This degree is closed to new applications. You may be interested in other courses in Criminal justice
Bachelor of Justice Studies
UndergraduateTAS-JUS-DEG2023
Course information for 2023 intake
Pursue what’s right in justice policy and practice
Work towards a career in social, environmental, or criminal justice systems. Consider laws and ethics beyond national borders. Explore justice concepts and theory. With problem solving skills you’ll be prepared to make changes for a better world.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Justice Studies
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Communicate independently, by written, oral and technology supported modes, to demonstrate comprehension of the social, environmental, legal, ethical and political issues affecting justice policy and practice.
- Demonstrate judgement and intellectual independence in identifying and solving problems, applying knowledge, analytical and technical skills as a basis for decision-making and planning across key justice issues locally, nationally and internationally.
- Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex factual scenarios and make evidence based, professional and ethical conclusions.
- Apply disciplinary knowledge and skills with flexibility and creativity to investigate justice issues, and to create new ways of understanding the world and addressing perceived injustice.
The world needs passionate change leaders, now more than ever. Whether you choose to protect natural resources, protect the world’s most vulnerable, lead emergency response teams or participate in foreign aid, becoming a ‘justice practitioner’ starts with a Bachelor of Justice Studies.
Learn about justice issues affecting the places where you live, work, play and study and how they connect to wider regional, national and international concerns. You will be exposed to interdisciplinary expertise and world leading experts in a unique program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to improve justice policy and practice. Prepare yourself to address perceived injustice issues that cross a range of societal, criminal, indigenous and environmental areas.
Discover the nature of justice, harm and morality, and consider the efficacy of formal (laws, regulation, policing) and informal (organised protest, community, non-profit and volunteer organisations, online platforms) channels for achieving justice.
Turn your passion into action with research-led learning experiences across different justice scenarios. Learn to interrogate a range of complex justice issues including domestic and international crime, environmental threats such as climate change, domestic violence, international terror, humanitarian crises, and species extinction.
Throughout the degree you will be asked to consider ethical issues related to the representation of Indigenous communities, histories and events. You will explore issues important to Indigenous people and produce analytical and fair work that pursues social justice for all Indigenous experiences, both in terms of how these experiences are represented in and by criminal and social justice.
In an environment where government and non-government organisations are now partnering together to overcome justice problems, as a graduate you will be prepared for a diverse choice of career options. Gain experience and network through work-integrated learning opportunities and exchange programs across more than 100 locations globally. Develop your skills to work in and across national government agencies, international government and non-government organisations, and the non-profit volunteer and community sector.
Imagine working for an international organisation like the United Nations, Amnesty International, Australian Human Rights Commission, and Australian Red Cross, within the Police, Department of Justice or Correctional Services.
Develop your research, analytical and communication skills through presentations, essays and report writing. You will be able to assess justice scenarios such as IRAQ reports and community resilience audits and reflect on the learnings of work-placed activities with offenders and in the juvenile justice settings.
Available fully online across Australia, and on-campus from Hobart. Our degree works with you, your family, your career, and your lifestyle.
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended. If students are undertaking part-time study, we recommend that students complete all first year compulsory subjects prior to completing elective subjects to maximise success.
Year 1. 8 subjects in first year including:
- 6 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-HGA101 Sociology: Understanding the Social World
- TAS-HGA107 Crime and Criminal Justice
- TAS-HIR101 Introduction to International Relations
- TAS-HPP102 Justice in Practice*
- TAS-HPP103 Justice in Theory*
- TAS-HSP101 Introduction to Emergency Management
- 2 UTAS electives
Year 2. 8 subjects in second year including:
- 6 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-HGA259 Crime and Deviance
- TAS-HGA280 Social Research
- TAS-HPP216 Key Concepts in Social Justice
- TAS-HPP217 Critical Indigenous Policy*
- TAS-HPP222 Modern Political Ideologies
- TAS-HSP235 Emergency Management Cycle
- 2 UTAS electives
Year 3. 8 subjects in third year including:
- 4 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-HAB308 Indigenous Justice Issues
- TAS-HGA332 Working with Offenders
- TAS-HGA344 Green Criminology and Environmental Crime
- TAS-HIR304 Order, Violence and Justice
- 4 UTAS electives
*Transition Arrangements
From 1/12/2023, three subjects are changing for students who have not yet completed the following:
- HPP102 Justice in Practice changes to HGA108 Crime and Society
- HPP103 Justice in Theory changes to HGA102 Sociology: Experiencing Social Life
- HPP217 Critical Indigenous Policy changes to HSS207 Human Rights and Global Justice
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 24 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 3-7 years from commencement.
- 6 compulsory subjects:
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $39,660
The amount shown here is 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.
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
Successful completion of a minimum of 2 (25 credit points) undergraduate subjects of study within an equivalent AQF level program or higher.
Successful completion of any 4 OUA open access subjects of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified
ATAR: 50 or higher
Successful completion of certificate IV or higher
Supporting Statement/Personal Competency Statement with extensive and sustained work experience
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here. https://www.utas.edu.au/study/apply/admission-requirements/recognition-of-prior-learning
Career opportunities
Imagine working for an international organisation like the United Nations, Amnesty International, Australian Human Rights Commission, and Australian Red Cross, within the Police, Department of Justice or Correctional Services.In an environment where government and non-government organisations are now partnering together to overcome justice problems, as a graduate you will be prepared for a diverse choice of career options. You’ll graduate with skills to work in and across national government agencies, international government and non-government organisations, and the non-profit and community sectors.
Our graduates pursue employment in a wide range of occupations such as:
- Welfare Officers
- Youth Workers or Advocates
- Victim Support Workers
- Human Rights Advocates
- NGO campaigner
- advise on environmental policy as a public servant
- academic career by pursuing higher degree research
In an ever-evolving sector, you’ll have the skills to find your niche.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Legislators | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.