Combining your criminology degree with another subject opens more doors

Become a criminologist

Learn how to add more to your criminology degree.

Studying criminology is the best way to understand the causes, effects and prevention of crime — a fact of life that can’t be ignored.

In South Australia, the largest and most experienced criminology department can be found here at Flinders University. We’re incredibly proud of our global team of award winning academics but also of the wide range of experiences and knowledge we are able to offer our students.

Criminology is a truly fascinating subject. It allows students to learn about, and make their mark on, some of the biggest issues of our time. They’ll learn to tackle everything from terrorism to cybercrime, and domestic violence to modern slavery.

There are countless career paths for criminology students to follow, both in Australia and abroad. They often find themselves working with governments, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and not-for-profits that tackle societal issues.

But students who are interested in criminology aren’t limited to organisations that serve and uphold the law.

Combining degrees

The beauty of studying at Flinders University is the flexibility you have to build a program of study that works for you and gets you closer to your dream career.

Flinders University students have the opportunity to combine their criminology degree with degrees in related fields. This is a great way to gain more expertise, broaden your horizons and expand (or focus) your career prospects.

All that is generally required is one and a half more years of study. That’s more time to build relationships with teachers and peers and more knowledge to take with you into the workforce.

Extra study can lead to a world of opportunities

There are a variety of degree combinations that may suit different career aspirations. For example, students looking to understand the psychological factors underlying crime can complete a Bachelor of Psychological Science alongside their Bachelor of Criminology.

Those who want to enter the realm of justice, law making and policy could add a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice , while those who want to join the front line in the fight against cybercriminals could combine a Bachelor of Information Technology (Network and Cybersecurity Systems) with their degree.

The student experience

One student who took this path is Bethany Balazs. Bethany says she initially got into criminology “by accident” while studying a Bachelor of Science but quickly “fell in love with the subject.”

“My favourite IT topic has been computer programming. I came to Flinders knowing nothing about programming. I learned everything from scratch in a semester and was able to do more than I thought I could.

In criminology, my favourite would probably be Criminal Law in Context. We learned to write a court report and a case note. The lectures were amazing.”

Bethany is happy that her combined degree has given her a more comprehensive way of understanding and interpreting data — both quantitative and qualitative. The combination has helped her write reports and complete sensitive legal work with greater confidence.

There are many pathways into a Bachelor of Criminology and countless opportunities to make your Flinders University experience a memorable one.

Further opportunities

Flinders University is host to a number of state of the art criminology facilities.

The Flinders University Criminology Association provides a social space for criminology students to meet, network and receive expert career advice.

At the same time, the Flinders Centre for Crime Policy and Research acts as the only dedicated centre in Australia devoted to serious and organised crime.

Students can also take advantage of a number of global exchange opportunities, taking them for a few weeks or an entire semester to countries like Argentina, Germany, Malaysia, Iceland, Singapore or the United States.

Closer to home, students can also access work placement opportunities that provide serious on the job training in organisations, including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Institute of Criminology, Department for Correctional Services, SA Police, the Victim Support Service and the Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council.

Pursue your passions at Flinders University

In truth, it’s rare that anyone has a single passion that leads them through their entire career.

By combining degrees at Flinders University, and taking up the opportunity to work and study outside of South Australia, you will be giving your career the best possible start — and getting a far richer experience, in general.