporary perspectives, approaches and issues in the criminology and criminal justice field. As a Criminal Justice student, you will:

  • develop a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and study a mix of courses from different disciplines including social sciences and law;
  • explore topics covering policing, offender rehabilitation and desistance, youth justice, social research methods and crime, cybercrime, victimology, as well as gender and sexuality;
  • critically analyse crime prevention theories, techniques and crime reduction programs; and
  • learn to apply research methods to real industry problems.

You can tailor your degree to your interests and broaden your career prospects with the choice of electives. You can select four electives from any of the UniSA Online degrees.

Career pathways

With the industry experiencing steady job growth, there are many diverse career opportunities available for criminal justice professionals. While many roles are found in government agencies, including law enforcement and intelligence as well as social welfare and correctional services, there are also opportunities to work in the private sector and with not-for-profit organisations.

If you have experience in social work, counselling, welfare support or law enforcement, this degree will complement your work experience, giving you a competitive edge to take the next step in your career.

A UniSA Online Criminal Justice degree can help you pursue the following careers:

  • Policy adviser:develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government or commercial operations and programs; conduct environmental scans to identify and develop options to address topical and emerging issues, trends, risks and opportunities in the criminal justice system; and research, analyse and prepare papers, briefings and reports on a range of criminal justice issues.

  • Strategic policy and planning manager:lead policy development and planning activities to help inform the ways in which criminal justice activities occur; provide authoritative policy advice on complex and potentially sensitive strategic matters; possess an understanding of the criminal justice system, key stakeholders and contemporary challenges, as well as government functions and processes; and inform the community about changes to legislation and reform.

  • Intelligence and policy analyst:gather, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources; determine the significance and reliability of incoming information; establish and maintain intelligence records and files; develop and analyse policies to guide the design, implementation and modification of government and commercial operations and programs.

  • Correctional services officer:undertake a frontline role in the prison system, and be responsible for a wide range of duties relating to the safety, security and welfare of prisoners; manage day-to-day issues, and contribute to ongoing rehabilitation of offenders; develop and delivering rehabilitative and training programs for offenders; write clear and concise reports, statements and records; and assess and counsel offenders with matters affecting their welfare, security, behaviours and routines.

  • Child protection officer:respond to the concerns regarding the safety and well-being of children and help families strengthen their capacity to provide care and safety for children and other family members.

Learn more about your career in Criminal Justice >