The Criminal Justice System
UndergraduateUSA-JUST10182025
Course information for 2025 intake
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 5 Jan 2025
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Start dates
- 13 Jan 2025,
- 30 June 2025
- Price from
- $2,300
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
The Criminal Justice System
About this subject
By the end of this 10 week course, you'll be able to:
- Understand the history, aims and purpose of the criminal justice system.
- Explain the different roles that criminal justice institutions and those employed by them play in criminal justice processes.
- Compare theories of punishment and how these have changed over time and across cultural contexts.
- Analyse how the criminal justice system can produce inequalities and miscarriages of justice.
- Critically interpret current issues reported in Australian and international broadcast media outlets.
- Identify key ethical and legal obligations associated with radio reporting and podcasting.
- Understanding the System
- Approaches to Justice
- Police and Policing
- Courts and Prosecutions
- Sentencing and Punishment
- Corrections
- Victims
- Miscarriages of Justice
- Alternative Justice Mechanisms
- Crime Prevention Paradigms
In this course you will examine the major institutions in the criminal justice system, including the role of government agencies and social institutions in developing policies and practices of punishment and other responses to criminal behaviour and deviant acts.
In this course you will examines the aims and operation of the criminal justice system. You will study the roles of police, courts, and corrections in responding to crime and managing offenders and victims. In this course you will examines how justice is delivered while also considering how inequalities and miscarriages of justice can create unjust outcomes.
UniSA Online’s 10-week short courses give you the flexibility to upskill in a certain area, stay current with developments in your field, diversify your knowledge, or even explore a new direction in your career – without having to commit to the time and cost of a full university degree.
This is a first-year course from UniSA Online’s Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Delivered 100% online, you’ll be able to study where and when it suits you. Access online academic and student support seven days a week, fit study around work and life commitments, view learning resources 24/7, and log in to the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device. Should your course have an exam it will be scheduled for Australian Central Standard Time or Australian Central Daylight Time, depending on the time of the year.
- Test/Quiz (20%)
- Report (20%)
- Multiple (Assessment Plan, Essay) (60%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is ranked as one of the best young universities in the world, and is the number one university in Australia for graduate employability. UniSA offers over 200 world-class degrees that are informed by industry and delivered with a highly practical approach to teaching and learning, and is a valuable partner with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about UniSA.
Explore UniSA courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 21
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 21
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Students must be aged 17 or older by the time teaching commences for their course of study, in accordance with UniSA’s Selection and entry to programs policy.
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.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
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.