This undergraduate certificate is your introduction to Australia's legal and criminal justice systems, including parliament, law enforcement, the courts, and custodial and community corrections.
This undergraduate certificate is your introduction to Australia's legal and criminal justice systems, including parliament, law enforcement, the courts, and custodial and community corrections.
In this program you will:
- Learn about the roles and functions of police, parliament, the courts, and corrections
- Build introductory knowledge on the reasons for criminal behaviour
- Research answers to legal problems, and present legal arguments
- Develop problem solving skills in law and crime-related issues
- Study different perspectives on the law's role in society
Career opportunities
Graduates will extend their career pathways in paralegal work, law administration, law enforcement, corrections and youth justice.
This program also offers a pathway for further study into the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice or the Bachelor of Laws.
Fees for short courses
USC is offering a limited number of Commonwealth supported places in the Undergraduate Certificate in Legal Studies in 2021. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be a domestic student, and meet the citizenship and residency requirements. For more information visit Commonwealth supported places. Eligible students are able to defer payment through HECS‑HELP.
Commonwealth supported places for this short course initiative are only available for 2021. Any remaining short course units that are commenced in 2022 would not be Commonwealth supported, and would be charged at the cost of a full fee paying place, payable upfront.*
Admission requirements
Completion of Year 12 or be 17 years of age; and meet minimum selection threshold ATAR 55.
How to apply
To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Legal Studies, submit the completed online application form via Apply USC. Commonwealth supported places will be allocated to eligible students who meet the entry requirements in order of application date, so apply as soon as possible.
*Note: The information provided above is correct as at 23 December 2020 and may be subject to change without notice.
Program structure
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
CRM101 Writing Your Novel
LAW101 Creativity, Design and Communication Project
PLUS select 2 courses (24 units) from:
LAW103 Writing the Short Story
SCS101 Creative Writing and Editing for Publication
LAW102 Professional Creative Writing Practice: Industry Engagement
CRM103 Property A
Total units: 48
Program requirements and notes
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 48 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- The Undergraduate Certificate in Legal Studies has been designed as a pathway into the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice or the Bachelor of Laws.
- 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 which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.