Postgraduate Coursework

Entry Requirements and Application Procedure

For details on entry requirements and application procedures see the Faculty of Arts Future Students page.

Postgraduate Courses Offered in Criminology

Criminology is the study of crime and the ways in which society responds to crime. It is interested in how and why certain behaviours are defined as criminal, how we measure the nature and extent of crime, and why crime occurs. Criminology also studies how society deals with crime through the criminal justice system (the criminal law, policing, the courts and the correctional system) and other social institutions. Criminology is inherently a multi-disciplinary course involving contributions from law, the social and behavioural science such as psychology and sociology, psychiatry, history, philosophy, and statistics, among others.

Master of Criminology (coursework only, or coursework and thesis)

The Master of Criminology provides specialist training for professional qualification purposes, usually to graduates working in the fields of criminology, the criminal justice system and social policy and research relating to these areas, but may also be taken for general interest. This course does not necessarily lead to higher degree study, however high achieving students may qualify for entry to a masters by research or PhD. Students who discontinue the course after completing 50 points may be eligible for a graduate certificate. Students in the two year program who complete 100 points of the masters may be eligible for the award of a graduate diploma.

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Criminology)

The postgraduate diploma allows students to undertake a research project in a specialist field of study. Students will gain considerable knowledge in an area of criminology and engage in critical assessment of the major theoretical claims of the discipline. The course provides a pathway to higher degree research for students who have not completed a four year BA (Honours) with a research component in criminology.

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Socio-Legal Studies)

The postgraduate diploma allows students to undertake a research project in a specialist field of study. Students will gain considerable knowledge in an area of socio-legal studies and engage in critical assessment of the major theoretical claims of the discipline.

Graduate Diploma in Arts (Criminology)

The graduate diploma is similar to an undergraduate major and offers a comprehensive program of study in criminology. The course is suitable for general interest or professional development purposes and does not require a research project or thesis. Graduates are provided with a pathway to higher degree study and may qualify for entry to the postgraduate diploma or professional masters by coursework.

Graduate Certificate in Criminology

The graduate certificate provides a flexible option for graduates and those with extensive industry experience to attain a base knowledge of Criminology. For those with an undergraduate degree, it provides an accessible means to begin study in Criminology as an entry point to further study

Human Research Ethics

Postgraduate coursework students undertaking research that involves interviews and/or questionnaires may need to submit an ethics application to the School Human Ethics Advisory Group (SHEAG). Such an application needs to be approved BEFORE commencing your research. It is recommended that honours students aim to submit their ethics applications either to the April SHEAG meeting or, for mid-year entry, the October SHEAG meeting. For further information, consult your supervisor, and refer to the Melbourne Research Office Human Ethics site.

Research Supervision

The School's Research Supervision page provides information on academic staff research and supervision areas.

University Policy Documents

For information on University policies and guidelines in connection with your studies, please refer to the Academic Services Policy page.

Faculty of ArtsSchool of Social and Political Sciences

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