Help make a difference in the justice system.
Put the law into context with this double degree. You'll have the opportunity to work in legal practice or across the related field of criminology.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- # It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Only a full time option is available to international students studying on a Student visa.
- # It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Only a full time option is available to international students studying on a Student visa.
Put the law into context with this double degree. You'll have the opportunity to work in legal practice or across the related field of criminology.
You will cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. You will engage in active learning experiences and gain practical skills right from your first year. For example, you will observe volunteer lawyers conducting client interviews at an advice clinic operated by Suncoast Community Legal Service.
You will research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in our new Moot Court venue. You can further develop your skills by working with Legal Service clients under legal supervision in law professional practice, or undertake a legal internship.
The Criminology component will hone your focus to the causes and impacts of crime, and what works in reducing crime and improving justice from an applied social science perspective. You'll be prepared for real world challenges through guest lectures and opportunities for practical learning.
Completion of this program ensures you meet the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. With a depth of knowledge and understanding in both law, and criminology and justice, graduates have extended career prospects.
Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
Career opportunities
This double degree will be valuable for those graduates who intend to practise in criminal law. A broad range of career opportunities exist for graduates, in areas such as legal research, law reform research and policy development, advocacy, political advising; corruption and white collar crime investigations, prosecutions and crime prevention.
Registration
The degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. Graduates must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
Program structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5)
COR109 Counselling Children and Young people
LAW101 Counselling and Addictions
LAW102 Supervision Practices
LAW103 Clinic Preparation
LAW104 Clinic 1
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Clinic 2
LAW202 Clinic 3
LAW203 Communication and Thought
LAW204 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW205 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW206 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW301 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW302 Torts A
LAW303 Torts B
LAW304 Contracts A
LAW401 Contracts B
LAW402 Property A
LAW403 Property B
LAW404 Constitutional Law
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Equity & Trusts
LAW306 Corporations Law
LAW307 Civil Procedure
LAW309 Administrative Law
LAW310 Professional Conduct
LAW311 Evidence
LAW316 Regulation
LAW318 Family Law
LAW405 Employment Law
LAW406 Commercial Law
LAW407 Health Law
LAW408 Children & the Law
LAW410 Law Professional Practice
LAW411 Equal Opportunity Law
LAW412 Advocacy
LAW414 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW415 Planning and Environment Law
LAW416 Elder Law and Succession
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Intellectual Property
LAW441 Public International Law
Please note: Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator.
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (6)
CRM101 Private International Law
CRM102 International Human Rights Law
CRM103 Legal Internship
CRM105 Sports Law
SCS101 Transnational & Comparative Law
SCS110 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
Advanced courses (5)
CRM202 Law Honours Thesis
CRM204 Introduction to Criminology
CRM301 Understanding Crime
CRM304 Punishment and Corrections
SCS225 Policing
Elective courses (4)
Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering or USC Law School .
Suggested electives for Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Criminology and Justice include:
CRM201 Foundations of Human Behaviour
JST202 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
CRM203 Diversity, Crime and Justice
CRM302 Applied Crime Prevention
CRM303 Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice
CRM305 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
CRM307 Social Research
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 480 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete 5 introductory level (100 coded) required law courses including COR109
- Complete 14 advanced level (200/300/400 coded) required law courses
- Complete 6 law electives
- Complete 6 required introductory level (100 coded) criminology courses
- Complete 5 required advanced level (200/300 coded) criminology courses
- Complete 4 elective courses
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator
- Honours in Law available for high performing students