Interested in criminal law and justice? Make a difference within the criminal justice system.
Put the law into context with this double degree. You'll have the opportunity to work in legal practice or across the related field of criminology.
- 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.
- # It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Only a full time option is available to international students studying on a Student visa.
- # It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Only a full time option is available to international students studying on a Student visa.
Put the law into context with this double degree. You'll have the opportunity to work in legal practice or across the related field of criminology.
You will cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. You will engage in active learning experiences and gain practical skills right from your first year. For example, you will observe volunteer lawyers conducting client interviews at an advice clinic operated by Suncoast Community Legal Service.
You will research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in our new Moot Court venue. You can further develop your skills by working with Legal Service clients under legal supervision in law professional practice, or undertake a legal internship.
The Criminology component will hone your focus to the causes and impacts of crime, and what works in reducing crime and improving justice from an applied social science perspective. You'll be prepared for real world challenges through guest lectures and opportunities for practical learning.
Completion of this program ensures you meet the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. With a depth of knowledge and understanding in both law, and criminology and justice, graduates have extended career prospects.
Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
Career opportunities
This double degree will be valuable for those graduates who intend to practise in criminal law. A broad range of career opportunities exist for graduates, in areas such as legal research, law reform research and policy development, advocacy, political advising; corruption and white collar crime investigations, prosecutions and crime prevention.
Registration
The degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. Graduates must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
Program structure
Program Structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5)
COR109 Global Emergency Issues
LAW101 Assessment in Mental Health
LAW102 Advanced Health Assessment
LAW103 Quantitative Research Methods
LAW104 Research Project A
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Research Project B
LAW202 Research Project C
LAW203 Research Project F
LAW204 Research Design: Method and Literature Review
LAW205 Fundamentals of Photographic Practice
LAW206 Photographic Practice II
LAW301 Photographic Practice III
LAW302 Photographic Practice IV
LAW303 Communication and Thought
LAW304 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW401 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW402 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW403 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW404 Torts A
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Torts B
LAW306 Contracts A
LAW307 Contracts B
LAW309 Property A
LAW310 Property B
LAW311 Constitutional Law
LAW312 Equity & Trusts
LAW313 Corporations Law
LAW315 Civil Procedure
LAW316 Administrative Law
LAW405 Professional Conduct
LAW406 Evidence
LAW407 Regulation
LAW408 Family Law
LAW409 Employment Law
LAW410 Commercial Law
LAW411 Health Law
LAW412 Children & the Law
LAW414 Law Professional Practice
LAW415 Competition Law
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
LAW441 Law Honours Thesis
Please note: Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Leaders.
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (6)
CRM101 Introduction to Criminology
CRM102 Understanding Crime
CRM103 Punishment and Corrections
CRM105 Policing
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS110 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
Advanced courses (5)
CRM202
CRM204 Applied Crime Prevention
CRM301
CRM304 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
SCS225 Social Research
Elective courses (4)
Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering or USC Law School .
Suggested electives for Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Criminology and Justice include:
CRM201 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
JST202 International Justice and Human Rights
LGL202
CRM203 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
CRM302 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
CRM303
CRM305 Professional Placement
CRM306
Note: 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:
- Complete 5 introductory level (100 coded) required law courses including COR109
- Complete 14 advanced level (200/300/400 coded) required law courses
- Complete 6 law electives
- Complete 6 required introductory level (100 coded) criminology courses
- Complete 5 required advanced level (200/300 coded) criminology courses
- Complete 4 elective courses
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator
- Honours in Law available for high performing students