Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
PostgraduateGRF-MCJ-GCE2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Crime, the causes of crime, and justice
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.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 16 Feb 2025,
- 29 June 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice
About this degree
KNOWLEDGE
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice will have broad theoretical and technical knowledge of criminology, criminal justice, and related public policy debates.
SKILLS
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice will have:
- cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise a professional understanding a about criminological and criminal justice problems
- cognitive skills to think critically about and to evaluate contemporary crime and criminal justice ideas
- technical skills in research methods
- communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of foundational criminological theory
- communication skills to transfer professional understanding and ideas about evidence-based policy to stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Graduates of this Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:
- to make high level, independent judgments in the conceptualisation, planning, and justification of a research or evaluation project
- to plan, implement and evaluate a broad range of functions with responsibility and accountability.
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.
Recommended study pattern
- Students must complete 4 core subjects to complete this degree.
- Start with CCJ744 Applied Criminological Theory
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice, students must complete four core subjects.
The maximum period for completing this program is 2 years.
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.
When you have completed your final session of study, OUA students should notify Griffith University of their intention to graduate with the award of Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Please contact Griffith (OUA) Services on oua.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2025 Changes
Students who commenced the Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice program prior to 2025 can complete the pre-2025 structure (as below), or new structure.
Pre 2025 Structure:
- 20CP Core Subjects
- CCJ702 Making Sense of the Criminal Justice System
- CCJ742 Criminological Theories (not offered from 2025) OR CCJ744 Applied Criminological Theory
- Plus 20CP from the following
- CCJ733 Intelligence Led Policing
- CCJ730 Interventions for Correctional Clients
- CCJ715 Minority Populations in Forensic Mental Health
- CCJ723 Developmental Crime Prevention
- CCJ707 Law and Behaviour
- CCJ713 Mental Disorder and Crime
- CCJ714 Advanced Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health
- CCJ750 Interventions and Recovery in Forensic Mental Health (Clinical)
Students that have not completed CC742 Criminological Theories should complete CCJ744 Applied Criminological Theory instead.
- 20CP Core Subjects
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $13,250
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.
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
A recognised bachelor's degree in any field from a recognised tertiary institution.
Applicants without a recognised bachelor's degree may apply for entry if they have relevant and sufficient professional experience (minimum two years) (approved by the Program Director).
In these circumstances, the applicant must supply evidence of relevant and sufficient professional experience. Such applicants, with a minimum of two years experience, will be required to provide references from their employers supporting their application for admission and attesting to their ability to complete the program. In these cases, the Program Director will make the final decision and must be satisfied as to the applicant's ability to complete such a course of study.
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to these programs are as follows:
- A minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.5
- OR a minimum score of 580 on TOEFL
- OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 92 (no score less than 22)
- OR no score less than 4 in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by GELI or ISLPR Language Services only)
- OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
- OR a minimum score of 68 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic).
English test results must be no more than two years old.
RPL/Credit may be awarded according to Griffith University policies and applicants are encouraged to contact the degree coordinator for further information.
Career opportunities
Graduates from this degree typically pursue careers in criminal justice-related fields, including crime prevention, community development, security, policing, corrections, family services, law, justice administration and policy, customs, mental and community health, local government, military services and criminal justice research organisations.
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
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.