Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Swinburne University of Technology
About
The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology is the only double degree of its kind in Victoria.
Offering the unique combination of an accredited law degree with a specialised education in the causes of crime (Criminology) and the fallout of crime (Criminal Justice), this course arms students with the advanced skills to solve complex legal problems in an increasingly complex society.
Explore all aspects of law, including commercial and intellectual property law, and learn how to communicate with both legal and non-legal audiences.
Delve into the differences and similarities between local and global criminality, and discover traditional approaches to crime along with emerging trends.
On completion, you’ll be able to evaluate the main causes of crime, assess the consequences of crime on victims and the community, critically evaluate situations and their legal ramifications, and demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to practice law.
This degree is ideal for those who want to specialise in criminal prosecution, criminal defence or government policy development.
Structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology requires students to complete units of study to the value of 500 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated. View course rules and special requirements
Core studies for Bachelor of Laws
19 units (237.5 credit points)
| column1 | column2 | column3 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
| Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation | LAW10010 | 12.5 |
| Contract Law | LAW10011 | 12.5 |
| Commercial Law | LAW10013 | 12.5 |
| Torts 1 | LAW10014 | 12.5 |
| Criminal Law & Procedure | LAW10015 | 12.5 |
| Torts 2 | LAW10025 | 12.5 |
| Legal Writing | LAW10026 | 12.5 |
| Evidence | LAW20009 | 12.5 |
| Administrative Law | LAW20010 | 12.5 |
| Trade Marks and Related Rights * | LAW20011 | 12.5 |
| Federal and State Constitutional Law | LAW20012 | 12.5 |
| Property Law | LAW20013 | 12.5 |
| Land Law | LAW20014 | 12.5 |
| Copyright * | LAW20043 | 12.5 |
| Patents & Designs * | LAW30011 | 12.5 |
| Equity and Trusts * | LAW30012 | 12.5 |
| Company Law * | LAW30013 | 12.5 |
| Legal Practice and Professional Conduct * | LAW30015 | 12.5 |
| Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution | LAW30029 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
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Core studies for Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
14 units (175 credit points)
| column1 | column2 | column3 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
| Fundamentals of Criminology | CRI10002 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Forensic Psychology | FOR10001 | 12.5 |
| Law & Social Science | LAW10022 | 12.5 |
| Brain and Behaviour | PSY10007 | 12.5 |
| Policing: Systems and Practice | CRI20001 | 12.5 |
| Global Crime | CRI20002 | 12.5 |
| Sentencing | LAW20030 | 12.5 |
| Crime and Punishment in the International Context | LAW20031 | 12.5 |
| Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime | LAW20032 | 12.5 |
| Deviance Difference and Conformity | SOC20020 | 12.5 |
| Corrections: Systems and Practice | CRI30002 | 12.5 |
| Juvenile Justice and Crime | CRI30010 | 12.5 |
| Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology | FOR30001 | 12.5 |
| Crime, Society and Culture (Capstone) | LAW30025 | 12.5 |
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Placement for Bachelor of Laws
3 units (0 credit points)
| column1 | column2 | column3 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
| Professional Experience in Law 1 | LAW10016 | 0 |
| Professional Experience in Law 2 | LAW20018 | 0 |
| Professional Experience in Law 3 | LAW30016 | 0 |
+
Other studies
7 units (87.5 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 87.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Elective units Signature SeriesElective units
Any of the following units may be undertaken.
| column1 | column2 | column3 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
| Innovative Business Practice | BUS10012 | 12.5 |
| Economic Principles | ECO10004 | 12.5 |
| Financial Statistics | FIN10002 | 12.5 |
| Human Resource Management | HRM10003 | 12.5 |
| Problem Solving with ICT | ICT10001 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Business Information Systems | INF10003 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Business Law | LAW10004 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Management | MGT10001 | 12.5 |
| Critical Thinking in Management | MGT10002 | 12.5 |
| Fundamentals of Marketing | MKT10007 | 12.5 |
| Dynamics of Diversity in Organisations | HRM20016 | 12.5 |
| Performance Management and Innovation | HRM20020 | 12.5 |
| International Commercial Law # | LAW20007 | 12.5 |
| Legal Writing # | LAW20023 | 12.5 |
| Law and the Media # | LAW20024 | 12.5 |
| Taxation Law # | LAW20033 | 12.5 |
| Public and Private International Law # | LAW20035 | 12.5 |
| Competition Law and Policy # | LAW20036 | 12.5 |
| Asian Commercial Law # | LAW20037 | 12.5 |
| Privacy in Law and Society # | LAW20038 | 12.5 |
| Indonesia Law, Governance and Culture Study Tour # | LAW20039 | 12.5 |
| Legal Technology and Innovation # | LAW20040 | 12.5 |
| Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing # | LAW20041 | 12.5 |
| US Intellectual Property Law # | LAW20042 | 12.5 |
| Marketing Research and Analytics | MKT20019 | 12.5 |
| Business and Society | ORG20002 | 12.5 |
| Organisational Behaviour | ORG20003 | 12.5 |
| Human Resource Analytics | HRM30011 | 12.5 |
| Finance Law # | LAW30002 | 12.5 |
| Law of Employment # | LAW30005 | 12.5 |
| Leadership in Context | ORG30002 | 12.5 |
#Students must choose 5 specialised elective units to complete the course.
Signature Series
A Swinburne education prepares you for life. That’s why we’ve developed the Swinburne Signature Series. It’s a suite of study opportunities that embody Swinburne’s ethos – of confidence, clarity and adventure. These opportunities give our students something extra; whether that’s a new perspective on the world through a Study Tour unit, an expanded sense of possibilities through our Innovation Minor, or a deeper understanding and respect for culture through our Indigenous Minor. Like Swinburne University itself, our Signature Series will grow and adapt to reflect the evolving issues of the day.
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Learning outcomes
The objective of the Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology double degree is to bring together two of Swinburne’s existing degrees, the Bachelor of Laws, with the newly established Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology. The combination creates an impressive course that offers a multidisciplinary education and addresses the gap between demand and availability for double degrees of a high calibre. The pairing of law with existing degrees across different disciplines has the potential to increase the overall merit of the courses and in turn, the reputation of the University.
The introduction of this double degree additionally has the potential to increase the number of enrolments at Swinburne and in turn, further contribute to the current growth and development of the university. This is due to the multidisciplinary nature of the course having the ability to attract a wider range of students as it caters to individuals who hold multiple areas of interest. It also presents a specialisation opportunity for law students who intend to practice in the field of criminal law or the criminal justice system.
The incorporation of these two popular areas of study will contribute towards stronger connections with industry and the community through enhanced commercialisation capability, connections with major law firms, and pro-bono work for non-profit organisations. In conjunction with the strong level of theoretical education, students will undertake a Practical Skills Program throughout this degree, resulting in graduates that are industry ready, adaptable and able to manage change, and consequently, highly attractive to potential employers.
Institution
