Graduate Certificate in Criminology

What is this course about?

CSU's Graduate Certificate in Criminology is intended for those interested in the study of crime in contemporary Australian society. The course examines the criminal justice system as an institution and seeks to develop sophisticated consumers of criminological data and theory.

Topics addressed in the Graduate Certificate in Criminology include:

• why certain acts are proscribed under law
• why the law interferes in voluntary activities like drug taking
• how much crime is reported and why the real role of police in combating crime
• the importance or otherwise of police response time
• the role of a prison and its effectiveness
• whether the media contribute to crime
• what crime statistics tell us
• what policing is all about, and
• the effect of policing on the police and their families

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.