Master of Investigations

What is this course about?

CSU's Investigations program is designed to meet the educational needs and enhance the skills of experienced investigators, and to help prepare investigators for management roles.

The Master of Investigations is the only course of its kind offered at an Australian university. The course was developed with extensive industry consultation across law enforcement.

CSU's Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security is ideally positioned to provide advanced studies in this knowledge area, due to its extensive level of industry collaboration and engagement and the academic and professional profile of teaching staff.

The course is structured to facilitate maximum flexibility and completion of elective subjects as study options, enabling them to design their study program to best suit their academic and professional interests.   

Depending on your existing qualifications and career aspirations, you can choose to complete a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master degree.

Master of Investigations

The Master degree allows students to complete research based studies. Graduates will be able to identify current issues in the sector and use research to develop best practice policy. They will be able to critically assess current policies and evaluate new and emerging trends. The course allows students to understand existing knowledge in the field and contribute to knowledge and practice in their discipline.

Graduate Diploma of Investigations

The Graduate Diploma of Investigations enables graduates to take a professional approach to work in their field. This course is designed for students currently working or wishing to work in investigations, compliance, regulation, security and law enforcement, who have a sound level of understanding of the technical and strategic elements of investigations. It requires students to absorb and analyse a higher level of practical and theoretical knowledge.

Graduate Certificate in Investigations

This course is designed for students currently working or wishing to work in investigations, compliance, regulation, security and law enforcement, who have a sound level of understanding of the technical and strategic elements of investigations.  The course provides a theoretical and practical foundation for students to develop a best practice approach to investigations management.

Key points

• the courses provide university recognition for professional training and university accredited programs that are relevant and designed in collaboration with the industry
• an important aim of the course is the creation of a recognised, credible qualification for the professional investigator.

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.