Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) course consists of vocationally relevant subjects which will enhance the knowledge and professional capacities of people intending to become officers in the NSW Police Force.

About the course

Students enrolled in the Policing course will study on the Bathurst or Port Macquarie Campus of CSU for their first two years and then transfer to the NSW Police College at Goulburn for Trimester 1 of the last year of their three-year program. This means that CSU's graduates wishing to join the NSW Police Service will be sworn in as Probationary Constables at the end of the first trimester of their third year. The final two trimesters of the course are completed by distance education while employed as a Probationary Constable.

Key points

This degree has been designed with extensive consultation with police, the justice community and academics, to ensure it is vocationally relevant and up to date with latest issues. Community service and police practice placements give students a systematic introduction to the professional environment. The policing studies completed within the degree, plus a further trimester of study undertaken on campus at Goulburn, meet academic requirements for employment in the recruit training program of the NSW Police Force.

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.

Your course is recognised by industry

The Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) is a nationally accredited and registered award in tertiary education. In combination with the Associate Degree in Police Practice, the degree is recognised by the NSW Police Force as meeting the academic requirements for entry to the NSW Police Force as a Probationary Constable.

Professionals teaching you

The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience in law, corrections, criminology, psychology and sociology. They include:

Justice Studies staff:

Kim Browne – interests include criminal law, DNA evidence, human rights, international law and illicit trafficking in antiquities.

Emma Colvin – interests include therapeutic initiatives, bail, punishment, vulnerable populations and human rights.

John Gaffey – interests include crime and the media, crime and popular culture, media and discourse.

Dr Alison Gerard – interests include women refugees and securitisation, human rights, prisons, sex work, conflict transformation.

Dr Piero Moraro – interests include theories of punishment, political obligation, deliberative democracy, enfranchisement, and citizenship theory.

Dr Kate Seymour – interests include corrections, gender and crime, and serving police officers in the NSW Police Force.

Other Staff:

Dr Andrew McGrath – interests include juvenile offending, risk and needs assessment of juvenile offenders labeling theory.

Dr Len Palmer – interests include technology and gender, ethnicity, modernity and culture; discourse theory and cultural discourses.

Dr Oliver Villar – interests include security studies, US-Colombia relations, American foreign policy, and inter-American cocaine drug trade.

Admission requirements

Admission criteria

Applicants will be selected on the basis of evidence for the likelihood of success, including:

• previous tertiary studies undertaken, including TAFE studies
• industry-based learning
  and
• performance in tertiary bridging or enabling programs

In addition, students in Policing must satisfy NSW Police Force professional suitability arrangements. These include health and fitness criteria, citizenship and permanent residency status, criminal record and motor vehicle licence checks.

Download the Professional Suitability Application from police.nsw.gov.au

Students who fail professional suitability requirements will be offered a place in another CSU undergraduate course with relevant credit for their studies, provided they have maintained a satisfactory rate of progress.

Students should be particularly mindful of the physical fitness standards which must be achieved under the NSW Police Force Professional Suitability requirements. Students failing to achieve the requisite fitness standards prior to the completion of the second year will not be eligible to transfer to the Associate Degree in Policing Practice conducted in Goulburn to complete the course.

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1