Understand the social causes and consequences of crime.
This double degree provides graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of the social causes and consequences of crime and disadvantage; including dimensions of disability, mental health, gender, ethnicity, race, poverty, employment and locality.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
This double degree provides graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of the social causes and consequences of crime and disadvantage; including dimensions of disability, mental health, gender, ethnicity, race, poverty, employment and locality.
You will gain enhanced skills in a range of specific social and criminology knowledge areas, as well as high levels of literacy and information and communication technology skills, equipping you for work in the human service and/or criminal justice industries.
Within the social work component you will benefit from teaching staff that include practising social workers. You'll also gain valuable practical experience in field education opportunities. The social work component of the program is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers, and prepares professionals to work with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Career opportunities
Graduates are eligible to work in a broad range of industries and roles including mental health, social research, policy development and analysis, organisational management, community development and education, in government, community agencies and private practice. Enhanced employment prospects created by the criminology components of the degree include crime and justice research and policy, youth advocacy and at-risk youth support, crime victim support services, and offender transition-from-prison programs.
Program structure
Social Work courses
Introductory courses (3)
COR109 Reading in Advanced Mathematics
SCS130 Applied Systems Modelling
SCS172 Exploring Business Research
Advanced courses (15)
SCS230 Discovering Management
SCS235 Marketing Essentials
SCS251 Accounting for Business
SCS266 Information Systems in Organisations
SCS277 Communication and Thought
SCS278 The World of Tourism, Leisure and Events
SCS285 Economics for Business
SCS290 Creating and Managing Event Experiences
SWK301 Sustainable Tourism, Leisure and Event Management
SWK302 Cross-Cultural Management
SWK303 Business Law
SWK401 World of Work: Your Pathway to Employment
SWK402 Business, Governance and Society
SWK404 Tourism, Sport and Leisure Policy and Planning
SWK407 The Innovation and Technology Effect in TLEM
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (7)
CRM101 The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E) Industry
CRM102 New Venture Development
CRM103 Managing the Social Enterprise
CRM105 New Venture Establishment
JST101 Social Enterprise Establishment
SCS101 Communication and Thought
SCS110 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
Advanced courses (6)
CRM202 Social Work and Human Services Practice
CRM204 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
CRM301 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
CRM304 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
LGL201 Critical Practice with Mental Health, Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis
SCS225 Working with Children, Youth and Families
Elective courses (3)
Select 3 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Suggested electives include:
CRM201 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions
JST202 Health and Mental Health in Australia
CRM203 Understanding Cultural Diversity
CRM302 Social Work Field Education 1
CRM303 Community Development and Social Action
CRM305 Complexity and Social Work: Group-Based Approaches
CRM307 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SCS286 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
SCS295 Social Work Field Education 2
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 480 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Travel to attend field education placements
- Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester
Program notes
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)