A primary objective of the BA (Police Studies) is to provide academic and professional analysis of the policing process within appropriate social, political, legal and historical contexts. This objective is pursued both within the compulsory police studies major and through the cognate Arts faculty majors and minors.
Upon successful completion of the program students are expected to:
(a) Successful completion of a Year 12 course of study accredited by the Board of Studies, being passes in four subjects including English, accumulated over one or more attempts, or (b) qualifications and/or experience acceptable to the faculty's admissions committee.
At present, (b) above is interpreted as including completion of the Victoria Police Initial Phase Course of nineteen weeks duration plus three years police service. A similar interpretation is to be extended to members of the Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement or associated organisations whose initial training duration is similar to that of Victoria Police.
These admission requirements should be regarded as minimal.
The course consists of either two major strands or one major strand and two minor strands, together with sufficient electives to comprise a minimum of 144 subject points. The police studies major (seven semester subjects) is compulsory. Other majors and minors may be selected from those accredited in the Bachelor of Arts degree.
A candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Police Studies) is required to include in the course subjects to a total of at least 144 points but not more than 162 points including:
The course of study must be completed over not less than three years and normally not more than eight years.
The Centre for Police and Justice Studies offers a fourth or honours year on the Caufield campus. The honours program offers an opportunity for more specialised, advanced work in police studies and leads to the Bachelor of Arts (Police Studies) (Honours).
The honours course should extend a student's knowledge and understanding of policing in a liberal democratic state. Students who successfully complete the course are expected to have developed:
To gain entry to the honours program, students must have completed a bachelors degree which includes a major in police studies. Within the major, students must have achieved a credit grade or above in at least two third-year level subjects, including PCE3040 and at least one other subject at second or third-year level.
Fourth-year students take two of the twelve-point subjects listed below and write a thesis (twenty-four points). All students are strongly advised to begin thesis work during the long vacation preceding their entry into fourth year. The dissertation should be between 12,000 and 15,000 words.
Full-time honours students are required to take the thesis in both semesters, and are advised to take one twelve point subject in each semester. Part-time students are required to take the thesis in one year and one subject in each semester of the other year.
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.