What's the difference between the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology?

Find out what each degree offers and make an informed choice.

Trying to decide between studying the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice or the Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology, but not sure what the difference is? Both degrees focus on crime, justice and human behaviour, but they’re designed for different interests and career goals.

Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

This degree focuses on how the justice system works including policing, courts, prisons, policy and reform. You’ll like this degree if you want to focus on laws, institutions and large scale change, and see yourself working in government, justice agencies or advocacy roles.

Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology

This degree focuses on studying crime from both behavioural and social system perspectives. You’ll like this degree if you want to understand why people offend as well as how the system responds, and work directly with offenders, victims and communities.

Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Across three years you’ll learn how to apply key criminology, justice and socio‑legal theories to real problems, and to critically engage with local and global issues such as policing practices, incarceration, inequality, reform and human rights. As you progress, you’ll develop ethical and reflective practice, connecting your own values and experiences with the social, cultural and environmental factors that influence justice outcomes.

Undergraduate degreeLaw

Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Degree structure

You'll complete one major in:

Criminology

Justice Systems

Legal Studies

Plus either:

One optional/interdiscplinary minor, OR
Four additional subjects chosen from any Criminology and Criminal Justice majors or minors lists that you have not already completed.

The minors offered include:

Dispute resolution
Justice systems
Society and law
Law and procedure
Critical criminology
Media and crime
Chinese
Japanese
Spanish
French
Global politics
Foundations in sustainability.

Work integrated learning

In your third year you'll complete a 50-day placement within a criminal justice or related organisation.

Selected students can also apply to complete their internship with the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative at RMIT, working on claims of wrongful conviction. Under supervision, this experience may involve examining case files, assisting with research and, where appropriate, observing aspects of the justice process firsthand, giving you an insider’s view of how contested convictions are examined.

Past students have completed placements with:

welfare and victim support services
youth justice services
Magistrate's, Children’s and Supreme Courts
Victoria Police
Corrections Victoria.

International opportunities

You can complete part of your studies abroad in places like the UK, Canada and the United States, where you'll spend the semester or even a full year studying criminal justice.

You can also complete your field placement overseas and study tours are offered for selected students to broaden their global experience.

Further study

Undergraduate degreeSocial and community

Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 1 year, or part-time equivalent

Postgraduate studyLaw

Master of Justice and Criminology

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Reduced duration available

Postgraduate studySocial and community, Law

Master of Public Policy

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Reduced duration available

View more further study options

Career outcomes

Graduates are equipped for a wide range of roles across the criminal justice system and related fields. You might work in areas such as policing and law enforcement support, corrections and community corrections, court administration, policy and law reform, crime prevention, victim and community support, and justice advocacy.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at RMIT have gone on to work for:

Australian Federal Police
Victoria Police
Customs and Border Protection
community corrections
Department of Justice and Community Safety
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
courts
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology

The Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology combines both disciplines into one degree, letting you study crime from both behavioural and social perspectives. Over three years you’ll build an integrated foundation in both criminology and psychology, then apply this knowledge in increasingly complex, real‑world contexts. You’ll learn to understand contemporary criminological issues and apply theory to areas such as violence, inequality and youth justice, while developing practical skills in interviewing, risk assessment and case management. At the same time, you’ll gain a strong grounding in psychological science, including research methods, behaviour and mental health, ethical practice and critical thinking about how psychological knowledge is created and used.

Undergraduate degreeHealth, Psychology, Social and community, Law

Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Accredited Psychology degree

The psychology sequence of study included in this degree is accredited without conditions by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Successful completion of an APAC-accredited undergraduate psychology specialisation is a partial requirement for registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)..

Degree structure

Throughout the degree, you'll get the opportunity to specialise in an area of criminology of your choice, including:

criminal intelligence
forensic studies
drug-related crime
international policing
customs and border security
youth justice
terrorism.

Work integrated learning

The Professional Internship is an optional elective that gives you the opportunity to apply the skills you've learned over the course of your degree.

Over a minimum of 20 days, you’ll step into a workplace such as a court, corrections, youth justice, victim support or another justice agency, observing how professionals work with clients and contributing to real cases and projects.

Selected students can also apply to complete their internship with the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative at RMIT, working on claims of wrongful conviction. Under supervision, you might review case files, conduct research and even visit prisons or crime scenes – gaining rare insight into how the justice system works when a conviction is in doubt.

Past students have completed placements with:

welfare and victim support services
youth justice services
Magistrate's, Children’s and Supreme Courts
Victoria Police
Corrections Victoria.

Career outcomes

Graduates are prepared for roles across justice, community and human services where people skills and behavioural insight are essential. You might work with young people or adults at risk of offending, support victims and families, contribute to justice and social policy, or analyse crime trends and risks to inform decisions in government and industry.

Depending on your interests and electives, you could work in areas such as:

Youth justice and community corrections
Victim support and family violence services
Drug and alcohol and other community health services
Child protection and out‑of‑home care
Crime and intelligence analysis, security and risk
Justice and social policy, research and advocacy roles.

This degree is also the basis for further study in psychology. Many graduates use it as a pathway into honours and postgraduate study and go on to work in areas such as clinical, educational, organisational or forensic psychology.

Further study

Undergraduate degreeHealth, Psychology

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

February
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years

Undergraduate degreeSocial and community

Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 1 year, or part-time equivalent

Postgraduate studyLaw

Master of Justice and Criminology

February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Reduced duration available

To work as a registered psychologist you will need to complete further study

In addition to this degree you'll need to complete the following degrees:

or equivalent degrees recognised by the Australian Psychological Society.

View more further study options

Overview

Here are the key highlights for each degree:

	Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice	Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology
Duration	Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years	Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years
ATAR	60.50	60.35
Pathway to become a registered psychologist	No	Yes
Course structure	11 compulsory core subjects 8 major subjects 4 electives	12 compulsory psychology core subjects 8 compulsory criminology core subjects 5 criminology electives
Work integrated learning options	Compulsory 50 day placement with a justice related organisation	Optional 20 day placement with a justice related organisation
Degree focus	Focus on how the justice system works, policy and reform.	Focus on how behaviour and social systems affect crime.
Career outcomes	Work in government, justice agencies or advocacy roles.	Work directly with offenders, victims and communities

More information

3 RMIT criminology students work together to solve a case in class.

How to become a criminologist

Make a positive difference in society through crime prevention.

What can I do with a degree in criminology?

Drive meaningful change in a society with a degree in criminology by tackling real-world challenges in law enforcement, policy development, and community support.

A psychologist listens to a patient in a therapy session.

How to become a psychologist

Build a career exploring human behaviour, promoting mental health, and providing therapeutic support.

What can I do with a degree in psychology?

There’s a world of options for people interested in the life of the mind.

Have more questions?

Our friendly staff at Study@RMIT are available five days a week to assist you.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures

What's the difference between the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology?