Associate Degree of Criminology and Criminal Justice
UndergraduateUSQ-CCJ-ADG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Unlock entry to the criminal justice system
Learn about the Australian criminal justice sector. You’ll cover crime investigation, policing and more. Explore justice for groups like youth and minorities. Build professional skills. Think about criminals and victims.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 2 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 16
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Associate Degree of Criminology and Criminal Justice
About this degree
At the completion of the Associate Degree of Criminology and Criminal Justice, students should be able to:
- Productively transfer discipline-based competencies in criminology and criminal justice to further learning and professional contexts.
- Critically evaluate multiple sources of evidence in developing their own individual viewpoint.
- Clearly and coherently present ideas and logical arguments in a range of modes that are fit for purpose.
- Act as responsible, ethical citizens based on respect for diversity of cultures and peoples, both locally and globally.
- Apply relevant criminological theories to researching, planning and achieving effective solutions to complex criminological problems.
- Participate both autonomously and collaboratively in informed debates, discussions and activities to produce new ideas, processes and artefacts.
- Gain the knowledge to explore the nature and causes of crime, examine the function of the criminal justice system and develop skills for researching crime and crime-related issues. Learn about current crime intervention and prevention strategies through the criminal justice system and external agencies, and benefit from opportunities to engage with professionals working within the criminal justice sector and associated agencies. In preparation for your career, obtain industry experience and develop work-ready skills in areas such as crime scene investigation, research design, policy development, critical analysis, communications, and working with vulnerable populations.
Recommended study pattern
Year 1
CRI1111 Criminology
CRI1121 Crime and Justice
CRI2212 Police and Society
FNA1002 First Nation Perspective of Australian History
HAC1000 The Skilful Communicator
CRI2221 Understanding the Social Sciences
CRI1122 Race, Diversity, Crime and Justice
CRI2211 Crime, Justice and the Media.
Year 2
CRI2213 Youth, Deviance and Juvenile Justice
CRI3311 Investigating Crime
CRI3312 Green Criminology
CRI1123 Punishment and Reform
CRI2222 Victimology in Context
CRI3321 Criminal Minds: Forensic and Criminal Psychology
LAW3479 Family Violence and Child Protection Law or EDU3325 Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect for Helping Professionals
LAW3491 Law and Justice Placement or EDU3325 Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect for Helping Professionals.
Award requirements
Completion of 16 units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,323
Indicative total fee $32,646
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.
Learn more about USQ.
Explore USQ courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 24
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 24
How to apply
University of Southern Queensland manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to University of Southern Queensland who will contact you to discuss this degree.
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Entry requirements
- ATAR - 61.00 or equivalent; proof of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements is also required.
- Completed VET qualifications can be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
- Work and Life experience may be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
Students need to satisfy the applicable English Language Proficiency requirements.
- Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the UniSQ Credit and Exemption Procedure. Claims for credit for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with UniSQ policy.
Career opportunities
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Customs Officers | $75K to $93K | N/A^ |
Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Prison Officers | $93K to $120K | Up 27.7% |
^ There is no data available