- 2017

Undergraduate

Minor / Major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2017 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Arts

Offered by

School of Social Sciences

Coordinator(s)

Dr Jarrett Blaustein

Contact details

CriminologyCriminology (http://future.arts.monash.edu/ug-criminology/)

Location

Caulfield Clayton

Criminology is the study of crime and social control. It is concerned with the context, construction and causes of what we know as crime, as well as prevention, response and reform measures. It examines crime committed by individuals, groups, organisations and states, both locally and internationally. It includes the study of policing, criminal law and processes of punishment within national and international justice systems. It interrogates diverse formal and informal practices and systems of justice and regulation.

Monash criminology is internationally renowned for its global focus. We are concerned with crimes and social harms that cause widespread concern including those perpetrated by states and organisations, during war and conflict and in transitional societies. Monash criminologists are researching and producing new empirical and theoretical knowledge, setting the agenda for local, national and international responses to issues of crime that impact large numbers of people.

The Monash criminology major and minor engage directly with these issues, examining offending, victimisation, policing, punishment and criminal law and practice in diverse ways. You will encounter these issues as they manifest in relation to topics that impact all of us directly and indirectly, such as: sexual violence, gender violence, human trafficking, homicide law, organised crime, deaths in custody, rehabilitation, imprisonment and post-imprisonment, policing, state and corporate crime, campaigns for justice, terrorism, border policing, the political economy of crime and punishment, and law reform. You will investigate various perspectives and methodological approaches through studying criminology, and develop the capacity for critical and innovative thinking and practical skills.

The level 1 gateway units introduce various facets of crime, theories of crime and how it is dealt with by the criminal justice system. Level 2 and 3 units build on this knowledge and offer the opportunity to critically analyse and evaluate crime-related issues in greater depth.

Studying criminology will equip you for the practical application of criminological knowledge in criminal justice policy and practice, preparing you to work locally and internationally in limiting crime and harm, leading innovative responses within and outside of formal justice systems. A major in criminology opens the door to a wide array of fascinating and rewarding careers across local, national and international criminal justice, and within government and non-government organisations, that can be used to actively help improve communities and society.

Availability

Criminology is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major or minor, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

  • recognise, interpret and critically analyse key local, national and international trends in crime and vicitimisation across a range of jurisdictions
  • apply criminological understandings and perspectives to analyse state and non-state responses to contemporary challenges of crime control and justice
  • generate evidence-based empirical and theoretical knowledge in the examination of historical and contemporary crime and justice issues of local, national and international significance.

Units

Major requirements (48 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
    • ATS1281 Understanding crime: An introduction
    • ATS1282 Criminal justice: An introduction
  2. One level 2 second-year level cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) from:
    • ATS2056 Race, crime and difference
    • ATS2458 Crime, control and policing
  3. One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
    • ATS3004 Crime, risk and security
    • ATS3459 Prisons, power and punishment
  4. Four units (24 points) from the remaining capstone units or the elective list below with at least two units at level 3.

Minor requirements (24 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
    • ATS1281 Understanding crime: An introduction
    • ATS1282 Criminal justice: An introduction
  2. Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major. It is a highly recommended that students complete a a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.

Elective list

Units are six points unless otherwise stated.

  • ATS2056 Race, crime and difference
  • ATS2456 Cybercrime
  • ATS2457 Crime, media and culture
  • ATS2458 Crime, control and policing
  • ATS2465/ATS3465 Human rights in the criminal justice sphere
  • ATS2469 Victims, justice and the law
  • ATS2723 Social research methods
  • ATS2937/ATS3937 Contemporary issues in European criminal justice
  • ATS3210 Study tour: Crime and criminal justice in Asia
  • ATS3462 Global crime and justice
  • ATS3464 Study tour: Comparative criminology USA
  • ATS3466 Sex, gender and crime
  • ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research

Intending honours students

Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts

Bachelors

Single degrees

Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.

Double degrees

Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*

  • A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
  • A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2012 Bachelor of Business Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2024 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
  • D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
  • L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts

* Students cannot complete both the minor and major in the same area of study.