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Study postgraduate online with Griffith University through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

Postgraduate studies in criminology and criminal justice provide a pathway to professional advancement for those working in these fields. The degrees are designed to provide an overview of criminological theory and research, the workings of the criminal justice system and allied organisations, insight into key policy debates and an understanding of research methods.
The degrees introduce social and psychological explanations of crime, as well as contemporary debates in criminological theory. Beyond the core elements of the degree in policing, community development, crime prevention, law and behaviour and social science research methods you will have the opportunity to study electives from criminal justice, research practice, policing, corrections and crime prevention.

Gain an overview of the theory, research methodology, and the workings of the criminal justice system. Study crime analysis, mapping, intelligence, forensic mental health, prevention, and law and behaviour to work in criminal justice fields.

Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice

This degree is delivered in collaboration with Queensland Health&#39;s Forensic Mental Health Service to provide postgraduate professional training for current or future forensic mental health practitioners, including nurses, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. It also provides an extension to undergraduate degrees in nursing, applied science, criminology and criminal justice, and applied psychology. The degree provides advanced training to enhance and develop specialist skills and knowledge to work more effectively with the forensic mental health population. You will gain a thorough understanding of research-based knowledge in forensic mental health and how it is applied in practice.

Become a highly valued forensic mental health specialist able to practise at an advanced level. Study assessment, legislation and policies, research and evaluation. Examine interventions with offenders, justice and crime, law and behaviour.

Master of Forensic Mental Health

Deepen your knowledge of the justice system and gain insight into key policy debates and contemporary research methods. Graduates find roles in criminal justice related fields such as crime prevention, community health and local government.

Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Graduate Diploma of Criminological Research Studies is an 80 credit point program designed to provide graduates in the criminology and criminal justice discipline with the opportunity to undertake advanced study in research methodology and to undertake supervised research work in the discipline area appropriate to their research trajectory.The program provides the necessary preparation for entry into a higher degree research program (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or equivalent program) for applicants who do not possess the required qualifications for direct admission into these programs. The program will also be available to students who wish to undertake advanced studies in the identified disciplinary fields but who may not wish to progress to MPhil or PhD study.Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for admission to MPhil or PhD candidature subject to fulfilment of the requirements for candidature as specified in the <a href="http://policies.griffith.edu.au/pdf/Higher%20Degree%20Research%20Policy.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Higher Degree Research Policy</a>. The grade achieved will determine eligibility for admission to either a PhD or MPhil candidature.The Program Director will be responsible for the overall supervision of students in the program and for monitoring their progress throughout the program.Students may choose to exit the Graduate Diploma program (after successfully completing the specified courses) with the Graduate Certificate in Criminological Research Studies.

Become an expert in criminal justice methodology. Develop a thesis on the subject of your choice. Hone your skills under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Use your qualification as a stepping stone into a Masters Degree or PhD.

Graduate Diploma of Criminological Research Studies

Crime and Mental Health

Understanding Victims and Offenders

Fraud and Cybercrime

Crime and Criminal Justice

Gender, Crime and Justice

The Criminal Justice System

Introduction to Criminology

Psychological Contributions to Understanding Crime

Critical Issues in Criminology

Mental Disorder and Crime

The subject begins with a broad examination of cybercrime and moves to a specific focus on cyber fraud. The subject explores contemporary criminological theoretical approaches to explaining cyber fraud, analyses offender methodologies and examines cyber fraud victimology. The subject addresses contemporary approaches to prevention and enforcement in Australia and across the world. The role of relevant government, law enforcement, regulatory agencies and the corporate and private sector in the prevention and detection of cyber fraud is addressed.

Understanding and Preventing Cyber Fraud

This is a survey subject that aims to introduce students to the central concepts of modern theories of crime, linkages with their historic antecedents and criteria for evaluating theoretical validity. A range of different perspectives will be presented covering the dominant sociological and psychological explanations of crime and criminality. On completion, students will have an understanding of the nature of theory, the ideas of key theorists and have the ability to critically evaluate theoretical explanations.Using an inter-disciplinary approach, this course explores how offenders and offending have been conceptualised, and the consequent implications for the criminal justice system and interventions /programs that we develop and implement to address offending. There are a diverse range of theoretical frameworks used to understand crime; in this course we will particularly focus on sociological, psychological, biological, and situational/environmental perspectives. The types of policies and interventions which have been promoted, and adopted to respond to offenders, have been influenced by the extent to which weight is given to individual, social or environmental factors.This subject will consider how different theoretical approaches can be applied to understand a selection of contemporary crime problems, the strengths and weaknesses of different explanations and the implications for prevention and intervention.

Through the lens of sociological, psychological and biological perspectives, you’ll appreciate how offenders and offending have been conceptualized. Use your learning to articulate the resulting implications on the criminal justice system.

Criminological Theories

This subject provides an opportunity for students to integrate theoretical knowledge and empirical analytic skills acquired in their program through a practical research problem. Students will be expected to complete a small research project (based on topics provided by the degree convenor).
This subject integrates the knowledge and skills acquired through the Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice or Master of Forensic Mental Health. As a capstone degree, it provides an opportunity for students to put into practice this knowledge and skills through conducting a small research project. For feasibility and ethical reasons, the degree convenor will provide a list of research problems. Under the supervision of the degree convenor, students will select a problem, develop and implement a design, and write up a report. Although the project is an individual responsibility, students will work collaboratively to discuss problems and issues at different stages of the process.
CCJ747 should be completed in the final session of study. Students must have permission of the Program Director or Advisor to enrol earlier in their program.

Combine your criminological knowledge and research skills into your individual project. You’ll define a complex crime or criminal justice problem, then develop and implement a project design, and write up your research report.

Individual Project

This subject was previously known as Advanced Criminological Theories.This course provides students with a deep understanding of the core concepts and principles that underpin contemporary criminological theories. By exploring the problems, questions and ideas that have shaped modern criminological thought, students will gain knowledge of the contexts that influence the emergence and reception of modern criminological theories and the modes of social intervention that different criminological perspectives expressly or implicitly propose. Additionally, this course will equip students with the tools to evaluate the efficacy of criminological theories in explaining crime and responses to crime. Upon completing this course, students will be able to apply criminological theories to crime prevention and criminal justice programs. Theories covered will vary from year to year but are likely to include: social process and control theories, theories of crime and place, developmental theories, and theories of criminal justice.Students who have passed CCJ744/7047CCJ Advanced Criminological Theories, CCJ742/7042CCJ Criminological Theories should not enrol in this course.

Critically evaluate criminological theory and empirical research for crime policy and practice. Study crime and the urban environment, control and rational choice theories, inequality and opportunity, and social reactions to crime.

Applied Criminological Theory

This subject examines the major, cutting-edge questions for criminology today. These include penal politics, policing, media and crime, restorative justice, the prison and state crime. It introduces students to the contemporary key thinkers and contributors in the field in Australia and overseas. Attention is given to the relationship between research, policy and politics in linking knowledge to social change.In this subject, students will read and discuss challenging and thought-provoking work of both Australian and international scholars in the field of criminology and criminal justice. As the purpose of the subject is to deepen students&#39; understanding of criminology through examining cutting-edge theory and research, the issues of focus will vary, but may include penal politics, policing, restorative justice and other emerging innovations, trafficking, transnational crime and state crime.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Contemporary key thinkers present cutting-edge criminology questions on penal politics, policing, media and crime, restorative justice and state crime. Probe the relationship between research and  policy in linking knowledge to social change.

Justice and Crime

This subject was previously known as Qualitative Skills for Criminologists.This course provides students with the opportunity to develop practical skills in collecting, analysing, and presenting qualitative data. It begins with an overview of the philosophical, practical, and ethical issues involved in conducting qualitative research. Students will be introduced to a wide range of qualitative data collection and analysis methods. They will learn how to organise, analyse, and write up qualitative research data. Throughout the course, we will take a hands-on approach to developing research skills and a critical evaluative perspective on the research process.

Hone your practical skills in collecting, analysing and presenting qualitative data. Understand the issues of research design, ethics and politics, and identify criteria to evaluate research in a critical review of published work.

Qualitative Social Research

This subject was previously known as Quantitative Skills for Criminologists.This subject is designed to equip students with the skills needed to process and analyse raw quantitative social science data.We see statistics everywhere. &quot;There was a 20% reduction in crime rates in the past year&quot;; &quot;offenders with social support networks are 1.4 times more likely to successfully complete drug court orders&quot;. Where do these numbers come from? How do we interpret them? And how do we know whether we can trust them? Learning about how to interpret, carry out, and report quantitative analyses is important in criminology and in social sciences in general, as it provides the skills to understand, interpret, and criticise the statistics that surround us. Further, it will provide a range of fundamental skills critical to doing research and evaluation projects in a number of different sectors.This course will cover the nature and use of statistics in criminological and criminal justice research, the description of samples and populations, as well as the tools to describe data and relationships, to test statistical hypotheses, and begin to examine multivariate analysis. It will also introduce formats for reporting and writing about quantitative data.The value of statistics is not limited to academic projects. These are very marketable and valuable skills that are of use in other public and commercial organisations.

Sharpen your ability to process and analyse raw quantitative social science data using SPSS for Windows. Study the use of statistics in criminal justice, the description of samples and the tools to describe data and relationships.

Quantitative Social Research

This subject was previously known as Research, Evaluation and Policy Analysis.This subject is designed to teach students the logic of research methodology in the social sciences. Students will learn how to articulate a researchable problem, formulate research hypotheses, logically determine what research methodology provides the best avenue to test these hypotheses and carry out research. Students will also develop the necessary skills to analyse and write criminal justice policies.The subject is designed to extend student capacity as “intelligent users” of research who are equipped to critically analyse the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions. The course provides an overview of critical concepts and skills for planning to conduct research. By the end of the course, students will have the ability and knowledge required to design, execute and present research and evaluation projects, and critically assess criminal justice and criminology research, policies and programs.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Take a look at the logic behind research methodology in criminal justice and criminology. Use your skills in analysis and writing criminal justice policies and interventions to plan, develop and justify a research project.

Research and Evaluation Methods

This subject examines the relationship between mental disorder and criminal offending. The subject aims to increase students&#39; knowledge and understanding of models of criminal behaviour and mental disorders, and the potential interaction between the two. The subject aims to develop in students a critical appreciation of the issues involved in defining both mental disorder and criminality, and an evidence-based understanding of the extent to which criminal behaviour is caused by mental disorder. The subject also addresses specific mental disorders, in the context of their potential relationship with criminal offending. The subject aims to develop students&#39; knowledge and critical thinking skills applicable in a forensic mental health setting.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Investigate the legal constructs of insanity and the psychiatric constructs of intellectual disability and mental disorders. Evaluate the relationship between crime, dangerousness and mental disorders in the context of forensic mental health.

Course results for Griffith University Postgraduate Criminology Subjects

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