Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Sociology

Undergraduate | 2026

Mode

On Campus

Start date

February, July

Campus

Adelaide City Campus

Duration

3 year(s) full-time

Program code

BCRIM

Study as

Full time or part time

Indicative annual fees

Commonwealth Supported

Non-tuition fees

SATAC code

ABP147

Prerequisite

None

Assumed knowledge

None

Entry scores

2025 CUT-OFFS Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based):70 Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based):B,B,B

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

Secondary education (Year 12)

Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.

Higher education study

Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.

Work and life experience

Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
Qualify for special entry.

Note:

Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.

Why Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice?

Think big and change the world.

From individuals to institutions and everything in between, you’ll learn how societies are shaped and changed, and you’ll be equipped to think critically about crime and criminal justice. Applying theory to reality, your sociological knowledge will empower you to contribute to pressing social issues like improved crime prevention and rehabilitation strategies. You’ll gain insights into Australian criminal law and understand how social norms and inequities influence experiences within the criminal justice system.

Alongside specialised sociology and criminology knowledge you’ll develop essential communications, research, analysis and critical thinking skills. You’ll graduate as a sought after catalyst for positive social change.

Overview

The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Sociology will develop your understanding of sociological concepts, theories and issues to complement your growing knowledge of criminology and criminal justice.

You’ll explore contemporary criminal justice issues, crime control and corrections and build a solid understanding of Australian criminal law. You’ll learn to apply sociological perspectives to complex social challenges and consider the significance of social difference and inequalities.

Learning from criminology and sociology experts you’ll develop specialised knowledge alongside broad and transferable skills in research, communications and critical thinking. A practical or research-based internship in your final year will guide and focus your career aspirations. You’ll graduate well positioned to pursue a range of opportunities within the areas of justice, advocacy and criminology.

What you'll learn

In the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Sociology at Adelaide University, you’ll explore the complexities of crime, justice and social inequalities and problems.

In your first year, you will build foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system and crime issues within Australia. You’ll develop an understanding of pathways into crime and consider how social inequities such as socio-economic status, race and gender impact crime and justice. Through practical and hands-on approaches, you’ll begin to develop the sociological skills and knowledge to shape solutions to social issues.

Building on the foundational knowledge of criminology and criminal justice, your second year will take a deeper look at crime control and punishment, and policing in Australia. You’ll further unpack social disadvantage and consider why such issues persist in contemporary society. You’ll take a big picture view of social theory and an analytic view of contemporary social crises.

In your final year you will explore the practical application of criminal law and policy decisions. You’ll dig into criminology issues and the conflicts of contemporary societies both locally and abroad. You’ll consider the impact of digital technologies on society and the social implications of technological change.

Your career aspirations will be guided and developed throughout your degree, culminating in a practical or research-based internship during your third year in an area of your interest.

The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice is also available with majors in the following:

Aboriginal Studies

Anthropology

Gender and Sexuality Studies

History

International Security

Politics

Population and Migration Studies

Social Research and Policy Analysis.

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 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 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 Introduction to Criminal Justice	Course code CRIM1001	Units 6
	Course name Crime Problems in Australia	Course code LAWS1016	Units 6
	Course name The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology	Course code SOCI1000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice	Course code SOCI1001	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Policing and Crime Control	Course code CRIM2000	Units 6
	Course name Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World	Course code SOCI2004	Units 6
	Course name Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory	Course code SOCI2008	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 Mediating Social Life	Course code SOCI2005	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Core course	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 The Social Life of Technology	Course code POLI3005	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Criminal Law and Criminal Process	Course code LAWS3004	Units 6
	Course name What Tears Societies Apart	Course code POLI3006	Units 6
	Course name Imagining New Social Worlds	Course code POLI3007	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name The Social Life of Technology	Course code POLI3005	Units 6
Course name What Tears Societies Apart	Course code POLI3006	Units 6
Course name Imagining New Social Worlds	Course code POLI3007	Units 6
Course name The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology	Course code SOCI1000	Units 6
Course name Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice	Course code SOCI1001	Units 6
Course name Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World	Course code SOCI2004	Units 6
Course name Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory	Course code SOCI2008	Units 6
Course name Mediating Social Life	Course code SOCI2005	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Introduction to Criminal Justice	Course code CRIM1001	Units 6
	Course name Crime Problems in Australia	Course code LAWS1016	Units 6
	Course name The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology	Course code SOCI1000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice	Course code SOCI1001	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Policing and Crime Control	Course code CRIM2000	Units 6
	Course name Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World	Course code SOCI2004	Units 6
	Course name Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory	Course code SOCI2008	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 Mediating Social Life	Course code SOCI2005	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Core course	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 The Social Life of Technology	Course code POLI3005	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Criminal Law and Criminal Process	Course code LAWS3004	Units 6
	Course name What Tears Societies Apart	Course code POLI3006	Units 6
	Course name Imagining New Social Worlds	Course code POLI3007	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Introduction to Criminal Justice	Course code CRIM1001	Units 6
	Course name Crime Problems in Australia	Course code LAWS1016	Units 6
	Course name The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology	Course code SOCI1000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice	Course code SOCI1001	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Policing and Crime Control	Course code CRIM2000	Units 6
	Course name Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World	Course code SOCI2004	Units 6
	Course name Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory	Course code SOCI2008	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 Mediating Social Life	Course code SOCI2005	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Core course	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 The Social Life of Technology	Course code POLI3005	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Criminal Law and Criminal Process	Course code LAWS3004	Units 6
	Course name What Tears Societies Apart	Course code POLI3006	Units 6
	Course name Imagining New Social Worlds	Course code POLI3007	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Introduction to Criminal Justice	Course code CRIM1001	Units 6
	Course name Crime Problems in Australia	Course code LAWS1016	Units 6
	Course name The Remarkable Power of Society: An Introduction to Sociology	Course code SOCI1000	Units 6
	Course name Elective	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 Making Sense of Societies: Sociology in Practice	Course code SOCI1001	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Policing and Crime Control	Course code CRIM2000	Units 6
	Course name Social Disadvantage in an Unequal World	Course code SOCI2004	Units 6
	Course name Think Big: Changing the World Through Social Theory	Course code SOCI2008	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 Mediating Social Life	Course code SOCI2005	Units 6
	Course name Core course	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Core course	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 The Social Life of Technology	Course code POLI3005	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Criminal Law and Criminal Process	Course code LAWS3004	Units 6
	Course name What Tears Societies Apart	Course code POLI3006	Units 6
	Course name Imagining New Social Worlds	Course code POLI3007	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Career outcomes

Through developing a deep understanding of criminological and sociological concepts, theories and issues you will be well prepared to operate compassionately and ethically within the complex criminal justice sector. Your knowledge of both criminology and sociology will empower you to develop innovative solutions and respond creatively in a rapidly evolving and diverse industry. You’ll be especially sought after by government departments and specialised advocacy and not-for-profit organisations. You could become a community outreach coordinator, helping develop programs to educate communities about crime prevention. Maybe you will be a Policy Analyst, evaluating the effectiveness of policies related to crime and justice.

Your broad skills in research, communications, analysis and critical thinking are highly transferable and in demand across a range of industries. You might work in the following sectors:

Policing
Security and intelligence
Correctional services
Court administration
Parliamentary advising
Crime analysis
Advocacy
Policy development/analysis
Research.

Industry trends

As social welfare and diversity agendas continue to evolve within the government, not-for-profit and private sectors so will the need for skilled, knowledgeable and agile workers. Demand within roles such as case management, community support and criminology - which are particularly suited to graduates of this degree - are expected to grow by up to 25% over the coming years (Seek Career Insights).

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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.

This degree is offered at the following campus(es)

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.

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Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Sociology