BlogUniversityWhat It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University

What It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University

Criminology Monash - Fact Sheet

Has a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash Uni piqued your interest? Perhaps you’re interested in looking at crime through a social lens, want to know why people commit crimes and how they can be prevented, or you’re just curious about how the legal system works!

We’ve compiled all there is to know about the units, culture, assessments, cohort and what it’s really like studying this degree. 

Let’s dive in! 

What is a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University?
Core Units for this Degree
How to Get into a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University
What’s the Teaching Format?
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

What is a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University?

Essentially, criminology is the study of crime. Criminologists analyse information and collect data to understand why and how a crime was committed.

Although, it’s important to note that criminologists aren’t just interested in the straightforward facts of a crime, what they really want to know is what social, psychological or cultural factors led up to this crime. It’s all about understanding the context of a crime, why it was committed, its impact on society and how it can be prevented in the future. 

Recently, there’s been a surge in public demand for everything crime related, whether that’s listening to true crime podcasts, reading fictional crime stories or a classic whodunit series. There seems to be an increasing public understanding that criminology and the analysis of crime is never black and white, it’s a multifaceted discipline that takes into account individual factors, public influences and the legal system. 

However you came across Criminology as a subject, Monash Uni is ready to teach you all there is to know with their undergraduate program that teaches criminology through a window into our society’s values, challenges and attitudes. 

As a student in Monash’s Bachelor of Criminology, you’ll learn how to evaluate policy, identify credible evidence and develop practical solutions to contemporary crime-related issues!

Can this degree be studied in conjunction with another?

Sure can! Undertaking a double degree with Criminology at Monash is a great idea for undergrad students who want to want to broaden their knowledge, strengthen employability, enhance career flexibility or are just having trouble specialising in a single discipline! 

There are three main double degrees that are available for you to study in conjunction with a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash. These include:

You can find out more about studying double degrees at Monash right here! 

Career Paths

Once you graduate from the Bachelor of Criminology at Monash, you’ll be equipped with the necessary skills for a wide scope of professions in private and public organisations, and you’ll be confident working in the crime world and beyond! You might be interested in becoming a:

    • Criminologist 
    • Border force officer 
    • Prison psychologist 
    • Criminal profiler 
    • Criminal investigator 
    • Jury consultant
    • Insurance fraud investigator 
    • Victim support officer 
    • Youth and family worker 
    • Court support services case manager 
    • Family violence applicant practitioner 
    • Court registrar 

You’ve got a lot of options. Whether you’d like to be involved in understanding the legal system or police force, assisting those in prisons or supporting individuals and families who have been impacted by crime, a Bachelor of Criminology will get you there. 

Core Units for this Degree

To graduate from the Bachelor of Criminology at Monash Uni, you’re required to complete a total of 144 credit points.

Credit points are used by universities to measure the workload of particular subjects. This way you’re able to compare possible subjects using the credit point system to understand how much time you’ll need to commit to it.

At Monash, most of your subjects will be 6 credit points each. This means that you’ll be taking about 24 subjects throughout your 3 year degree with four each semester. 

The subjects required in a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash are broken up into four categories to most effectively underpin criminology as a discipline. While it can be a little confusing, these categories are known as:

CategoriesDescription
Expert KnowledgeThis section is designed to equip students with a foundational understanding of crime as an interconnected, complex phenomenon. Through these subjects (which we’ll explain in more detail a little later on) you’ll learn all about crime’s social, political and economic impact as well as the challenges and advantages connected with the strategies to address and prevent crime. 
Global Reach and FocusIn these subjects, you’ll be able to develop your understanding of crime through a globalisation lens. You’ll get to know all about national and international crime — their differences, similarities, challenges and limitations. 
Collaboration and InnovationThis group of subjects will teach the professional and transferable skills that are highly sought after in a workplace. You’ll get to identify and apply the skills necessary to respond to criminal concerns. You’ll learn about justice, policies, strategies, communication, collaboration and all the other aspects that make a competent and professional team.  
Free Elective StudyFinally, your elective subjects will give you a chance to broaden your knowledge by selecting subjects that you’re most interested in rather than what you’re required to do. You can either develop your criminology skills by choosing crime-related subjects or you can choose any other subject that’s up your alley! 

You can take a look at the course structure yourself right here! 

What are the Core Units?

We’ll take you through a few of the core subjects that you’ll be required to complete. Some of these will include:

CategoriesDescription
The Global Crime ProblemIn this subject, you’ll be learning about the challenges of globalisation for those responding to international and national crime. You’ll be taking a look at domestic and foreign issues relating to crime including a focus on topics such as terrorism, organised crime, war on drugs, over-policing and various government responses. 
The Complexity of CrimeThis unit will take you through the complexities of crime at a social level. You’ll be introduced to key theoretical frameworks to explain and understand crime, deviance, social norms and values. You’ll get to understand how criminality and deviancy is socially constructed and its effect on society. 
Punishment, Courts and CorrectionsThis is a unit that will teach the inner workings and functions of courts, sentencing, imprisonment, community corrections, parole and release. You’ll look at the human difference, human rights, social justice and exclusion that is conveyed through particular punishments and you’ll also be introduced to the role and basic theories of punishment in our society. 
Indigenous Justice in AustraliaIn this subject, you’ll be introduced to issues relating to Indigenous justice and injustice throughout Australia. You’ll learn about the relationship between the history and current impact of colonialism, Indigenous law and systems of justice while learning about the experiences of crime and injustice through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

All up you’ll be taking a total of 10 subjects that account for your core units. This means that you’ll be required to complete 60 units of core subjects across your 3-year degree.

Criminology Electives

To successfully graduate from the Bachelor of Criminology at Monash, you’ll also need to complete 36 credit points worth of criminology electives. You’ve got quite a few to choose from but some of these include:

    • Crime and inequality 
    • Youth, crime and justice
    • Gender, violence and society: criminal justice responses 
    • Sex, gender and crime 
    • Human rights in the criminal justice sphere 
    • Gender and family violence 
    • Developing research literacy 

Is there a built-in internship program?

Monash Uni offers its students plenty of opportunities to gain workplace experience but it’s not a feature that’s compulsory or built into the degree.

With that said, in your final year of the Bachelor of Criminology program, you’ll take two Professional Project classes where you’ll get to work closely with Monash’s industry partners so you can gain experience, enhance employability and increase your network. In these subjects you’ll be graded by your tutors and the industry to assess how you deal with crime-related situations in the real world. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to choose Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as an elective in your program. This is the next best way to get industry experience in the Bachelor of Criminology degree.

You’ll gain academic credit and understand future workplace culture in a multitude of different forms. You could undergo:

    • Internships
    • Placements 
    • Study tours 
    • Fieldwork
    • Clinical placements

You can check out Monash’s Arts Work Integrated Learning right here!

“Although it’s not a core unit, I highly recommend all students to do it because working and getting that perspective in the workforce is so important. It’s a really great opportunity — I encourage everyone to get around it.” — Georgie Bristow

Criminology Monash - Quote

How to Get into a Bachelor of Criminology at Monash University

To be guaranteed entry into the Bachelor of Criminology program at Monash Uni, you’ll be needing an ATAR of 80. However don’t stress if you haven’t achieved the mark because there are plenty of other options — Monash understands that an HSC mark is not a fair indication of your abilities, aspirations or talents. 

Alternate Pathways

As a potential student you can also apply to receive the Monash Guarantee ATAR if you’ve gotten a minimum ATAR of 70. As long as you’ve completed the prerequisites and met all other requirements, it’s a great way of applying to the course that you may have just missed the standard mark for. 

Alternatively, you may be eligible for any adjustment factor that you think may apply to you. If you’ve experienced financial hardship, difficult personal circumstances, have a disability or medical condition, come from a low socio-economic area, are mature aged or an Indigenous Australian, you may be eligible for The Monash Guarantee or the Special Entry Access Scheme.

You can take a look at all your options here!

If you haven’t gotten the ATAR, Monash still wants you. You can do it! 

Assumed Knowledge

As long as you have completed English and graduated Year 12, you’re good to go!

Otherwise, Monash also has options for VET Diploma Graduates and other alternative qualifications and prerequisites. Whoever you are, wherever you come from, if studying criminology at Monash is what you want to do, there’s a way! 

Scholarships 

Monash offers a wide scope of scholarships for potential students on account of a variety of different reasons.

You could apply to a range of different scholarships if you’ve achieved academic excellence, have experienced financial hardship or difficult personal circumstances, are an Indigenous Australian student, if you’ve been extremely engaged in your community or if you’re an elite athlete. 

You can browse the scholarships that Monash offers right here!

 

What’s the Teaching Format?

Monash Uni operates through a two semester system. This means that you can expect to undertake your studies through two main sessions a year with some pretty decent breaks in between. So, if you’re someone who values some extra holidays to refresh, work, intern or take some summer classes, the semester format may be perfect for you. 

Class Structure

As a Bachelor of Criminology student, you’ll be studying and solidifying your material through a weekly lecture and tutorial. You’ll be attending 1 lecture and 1 tutorial for each of your 4 weekly subjects. 

“It depends on each unit and how the lecturer or tutor wants to teach it but for the majority of Criminology units that I’ve taken they generally involve a 1 or 2 hour lecture where you’ll learn all the content.

 

Then you’ll have a 1 hour tutorial and that’s where you go and cement all of that knowledge and work with the tutor and work with other students to put this knowledge into practice and apply it to case studies. The tutorials are really important for cementing that knowledge.” — Georgie Bristow

With this in mind, you can expect to be on campus for around 15 hours a week which will include your 4 weekly tutorials and lectures, assessment work and some independent study to consolidate your knowledge. It sounds a little daunting but we promise you, the time will fly by! 

Criminology Monash - Class Structure

Lectures 

You can expect to have a 1 to 2 hour lecture each week to introduce you to the material.

In person, these lectures will have about 100 to 200 students in a lecture theatre at a time but sometimes there can be over 700 students enrolled in some of the popular first year classes! That’s a lot of students and plenty of opportunities to relate over classes and gain some long term pals. 

Your weekly lecture will usually involve a tutor, the head of the subject or special guest presenting and discussing content that is being displayed on a powerpoint up the front of the theatre.  

Lectures are quite a passive experience and really involve you listening carefully to what’s being discussed, taking notes and possibly coming up with some questions that you’d like to address with your tutor in an upcoming tutorial. 

Tutorials

Like lectures, you’ll attend a tutorial for each of your 4 classes a week. These are usually capped at around 25 to 30 students in each class and employ a much more participative approach than the standard lecture. 

A tutorial is a perfect time to lead discussions, answer and ask questions and listen to the tutor’s guidance because they know exactly what will help you in future assessments. Tutorials are a great place to meet some new friends and work on your communication and collaboration skills!

Assessments 

As a Bachelor of Criminology student at Monash Uni, you’re going to be completing a wide variety of formats and mediums when it comes to assessments. This will generally vary from short quizzes, essays, research projects, reflections and the formation and evaluation of policy, strategies and law. 

For example, in your core unit Crime Prevention and Crime Control, you’ll be assessed on 3 online quizzes, an intelligence analysis and finally a crime prevention strategy. Whereas in your Crime, Risk and Security Class, you’ll be marked on a research essay proposal, a research essay, a weekly reflective journal and some blog posts. 

Keep in mind this is also quite dependent on the class you’re taking. For example, essays that you’ll do in your Criminology core classes will differ from the presentations and other exercises that you’ll be graded on in your elective classes. 

Skills That You Refine and Learn 

Criminology Monash - Skills

A Bachelor of Criminology at Monash will teach some essential skills and knowledge for upcoming criminologists and other crime-related professionals. Most importantly you’ll be gaining professional and transferable skills that will help in any profession.

Some of these will include:

    • Problem solving 
    • Communication 
    • Ethical and empathetic mindset
    • Research skills 
    • Written communication 
    • Time management 
    • Collaboration 

Importantly, as someone working within the wide scope of crime, crime-related activities and the impacts of crime, you’ll need to be ethical, non-judgmental and empathetic in your mindset. Since, you’ll likely be focusing on crime through a social lens, you’ll need to be able to put emotion and instant reactions aside to discover and evaluate the real reasons for these crimes.

You’ll be constantly applying your practical and theoretical knowledge to various situations and circumstances so research skills and problem solving will be equally important.  

Want to know what the pros and cons of this degree are? Check out our article here!

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

As a student in the Bachelor of Criminology course at Monash Uni, you’ll be served and supported by Monash’s School of Social Sciences.

Alongside Criminology, Monash’s School of Social Sciences also includes students from disciplines like anthropology, human geography, politics and international relations, sociology, women’s studies and gender research and behavioural studies. So, you’ll have access to a far-reaching, experienced and knowledgeable faculty who is always willing to lend a helping hand!

Criminology’s cohort is a group of clever, passionate and empathetic students who, like you, want to analyse crime and criminal behaviour beyond black and white. Instead of finding out the basics of who’s done it and how, you and your fellow criminology students are looking for the why.

You’re looking for social, cultural, historical and personal influences that may have impacted this behaviour. You can be confident that you’ll always feel supported and welcomed as a student in the Bachelor of Criminology course at Monash Uni!

Clubs and Societies 

Monash has a huge range of societies for their current students that cover almost every interest imaginable. With over 100 student-lead clubs and societies, you’re bound to enhance your uni experience, meet some great friends and explore new interests when you find a society that peaks your interest. 

You may be interested in joining the Amnesty International club, Oxfam at Monash, Boardgames Society, Creative Writers Club, Debating Association or even the Shakespeare Company! There’s really every club you could ever need at Monash and it’s a perfect way to make some long lasting friends.

Monash Criminology Student Association

As a Criminology student it would also be a great opportunity to join the Monash Criminology Student Association.

Georgie is actually the current president and has loved contributing to the experiences, events and volunteer opportunities available to Criminology students. It’s a great way to connect with likeminded people and enhance your networks! 

Resources 

Monash understands that uni, work and home life can cause a lot of stress in some people’s lives. For this reason, Monash offers a range of student support services for all sorts of reasons.

Maybe you’d like some academic help, language support, course advice, counselling, IT support or help with disability accessibility services. Whatever your need, Monash is there to help.

You can take a look at Monash’s Health and Wellbeing page here and you can check out Monash’s study support right here.  


Gemma Billington is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and an undergraduate student at the University of Technology Sydney. While studying Journalism and Social and Political Sciences, Gemma enjoys spending her time at the gym or reading about Britain’s medieval monarchy – ideally not at the same time. She currently creates and administers social media posts for Central News and writes for the student publication, The Comma. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to study a Masters of Medieval History and is very excited about the prospect!

 

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