Understand 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 Innovation Management and Professional Development
SCS130 Leading and Managing Organisations
SWK172 Strategy, Governance and Ethics
Advanced courses (15)
SCS230 Marketing in a Global Environment
SCS235 Advanced Social Research
SCS251 Introductory Bioscience
SCS290 Human Physiology
SWK266 Food in Society
SWK277 Introduction to Dietetics
SWK278 Public Health Foundations
SWK285 Introductory Chemistry
SWK301 Science Research Methods
SWK302 Think Health
SWK303 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SWK401 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
SWK402 Foundations of Sustainability
SWK404 Medical Genetics
SWK407 Integrated Physiology
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (7)
CRM101 Biochemistry
CRM102 Food Studies
CRM103 Nutrition Assessment
CRM105 Public Health Nutrition
JST101 Principles of Nutrition
SCS101 Nutritional Biochemistry
SCS110 Pathophysiology
Advanced courses (6)
CRM202 Advanced Public Health Nutrition
CRM204 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
CRM301 Nutrition Communication
CRM304 Sport and Exercise Nutrition
LGL201 Food Service Systems
SCS225 Health Research 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 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
JST202 Counselling and Communication Skills for Dietetics
CRM203 Nutrition and Dietetics Research and Evaluation
CRM302 Nutrition and Dietetics Placement 1
CRM303 Nutrition and Dietetics Placement 2
CRM305 Dietetics Professional Practice
CRM307 Nutrition and Dietetics Placement 1
SWK286 Nutrition and Dietetics Placement 2
SCS295 Dietetics Professional Practice
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
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
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
- 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
- Apply for your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)