Bachelor of Criminal Justice

Study On Demand – a 100% online criminal justice degree designed specifically for online learning.

Take full control over your study - access support seven days a week, engage with content from day one of your course, view learning resources 24/7, and log into the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.

From law enforcement to the courts and corrections, the criminal justice system plays a crucial role in maintaining, enforcing and administering the law to help promote justice for individuals and the community, as well as reduce and prevent crime.

Informed by the latest thinking and the most up-to-date developments in criminology, you’ll learn current trends in innovative fields like cybercrime, victimology, offender rehabilitation and desistance theory.

You'll graduate with a holistic understanding of the criminal justice industry and will study courses from a range of disciplines including law, policing, applied criminology, psychology, and sociology.

By gaining insights into the roles and functions across the full spectrum of the criminal justice sector, you’ll develop a powerful skill set, and a broad knowledge base to tackle issues from different perspectives.

The knowledge and skills you gain through this degree will open up diverse careers in security and the criminal justice sector at a time when the industry is experiencing steady job growth.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result:

Higher education study

• Successfully completed equivalent to a minimum of half a year of full-time study of a higher education program at a recognised higher education provider

OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above

OR Work and life experience (for domestic students only)

• Passed a UniSA Online literacy and numeracy test and have relevant work experience, or
• Completed a UniSA Foundations Studies program or equivalent, or
• Qualify for Special Entry

OR Recent secondary education

• Completed a secondary education qualification equivalent to SACE, such as an interstate year 12 or international qualification

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

This degree introduces you to a range of contemporary perspectives, approaches and issues in the criminology and criminal justice field. As a Criminal Justice student, you will:

• develop a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and study a mix of courses from different disciplines including social sciences and law;
• explore topics covering policing, offender rehabilitation and desistance, youth justice, social research methods and crime, cybercrime, victimology, as well as gender and sexuality;
• critically analyse crime prevention theories, techniques and crime reduction programs; and
• learn to apply research methods to real industry problems.

You can tailor your degree to your interests and broaden your career prospects with the choice of electives. You can select four electives from any of the UniSA Online degrees.

Studying 100% online means you can engage with course materials at your own pace, whenever it suits you – there is no need to be online at a particular time. It’s flexible around your life so you can control your study schedule week by week. As a general rule, we recommend 10 to 15 hours of study a week for each course.

All assessments, including exams (if required) are 100% online, meaning you’ll never need to travel to submit an assignment or find an exam venue.

Some of your assessments may include:

Your career

With the industry experiencing steady job growth, there are many diverse career opportunities available for criminal justice professionals. While many roles are found in government agencies, including law enforcement and intelligence as well as social welfare and correctional services, there are also opportunities to work in the private sector and with not-for-profit organisations.

If you have experience in social work, counselling, welfare support or law enforcement, this degree will complement your work experience, giving you a competitive edge to take the next step in your career.

A UniSA Online Criminal Justice degree can help you pursue the following careers:

• Policy adviser:
• develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government or commercial operations and programs; conduct environmental scans to identify and develop options to address topical and emerging issues, trends, risks and opportunities in the criminal justice system; and research, analyse and prepare papers, briefings and reports on a range of criminal justice issues.
• Strategic policy and planning manager:
• lead policy development and planning activities to help inform the ways in which criminal justice activities occur; provide authoritative policy advice on complex and potentially sensitive strategic matters; possess an understanding of the criminal justice system, key stakeholders and contemporary challenges, as well as government functions and processes; and inform the community about changes to legislation and reform.
• Intelligence and policy analyst:
• gather, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources; determine the significance and reliability of incoming information; establish and maintain intelligence records and files; develop and analyse policies to guide the design, implementation and modification of government and commercial operations and programs.
• Correctional services officer:
• undertake a frontline role in the prison system, and be responsible for a wide range of duties relating to the safety, security and welfare of prisoners; manage day-to-day issues, and contribute to ongoing rehabilitation of offenders; develop and delivering rehabilitative and training programs for offenders; write clear and concise reports, statements and records; and assess and counsel offenders with matters affecting their welfare, security, behaviours and routines.
• Child protection officer:
• respond to the concerns regarding the safety and well-being of children and help families strengthen their capacity to provide care and safety for children and other family members.

Learn more about your career in Criminal Justice >

Our online career-focused degrees give you full control and ultimate flexibility over your study. It’s Study On Demand, on your schedule, on your terms.

• Study 100% online - no need to come onto campus
• Choose from four start dates in January, April, June and September
• Learn in 10-week blocks
• Get support seven days a week - including on weeknights
• Access learning resources 24/7
• View course content before your term starts
• Work while you study
• Plan your study schedule ahead of time
• Fast-track your studies and receive credit for past study and/or work experience.

Our graduates get jobs

You will be studying with a university known for its employment outcomes. Your UniSA degree is more than just a piece of paper – it will prepare you to start your career, or take it to the next level. In fact, UniSA undergraduates studying online have graduate employment rates well above the national average1.

Specifically designed for online learning

Our team of academic and online experts have created interactive and media-rich course material using innovative digital technology and state-of-the-art teaching and learning resources. Every degree has been specifically designed for online learning to ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge for your future career.

As a general rule of thumb, any desktop or laptop computer purchased in the past three years should be capable of meeting your online learning needs. While mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones will be able to access most of your online course content, there are likely to be elements of most courses where we recommend you use a desktop or laptop computer. Your computer should be able to:

• run a modern browser (Internet Explorer 10, Firefox 24, Safari 5, or Chrome 32 or later versions)
• run Java, and in some cases Flash (devices running on Apple's iOS operating system, such as iPads, iPhones, do not run Flash)
• run programs to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations
• use a web camera and headset (or ear pods with microphone)
• Some UniSA Online degrees require an online exam. The online exam software – Remote Proctor Now – has specific capability requirements. Please refer to the system requirements prior to conducting your exam to ensure your computer is compatible.

Access free IT software and resources

As a UniSA Online student, you'll:

• Get free access to the full Office 365 ProPlus suite, which includes full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access and Lync software. Install the full suite on up to five different devices (PC and Mac compatible).
• Get 1Tb of personal storage that syncs with your PC or mobile device through OneDrive - it's like an extra hard drive that allows you to open any of your files from any of your devices, whenever you need them.
• Get free access to LinkedIn Learning - Access more than 5000 video courses on a broad range of topics such as: the Microsoft Office suite, time management and study skills, health and wellbeing, communication and presentation skills, photography, film making and designing your own games or mobile apps.
• Be able to connect with others using Skype for Business, Yammer and the Outlook Web App.

There are some degrees that have specialised software requirements. We've made this software available to students to access for free - you'll be able to download and install any of the required programs on your own device anywhere and anytime. See if your degree requires specialised software.

Check your device

Our computer system test will determine if your device has the base system resources and software required to study online. It'll also check the speed of your internet connection.

See if your computer, laptop or device is all set up and ready to go – it takes just a few seconds.

The application process is easy – just follow these simple steps:

1. Check your eligibility
2. Take our eligibility checker and answer a few short questions to see if you’re eligible. You’ll be given an option to continue your application, save it for later or request a call back from a Degree Adviser if you have any questions.
3. Gather your relevant documents
4. If you're eligible, you'll receive an email outlining the entry requirements and the relevant documentation you need in order to be considered.
5. In order to verify your academic qualifications, you'll need to upload relevant documents like your official parchment, certificates or transcripts. If you have work experience, you will need to upload your CV as well as any other documents like work references, professional recognition or accreditation or your training certification.
6. Your email will contain information on the specific documents you need to provide as well as a link to log in to your application. You'll be asked to create an account and set your own password.
7. Complete your application and send through your documents
8. In order to proceed with your conditional offer, you’ll need to complete your application and provide required evidence of your previous study or work experience.