The University of Adelaide

Bachelor of Psychological Science (Criminology)

Nationally Recognised Higher Education

Are you fascinated by the human mind? Do you wonder what motivates our behavior?

Psychological science investigates the way people think, behave, feel, and learn. It studies processes of the human mind— including personality, intelligence, and memory—so that we can better understand ourselves. Study at South Australia's #1 university for Psychology.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a flexible degree with a variety of elective courses available. Students can choose their courses based on general interest or to broaden their major.

Criminology

To fulfill the requirement for the Criminology major, you must complete 24 units of study with:

  • Two courses (6 units) at level I
  • Three courses (9 units) at level II
  • Two courses (9 units) at level III, including the capstone

Note: Prior to 2016 some of the Level III courses had Level II (2xxx) course codes. If you have completed one of these courses in 2014 or 2015 you cannot enroll in it again. Any courses with 2xxx code completed prior to 2016 will still be counted towards Level III requirements for this major.

LEVEL I Units
  • S1 CRIM 1002 Crime and Criminal Justice 3
  • S2 CRIM 1001 Understanding Criminology 3
LEVEL II
  • S1 CRIM 2001 Advanced Criminological Theory 3
  • S2 SOCI 2012 Introduction to Social Research 3
  • Choose 3 units from one of the following:
    • S1 ANTH 2036 Anthropology of Violence and Crime 3
    • N/A 2023 CRIM 2003 Criminology Across Borders^ 3
    • S1 CRIM 2004 Cyber Crime and Cyber Deviance^ 3
    • N/A 2023 GEND 2016/OL Encountering Human Rights: Global Citizenship II^ 3
    • S2 GEND 2020/OL Gender and Crime 3
    • N/A 2023 PHIL 2031 Crime and Punishment 3
    • N/A 2023 POLIS 2001 The Politics of Crime and Justice 3
    • N/A 2023 POLIS 2109 The Ethics of War and Peace^ 3
    • S1 POLIS 2133 Security, Justice and Rights 3
LEVEL III: NOTE – Students who completed 6 units at Level 2 in 2019 or prior, you will need to do the capstone course plus 2 courses/6 units from the list below to 12 units.

Capstone (compulsory)

  • S2 CRIM 3002 Criminological Research 6

And 3 units from the following:

  • S1/S2 ARTSEXP 3003 Workplace Experience III 3
  • S2 CRIM 3001 Contemporary Issues in Criminology 3

Delivery mode

The University of Adelaide offers this course through the following delivery modes:

On campus

Work with instructors and classmates in a supportive and collaborative environment.


Locations
  • The University of Adelaide, Adelaide

Entry requirements

Domestic Students

  • There are no mandated entry requirements.

Recent Secondary Education

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors).

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Higher Education Study

Graduate entry pathway - A completed AQF Level 7 Bachelors degree or equivalent (or higher) that does not include psychology or does not include psychology beyond Level I with the exception of a completed degree that includes the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited Psychology sequence that was awarded 10 or more years ago.

Pre-requisite: Psychology 1A and Psychology 1B or equivalent (minimum pass grade). Applicants who do not have the prerequisite psychology studies or whose level 1 psychology was completed more than ten years ago must attend an intensive bridging course, Introductory Psychology. Applicants who require the Introductory Psychology course should apply for either Summer Semester or Trimester 2 depending on their preferred start in either Semester 1 or 2.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award.

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Work and life experience

To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2023. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2023 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2022 or 2021), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2021). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components.

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Recent Secondary Education

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors).

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Higher Education Study

Graduate entry pathway - A completed AQF Level 7 Bachelors degree or equivalent (or higher) that does not include psychology or does not include psychology beyond Level I with the exception of a completed degree that includes the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited Psychology sequence that was awarded 10 or more years ago.

Pre-requisite: Psychology 1A and Psychology 1B or equivalent (minimum pass grade). Applicants who do not have the prerequisite psychology studies or whose level 1 psychology was completed more than ten years ago must attend an intensive bridging course, Introductory Psychology. Applicants who require the Introductory Psychology course should apply for either Summer Semester or Trimester 2 depending on their preferred start in either Semester 1 or 2.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award.

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Work and life experience

To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2023. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2023 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2022 or 2021), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2021). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components.

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway.

Additional requirements may apply.

Course fees

Estimated Fee* $26,940 - $129,000 Fees are based on full-time study.
* Fees are indicative only and vary based on your circumstances and eligibility for government funding.
Standard Tuition:
$26,940
Full Fee Tuition:
$129,000
Enquire with The University of Adelaide to find out more.
Study mode On Campus
Duration 3 Years
Estimated fee* $26,940 - $129,000 Support may be available

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Criminology) will prepare you for the following roles.

About The University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is ranked in the world's top 100 universities. We are recognised globally as a leading research university.

At the University of Adelaide, we embrace our role and purpose as a future-maker—for our state, our nation and our world.

We pursue meaningful change as we celebrate our proud history: applying proven values in the pursuit of contemporary educational and research excellence; meeting our local and global community’s evolving needs and challenges; and striving to prepare our graduates for their aspirations and the needs of the future workforce.

The University is uniquely positioned to design and drive a prosperous, entrepreneurial future for South Australia built on knowledge, innovation and collaboration.

We’re a dynamic participant in society, leading our community in leveraging change for social and economic benefit. We listen to industry. And we connect with diverse community groups far and wide to deliver education and research of the highest value and impact.