From Prisons to Detention Centres
UndergraduateLTU-LST1PDC2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
From Prisons to Detention Centres
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically assess different forms of imprisonment in the past and present taking into account their distinctive development, functions and impacts.
- Recognise and appreciate the ethical issues that arise in relation to detention, imprisonment and other forms of confinement.
- Critically analyse the nature and role of representations in creating understandings about different forms of confinement and the people and problems associated with them.
- Communicate in a clear, coherent and knowledgeable manner about contemporary forms and practices of imprisonment and detention in Australia and selected countries.
- The Emergence of the Prison
- The Panopticon
- The Total Institution
- Asylums and Reformatories
- Colonialism and Confinement
- First Nations Resistance
- Immigration Detention Centres
Where did the modern prison and detention centre come from? In this subject you will explore how present day imprisonment practices are part of a long tradition that includes workhouses, asylums, missions and reserves, juvenile reformatories and internment camps. We investigate how, in varying domestic and international contexts, imprisonment and other forms of confinement have been justified and used as a response to social problems and political conflicts. We reflect upon the implications of this for the individuals and communities most affected, and how prisons and detention centres shape society more broadly. The relationship between borders, colonisation and imprisonment is also considered, raising questions about power, human rights and the role of states in a globalised world.
This is a level 1 subject. This subject includes live sessions with the expectation of student attendance and participation.
- Online Quizzes (1000 words equivalent) (25%)
- Presentation (800 words equivalent) (20%)
- Written assessments (2000 words equivalent) (55%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed HUS1PDC (From Prisons to Detention Centres: Interrogating Containment) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
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.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-CRM-DEG
Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-CPS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DIP
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol 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 us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.