Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ1132024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Examine crime and the ways it’s defined and explained in contemporary society. Study the relationship between crime and class, youth and crime (and the response), gender and crime, and the over-representation of Indigenous people.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Appraise historic and contemporary definitions and measurements of crime
- Identify and apply relevant theoretical frameworks for interpreting and intervening in crime
- Identify how social contexts have consequences for the operations of the criminal justice system and reflect on how changing values and beliefs interact with individual and societal approaches to crime
- Employ reflective and empathetic communication skills to recognise and appropriately respond to different contexts and stakeholder groups
- Interrogate sources and uses of information to determine its utility in criminal justice decision-making
- What is criminology? What is criminal justice?
- How is crime defined and measured? And why does it matter?
- How common is crime? Who are the perpetrators? Who are the victims?
- Is crime a way to help get what we want?
- Why do some communities have more crime than others?
- Does the physical environment affect crime?
- Why doesn't everyone commit crime?
- How do people learn to be criminals?
- Are offenders made or born?
- Why does offending change over the life course?
- Who decides what is criminal and does it matter?
- How does the criminal justice system respond to crime?
This subject introduces students to criminology and criminal justice. It begins with an examination of the nature of crime, and the ways in which it is defined and explained in contemporary society. A major emphasis of the subject is exploring the dimensions of crime, particularly the relationship between crime and social class (corporation and white collar crime), the links between youth and crime and youth and the criminal justice response, the relationship between gender and crime, and the reasons for the huge over-representation of indigenous people in all parts of the criminal justice system in Australia. The subject also surveys the ways in which crime and criminal behaviour are "explained" via a review of the contemporary literature in criminology theory. The course concludes with an exploration of the criminal justice system as a response to crime.
- 4 Online Quizzes (40%)
- Scenario Based Problem (30%)
- Policy Proposal Consideration (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-CCJ15 (Not currently available)
Others
Students who have completed more than 2 OUA units (GPA 4.0+) and are planning on completing the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged to enrol in the degree. Part of this process will involve registering your study plan with Griffith University, which will help to ensure that you are studying the required units.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
8 student respondents between 20 May - 10 June 2024.
87%of students felt the study load was manageable
87%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
UndergraduateGRF-CCJ-DEG
UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG
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