Secondary School Students

Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies

Thank you for visiting the homepage for Secondary School Students at the Department of Criminology. We offer courses in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies - you can find out more about what these involve on this website. You'll also learn about the job destinations of some graduates, and how you go about applying to study here.

If you're a secondary school student who enjoys Legal Studies, Politics, Psychology, Media or International Studies, then an Arts degree majoring in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies could be the course at University you're been looking for. Here are the answers to some popular questions, but if you'd like us to post you some more information, please visit our undergraduate homepage and send us a message.

What is Criminology?

Criminology is the study of crime, justice and social control. Criminology students look at different types of criminal behaviour (from graffiti to suicide terrorism) and learn about the work and effectiveness of agencies such as the police, the courts and the corrections system. As criminology students you’ll ask why certain types of behaviour are or are not defined as criminal. Plus you'll look at historical approaches to crime and punishment, and at the way the criminal justice system interacts with different groups in the community, such as young people, women, or indigenous people. You'll also look at representations of crime and law in films, books, newspapers and TV.

What is Socio-Legal Studies?

Based in the Department of Criminology, Socio-Legal Studies is a program that offers students the chance to study law in its societal, political, and cultural context. Students critically and constructively analyse the role of law in Australian and other societies. Issues examined in first year include the role of law in a multicultural society, the relationship between Aboriginal customary law and Anglo-Australian law, the role of language in law, and the role of law in reconciliation. Find out more about Socio-Legal Studies here.

What will I be studying?

Both Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies explore definitions of crime and violence as well as reasons for criminal behaviour. They also look more broadly at the ways crime is depicted through such media as TV and film and at the ways different societies react to offending. As a student, you will be discussing and debating issues such as:

• Human rights abuses
• Drug law reform
• Terrorism
• Environmental damage and corporate responsibility
• The death penalty

What are the prerequisites for Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies?

Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies are study areas taught in the Faculty of Arts as part of a three-year Bachelor of Arts degree.

There are no pre-requisites for Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies, but you must be elegible to enter a University of Melbourne Bachelors degree.

How do I apply?

Domestic students apply through VTAC, the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre. International students should visit the Future Students homepage for more details.

Ask questions about the enrolment process, and find out what what others are asking on this FAQ message board set up by the Faculty of Arts.

What happens once I get a place?

Once enrolled in your degree program, take a look at this info for first-year students - such as what subjects to enrol in when you're in first-year, and how you'd make criminology or socio-legal studies the major (main area of study) in your degree.

Where does criminology lead?

• Crime intelligence analyst
• Consumer advocate
• Environment protection analyst
• Regional crime prevention coordinator
• Drug policy advisor
• Law reform researcher
• Police officer
• Community corrections coordinator