Improve justice and reduce crime by understanding 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 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS130 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS172 Engaging Effectively with Aboriginal People
Advanced courses (15)
SCS230 Indigenous Peoples and Sustainability
SCS235 Communication and Thought
SCS251 Science Research Methods
SCS266 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS277 Environment and Health
SCS278 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
SCS285 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS290 Group Processes and Practice
SWK301 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SWK302 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SWK303 Working With Families
SWK401 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SWK402 Indigenous Australia and the State
SWK404 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK407 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (7)
CRM101 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and Practice
CRM102 Ethics and Professional Practice
CRM103 Communication and Thought
CRM105 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
JST101 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS101 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS110 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
Advanced courses (6)
CRM202 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
CRM204 Critical Practice with Mental Health, Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis
CRM301 Working with Children, Youth and Families
CRM304 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions
LGL201 Health and Mental Health in Australia
SCS225 Understanding Cultural Diversity
Elective courses (3)
Select 3 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Suggested electives include:
CRM201 Social Work Field Education 1
JST202 Community Development and Social Action
LGL202 Complexity and Social Work: Group-Based Approaches
CRM203 Critical Social Policy Analysis
CRM302 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
CRM303 Social Work Field Education 2
CRM305 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
CRM307 Introduction to Criminology
SCS286 Understanding Crime
SCS295 Punishment and Corrections
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
- 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)