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Bachelor of Forensic Science/Bachelor of Criminology

Course summary for current students

Award granted Bachelor of Forensic Science / Bachelor of Criminology
CampusOffered at Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
Duration

4 years full time or part-time equivalent

CRICOS course code075455D
Deakin course codeD329

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin University’s Bachelor of Forensic Science/Bachelor of Criminology is the only combined course in Victoria which provides the opportunity to study forensic science and criminology as a combined course.

 

The course has been designed to enable graduates to work both in specialised fields and across professional boundaries. It is contemporary and relevant, with teaching staff who are active researchers in their respective fields. 

 

You will learn both arts and science traditions, giving you a broad appreciation of the professional, social, economic and cultural contexts of the forensic science and criminology disciplines.

 

You will have the opportunity to learn the skills and techniques essential to modern forensic science, including the examination and presentation of scientific evidence and courtroom skills. The course will also give you practical, professional training to enable you to study critical analysis in the fields of policing, security, corrections, crime prevention and community safety, and various paralegal fields.

 

In your forensic science studies you can choose to major in Forensic Biology or Forensic Chemistry. Other areas of study in the course include topics such as forensic analysis and interpretation, the criminal justice system, crime prevention and security, and designing and conducting criminological research.

 

Graduates may also have the opportunity to go on to further study and enter honours and postgraduate programs.

 

Students and graduates of this course are eligible to apply for membership of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS).

 

Units in the course may include assessment hurdle requirements.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course, you may find employment opportunities as a forensic scientist, criminologist or related role, in both the public and private sector, including areas such as the forensic science industry, science-based industries, teaching, government agencies, state and federal police, ASIO, correctional services, community services, and private security industries.

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Fees and charges

Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.

 

Please be aware:

  • Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
  • Fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen
  • Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services

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Course rules

This combined course comprises 32 credit points of study. Students will undertake 16 credit point in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment and 16 credit points in the Faculty of Arts and Education course-grouped units. Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Forensic Science (S324) and Bachelor of Criminology (A329) must be satisfied.

 

 

Forensic Science requirements (16 cp):

  • At least 16 credit points of Science course-grouped units;
  • 10 credit points of core Forensic Science units (plus 2 other core units shared with Criminology – ACR101 and ACR102);
  • Successful completion of SLE010 – Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 cp);
  • Successful completion of a major sequence in either Forensic Chemistry or Forensic Biology;
  • At least 4 credit points of Science course-grouped units at level 3;
  • Up to 6 credit points of Science course-grouped units at level 1; and
  • 2 credit points of Science course-grouped electives.

 Criminology requirements (16 cp):

  • Students must complete 16 credit points of study from the Faculty of Arts and Education including at least 12 credit points of ACR coded units, including the core units of ACR101, ACR102, ACR201, ACR202, ACR301 and ACR302.

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Major sequences

Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Biology

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Course structure

Bachelor of Forensic Science

Core Units

SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (B, G, W)  ^

SLE111 Cells and Genes (B, G, W)  

SLE133 Chemistry in Our World (B, G)  ^

SLE112 Fundamentals of Forensic Science (G)  

SLE132 Biology: Form and Function (B, G)  

SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences (B, G)  

SIT191 Introduction to Statistics (G, X)  

SLE208 Forensic Biology (G)  

SLE212 Biochemistry (B, G)  

SLE213 Introduction to Spectroscopic Principles (G)  

SLE313 Forensic Analysis and Interpretation (G)  

 

^Note: Students who have completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent may choose to replace SLE133 Chemistry in Our World with an elective unit.

 

Forensic Biology - Additional core units for major

SLE211 Principles of Physiology (B, G)  

SLE221 Anatomy and Physiology (B, G)  

SLE254 Genetics (B, G, W)  

SLE340 Genomes and Bioinformatics (G)  

 

Forensic Chemistry- Additional core units for major

SLE210 Chemistry the Enabling Science (B, G)  

SLE214 Organic Chemistry (B, G)  

SLE229 Introduction to Separation Science (G)  

SLE316 Analytical Chemistry (G)  

SLE318 Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry (G)  

 

Bachelor of Criminology units

ACR101 Introducing Crime and Criminology (G, X)  

ACR102 Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice (G, X)  

ACR201 Issues in Criminal Justice (G, X)  

ACR202 Criminology Theory (G, X)  

ACR301 International and Comparative Criminal Justice (G, X)  

ACR302 Criminology Research (G, X)  

ACR203 Crime, Victims and Justice (G, X)  

ACR211 Crime Prevention and Security (G, X)  **

ACR212 Crime, Surveillance and Technology (G, X)  *

ACR213 Crime, Terrorism and Security (G, X)  *

ACR204 Crime, Media and Justice (G, X)  

ACR210 Crime, Surveillance and Society (G, X)  **

 

 

* ACR212, ACR213 Trimester 1 (alternate years 2014, 2016) and trimester 3 (alternate years 2015, 2017)

** ACR210, ACR211 Trimester 3 (alternate years 2014, 2016) and trimester 1 (alternate years 2015, 2017)

^ SLE010 is a 0-credit-point compulsory unit

 

 

 

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Details of major sequences

Students must complete a major sequence in either Forensic Biology or Forensic Chemistry on top of the core unit requirements:

 

Forensic Biology - unit set code MJ-S000049

 

The forensic biology major aims to provide you with the specific biological skills that are very important in the forensic science workplace. These biological-based skills complement the generic forensic science attributes developed in the core units of the course.   Study in this area may lead to a career based on entomology, human anatomy and DNA based forensic science.

 

SLE111 Cells and Genes (B, G, W)  *

SLE132 Biology: Form and Function (B, G)  *

SLE211 Principles of Physiology (B, G)  

SLE212 Biochemistry (B, G)  *

SLE221 Anatomy and Physiology (B, G)  

SLE254 Genetics (B, G, W)  

SLE313 Forensic Analysis and Interpretation (G)  *

SLE340 Genomes and Bioinformatics (G)  

* Already core units in the degree.

 

Forensic Chemistry - unit set code MJ-SU00015

 

The forensic chemistry major aims to provide you with the specific chemistry skills that are very important in the forensic science workplace. These chemically-based skills complement the generic forensic science attributes developed in the core units of the course.  Study in this area may lead to a career based on toxicology, drug detection and chemical detection.

 

SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences (B, G)  *

SLE210 Chemistry the Enabling Science (B, G)  

SLE212 Biochemistry (B, G)  *

SLE213 Introduction to Spectroscopic Principles (G)  *

SLE214 Organic Chemistry (B, G)  

SLE229 Introduction to Separation Science (G)  

SLE316 Analytical Chemistry (G)  

SLE318 Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry (G)  

* Already core units in the degree

 

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8th June 2007