Interested in criminal law and justice? Make a difference within the criminal 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 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
LAW101 Equity & Trusts
LAW102 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
LAW103 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
LAW104 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Introduction to Cyber Crime
LAW202 Social Research
LAW203 Civil Procedure
LAW204 Diversity, Crime and Justice
LAW205 Administrative Law
LAW206 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
LAW301 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
LAW302 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
LAW303 Professional Placement
LAW304 Introduction to Cyber Crime
LAW401 Professional Conduct
LAW402 Regulation
LAW403 Professional Placement
LAW404 Crime Research Methods
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Working with Victims and Offenders
LAW306 International Justice and Human Rights
LAW307 Evidence
LAW309 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
LAW310 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
LAW311 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
LAW312 Professional Placement
LAW313 Introduction to Cyber Crime
LAW315 Communication and Thought
LAW316 Property Economics
LAW318 Spatial Governance and Planning
LAW405 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
LAW406 Changing Planet Earth
LAW407 Planning Principles and Practice
LAW408 An Introduction to Australian and Comparative Politics
LAW409 Regions, Change and Sustainability
LAW410 Landscapes, Place and People
LAW411 Cultural Heritage
LAW412 Planning and Environmental Law
LAW414 Urbanism and Urban Design
LAW415 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
LAW416 Planning Design Studio
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Participation and Conflict Resolution
LAW441 Social Research
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 Planning Theory
CRM102 Regional Infrastructure Planning
CRM103 Environmental and Resource Economics
CRM105 Planning Practicum
SCS101 Planning Project
SCS110 Professional Planning Practice
Advanced courses (5)
CRM202 Community Planning Studio
CRM204 Planning Project
CRM301 Planning Project
CRM304 Planning Project
SCS225 Planning Project
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 Introduction to Criminology
JST202 Foundations of Human Behaviour
LGL202 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
CRM203 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
CRM302 Understanding Crime
CRM303 Punishment and Corrections
CRM305 Introduction to Social Work Practice Theories
CRM307 Professional Placement
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