Improve justice and reduce crime by understanding the social causes and consequences of crime.
This double degree provides graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of the social causes and consequences of crime and disadvantage; including dimensions of disability, mental health, gender, ethnicity, race, poverty, employment and locality.
- 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.
This double degree provides graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of the social causes and consequences of crime and disadvantage; including dimensions of disability, mental health, gender, ethnicity, race, poverty, employment and locality.
You will gain enhanced skills in a range of specific social and criminology knowledge areas, as well as high levels of literacy and information and communication technology skills, equipping you for work in the human service and/or criminal justice industries.
Within the social work component you will benefit from teaching staff that include practising social workers. You'll also gain valuable practical experience in field education opportunities. The social work component of the program is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers, and prepares professionals to work with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Career opportunities
Graduates are eligible to work in a broad range of industries and roles including mental health, social research, policy development and analysis, organisational management, community development and education, in government, community agencies and private practice. Enhanced employment prospects created by the criminology components of the degree include crime and justice research and policy, youth advocacy and at-risk youth support, crime victim support services, and offender transition-from-prison programs.
Program structure
Social Work courses
Introductory courses (3)
COR109 Palliative, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care
SCS130 Nursing Practice 2
SCS172 Research Foundations for Health Practice
Advanced courses (15)
SCS230 Health, Law and Ethics
SCS235 Contexts of Practice: Complex Care
SCS251 Preparation for Practice 3
SCS266 Nursing Practice 3
SCS277 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
SCS278 Preparation for Practice 4
SCS285 Leadership in Clinical Practice
SCS290 Nursing Practice 4
SWK301 Neonatal and Infant Health*
SWK302 Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
SWK303 Life Crisis
SWK401 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety
SWK402 Nursing Internship
SWK404 Marketing in a Global Environment
SWK407 Innovation Management and Professional Development
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (7)
CRM101 Strategy, Governance and Ethics
CRM102 Leading and Managing Organisations
CRM103 Evidenced Based Decision Making
CRM105 Finance and Accounting for Managers
JST101 Introduction to Creative Entrepreneurship
SCS101 Communication for the Creative Professional
SCS110 Introduction to Game Design
Advanced courses (6)
CRM202 Introduction to Games Programming
CRM204 Game Art: Introduction to 2D & 3D
CRM301 Introduction to Game Production
CRM304 Elements of Design
LGL201 Introduction to Interactive Media
SCS225 Experimental Game Design
Elective courses (3)
Select 3 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Suggested electives include:
CRM201 Video Game Analysis and Design
JST202 Work Integrated Learning Project
LGL202 Creative Engagement
CRM203 Game Studio: Polish and Publish
CRM302 Introduction to Behavioural Health
CRM303 Public Health Foundations
CRM305 Health Promotion Needs Assessment and Planning
CRM307 Health Promotion Principles
SCS286 Health Promotion Settings
SCS295 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation
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 no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Travel to attend field education placements
- Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)