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) 36 units
COR109 Advanced Professional Experience for Exercise Science
SCS130 Advanced Professional Experience for Exercise Science
SWK172 Communication and Thought
Developing and Graduate courses (15) 252 units
SCS230 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS235 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS251 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS290 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SWK266 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
SWK277 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK278 Mental Health and Social Work
SWK285 Working With Children, Youth and Families
SWK301 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions(48 units)
SWK302 Health & Mental Health in Australia
SWK303 Social Work Field Education 1
SWK401 Community Development and Social Action
SWK402 Complexity and Social Work: Group-Based Approaches
SWK404 Critical Social Policy Analysis(48 units)
SWK407 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
Criminology courses
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
CRM101 Social Work Field Education 2
CRM102 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
CRM103 Introduction to Criminology
CRM105 Understanding Crime
JST101 Punishment and Corrections
SCS101 Policing
SCS110 Justice and the Australian Legal System
Developing and Graduate courses (6) 72 units
CRM202 Foundations of Human Behaviour
CRM204 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
CRM301 Diversity, Crime and Justice
CRM304 Applied Crime Prevention
LGL201 Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice
SCS225 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
Elective courses (3) 36 units
Select 3 elective courses (36 units) from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Suggested electives include:
CRM201 Criminal Law: An Introduction
JST202 Social Research
CRM203 Criminal Profiling
CRM302 International Justice and Human Rights
CRM303 Homicide
CRM305 Youth Justice
CRM307 Restorative Justice and Mediation
SWK286 Professional Placement
SCS295 Crime Research Methods
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
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) and following the recommended study sequence
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- 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 Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- Apply for your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)