Why Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice?
Our Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice equips you to think critically about crime and the criminal justice sector. You’ll be empowered to actively contribute to key discussions on criminal behaviour and societal response. You’ll develop an understanding of the complex causes and nature of crime, it’s impact on society and strategies for intervention.
Listening to Aboriginal voices and understanding Aboriginal ways of thinking and being are critical elements of working with and supporting Aboriginal communities. In your Aboriginal Studies major, build your understanding of justice approaches that respect Aboriginal rights, knowledges and experiences.
Graduate with the skills and knowledge to make a positive difference within the community and criminal justice system.
Overview
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Aboriginal Studies emphasises the importance of Aboriginal knowledges and experiences, and provides the knowledge necessary to affect meaningful change.
You’ll explore contemporary criminal justice issues, crime control and corrections and build a solid understanding of Australian criminal law. The major offers a unique opportunity to learn to listen to Aboriginal voices and to gain valuable insights into Aboriginal ways of thinking and being. You’ll gain a broad understanding of Aboriginal social, economic and political systems and the relationship of these systems to Country, belonging and wellbeing.
Learning first-hand from Aboriginal academic staff, and non-Aboriginal tutors with extensive experience working closely with Aboriginal communities, you’ll develop an understanding of criminal justice approaches that respect Aboriginal rights, knowledges and experiences.
Key features
Gain insights into Aboriginal ways of thinking and being.- Develop core knowledge of the Australian criminal law and justice systems.
- Investigate causes of crime and deviance.
- Learn from research active teaching staff.
- Experience land-based learning.
- Explore your interests through a practical or research-based internship.
What you'll learn
In the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Aboriginal Studies at Adelaide University you’ll unpack the socio-cultural and political contexts of the criminal justice system, and how the system operates more broadly within Australia and the relations of power that influence crime control systems.
Your first year will provide core foundational knowledge of criminology and contemporary crime issues within Australia. You’ll consider how inequities such as race, gender and socio-economic status impacts crime and justice. You’ll also begin to explore Australian Aboriginal cultures, systems and philosophies.
Your second year will take a deeper look at Aboriginal culture and develop your knowledge within areas such as cultural heritage protection. Through land-based learning you’ll explore connections to space, place and belonging and gain insights into the practical, conceptual and spiritual role of Country within Aboriginal communities. You’ll also learn how crime corrections and control systems operate in Australia.
Your final year will provide you with an in-depth understanding of contemporary criminology issues, criminal law, court procedures and justice administration. You’ll consider concepts of Aboriginal wellbeing, the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and mainstream health services, economic development of Aboriginal nations and explore Aboriginal stories and representation within the media. You’ll also have the opportunity complete a research or practical internship in an area of your interest.
The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is also available with majors in the following:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 66 units for Core courses, and
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 18 units for Electives
Complete 66 units comprising:
- 18 units for all Common core, and
- 48 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 1
|
Course code
AUXX1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 2
|
Course code
AUXX2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UG Common Core 3
|
Course code
AUXX3000
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIM1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Explaining Crime and Deviance
|
Course code
CRIM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Crime Problems in Australia
|
Course code
LAWS1016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Policing and Crime Control
|
Course code
CRIM2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Penology and Corrections
|
Course code
CRIM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Criminal Law and Criminal Process
|
Course code
LAWS3004
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIM1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Crime Problems in Australia
|
Course code
LAWS1016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Explaining Crime and Deviance
|
Course code
CRIM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policing and Crime Control
|
Course code
CRIM2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Penology and Corrections
|
Course code
CRIM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
|
Course code
CRIM3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminal Law and Criminal Process
|
Course code
LAWS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Lore and Law
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIM1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Crime Problems in Australia
|
Course code
LAWS1016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Explaining Crime and Deviance
|
Course code
CRIM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policing and Crime Control
|
Course code
CRIM2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Penology and Corrections
|
Course code
CRIM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
|
Course code
CRIM3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminal Law and Criminal Process
|
Course code
LAWS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
|
Course code
CRIM3003
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIM1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Crime Problems in Australia
|
Course code
LAWS1016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Explaining Crime and Deviance
|
Course code
CRIM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policing and Crime Control
|
Course code
CRIM2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Penology and Corrections
|
Course code
CRIM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
|
Course code
CRIM3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminal Law and Criminal Process
|
Course code
LAWS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units from University-wide electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIM1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Crime Problems in Australia
|
Course code
LAWS1016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Explaining Crime and Deviance
|
Course code
CRIM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Cultures
|
Course code
INDG1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Indigenous Philosophies
|
Course code
INDG1001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policing and Crime Control
|
Course code
CRIM2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Space, Place and Belonging
|
Course code
INDG2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Penology and Corrections
|
Course code
CRIM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Peoples Law and Land
|
Course code
INDG2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Relatedness and Indigenous Peoples
|
Course code
INDG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
|
Course code
CRIM3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
|
Course code
CRIM3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Wellness and Wellbeing
|
Course code
INDG3000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Indigenous Nation Building and Governance
|
Course code
INDG3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Sovereign Stories and Subjectivity in Media
|
Course code
INDG3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Criminal Law and Criminal Process
|
Course code
LAWS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
A degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a major in Aboriginal Studies will prepare you to work respectfully and meaningfully with Aboriginal peoples, communities and organisations. Your specialised knowledge will be particularly sought after in the government sector and advocacy organisations. Your broad skills in research, communication and critical thinking will be valuable to a range of employers. Be empowered to influence change within the criminal justice system and contribute to shaping culturally safe approaches to crime prevention and rehabilitation.
You will be well positioned to pursue a range of roles that will support Aboriginal Australians within the criminal justice system. Maybe you will find work as a not-for-profit program manager, developing programs that focus on issues of Aboriginal criminal justice. You might become a policy analyst, evaluating key policies that impact Aboriginal communities with a focus on social issues and justice.
You might also find work in the following sectors:
- Advocacy
- Community outreach
- Policing
- Security and intelligence
- Correctional services
- Court administration
- Parliamentary advising
- Crime analysis
- Policy development/analysis
- Research.
Industry trends
Approaches to criminal justice within Australia are evolving to focus on the development of policies and practices that are evidence-based, community centred and culturally appropriate. Addressing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal Australians within the justice system and action to ‘close the gap’ between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians across other interconnected areas such as health, education, housing and employment will drive demand for skilled, knowledgeable and culturally responsive practitioners.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
