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) 60 units
COR109 Secondary Professional Learning 1: Transitioning into the Profession
LAW101 Cell Biology
LAW102 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
LAW103 Biodiversity and Ecology
LAW104 Human Physiology
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Plant Diversity and Ecology
LAW202 Invertebrate Biology and Ecology
LAW203 Microbiology
LAW204 Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
LAW205 Plant Growth and Reproduction
LAW206 Advanced Genetics
LAW301 Genetics
LAW302 Engaging Diverse Learners
LAW303 Secondary Professional Experience 2 : Managing the Diverse Learning Environment
LAW304 Arts Education: Curriculum A
LAW401 Teaching Science: Curriculum A
LAW402 Arts Education: Curriculum B
LAW403 Teaching Science: Curriculum B
LAW404 Responding to Diversity and Inclusion
PLUS select 6 elective courses (72 units) from:
LAW307 Secondary Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
LAW310 Secondary Assessment and Reporting
LAW311 Secondary Professional Learning 3: Diversity and Inclusion
LAW312 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
LAW313 The Psychology of Learning
LAW315 Using Data for Learning
LAW318 Secondary Professional Learning 4: The Professional Empowered and Engaged
LAW405 Contemporary Issues in Steiner Education
LAW406 The Art of Steiner Education
LAW407 Steiner Curriculum Development and Evaluation
LAW408 Assessment Principles and Practice in Steiner Education
LAW409 Advanced Statistics in Psychology
LAW410 Advanced Theoretical Issues in Psychology
LAW411 Professional Practice of Psychology
LAW412 Ethical and Professional Issues In Psychology
LAW414 Group Research Project in Psychology A
LAW415 Group Research Project in Psychology B
LAW416 Introduction to Criminology
LAW417 Understanding Crime
LAW418 Punishment and Corrections
LAW419 Policing
LAW420 Justice and the Australian Legal System
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Foundations of Human Behaviour
LAW441 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
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) 72 units
CRM101 Applied Crime Prevention
CRM102 Criminal Law
CRM103 Professional Development
CRM105 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
SCS101 Diversity, Crime and Justice
SCS110 Social Research
Developing and Graduate courses (5) 60 units
CRM202 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
CRM204 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
CRM301 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
CRM304 Professional Placement
SCS225 Crime Research Methods
Elective courses (4) 48 units
Select 4 elective courses (48 units) 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 Working with Victims and Offenders
JST202 Introduction to Cyber Crime
CRM203 International Justice and Human Rights
CRM302 Communication and Thought
CRM303 Cell Biology
CRM305 Human Physiology
CRM307 Human Anatomy
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 (180 units) 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) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- 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 Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- 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