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 Industry Project 1: Social and Community Studies
LAW101 Research Design: Method and Literature Review
LAW102 Communication and Thought
LAW103 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW104 Foundations of Australian Law B
Advanced courses (20)
14 required courses:
LAW201 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW202 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW203 Torts A
LAW204 Torts B
LAW205 Contracts A
LAW206 Contracts B
LAW301 Property A
LAW302 Property B
LAW303 Constitutional Law
LAW304 Equity & Trusts
LAW401 Corporations Law
LAW402 Civil Procedure
LAW403 Administrative Law
LAW404 Professional Conduct
PLUS select 6 elective courses from:
LAW305 Evidence
LAW306 Regulation
LAW307 Family Law
LAW309 Employment Law
LAW310 Commercial Law
LAW311 Health Law
LAW312 Children & the Law
LAW313 Law Professional Practice
LAW315 Competition Law
LAW316 Building & Construction Law
LAW405 Indigenous Legal Issues
LAW406 Equal Opportunity Law
LAW407 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW408 Environment & Planning Law
LAW409 Elder Law and Succession
LAW410 Intellectual Property
LAW411 Taxation
LAW412 Public International Law
LAW414 Private International Law
LAW415 Human Rights Law
The following 2 elective courses are only available to students who have been accepted into honours in Law:
LAW440 Legal Internship
LAW441 Sports Law
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 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
CRM102 Law Honours Thesis
CRM103 Introduction to Criminology
CRM105 Understanding Crime
PSY100 Punishment and Corrections
SCS110 Policing
Advanced courses (5)
CRM202 Introduction to Psychology A
CRM204 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
CRM301 Minorities and Criminal Justice
CRM304 Applied Crime Prevention
SCS225 Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice
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 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
JST202 Social Research
LGL202 Criminal Profiling
CRM203 International Justice and Human Rights
CRM302 Family Law: Legal Frameworks and Issues
CRM303 Homicide
CRM305 Youth Justice
CRM306 Restorative Justice and Mediation
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