Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Dual Degree)

at Griffith University - Mount Gravatt Campus Australia

This postgraduate pre-service teacher education program is offered in intensive mode to enable completion in one and a half years or over two years full-time. The program provides professional preparation for teaching in primary school (Prep to Year 6) settings. It is designed for graduates from a non-education background wishing to teach in this context.

The program covers the theory and practice of teaching concentrating on the characteristics of learners; the social and educational contexts of education; curriculum studies and professional experience in relevant settings.

The Honours year consists of supervised research and coursework available to suitably qualified graduates of Griffith University and other recognised tertiary institutions.

This program enables students to advance the knowledge and experience acquired at the undergraduate level and prepares them to undertake research work for postgraduate studies at this and other universities.

This degree delivers advanced professional learning for teachers and those with a professional involvement in education including school bursars, school development officers and training personnel. It will help you develop greater expertise in educational practice or research and can contribute to current teachers' professional development requirements.

Depending on your career aspirations and interests, you can complete majors in the following areas:

• Autism Studies
• Early Childhood Studies (not accredited with ACECQA)
• Educational Leadership
• Educational Technology
• Learning and Professional Development
• Special Needs Education
• Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Wellbeing in Education

Graduates will gain skills in providing professional counselling to assist others in resolving personal or professional problems. Working in the counselling profession involves guiding and empowering people to develop self-understanding and to make changes in their lives in order to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. They assist people by offering them a structured and focused way of addressing their problems, and work with clients on developing strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they are facing.

Combining business with psychological science can give you the skills and knowledge needed to work as a specialist providing advice to organisations on management and personnel issues, and helping them develop training programs, set policies, or manage organisational change.

This program prepares students to teach in primary or secondary settings. Students undertake a foundation first year and then undertake studies in either primary or secondary education from Year 1/Trimester 3. Students undertake professional practice which includes observation and participation in schools, practice teaching and community field studies.

With this degree, you'll be a part of the leading school of criminology in Queensland. You'll learn from internationally recognised experts and industry leaders who bring their authentic and compelling crime experiences to your study.

In your first year, you'll learn about the current trends in crime in Australia and overseas. Academic and professional experts will explain proven ways that crime can be examined, prevented and reduced. You'll participate in courses that include the police, courts and criminal law, forensic psychology and homicide.

In your second and third years, you'll narrow your focus into a key area of criminology and criminal justice based on your interests and desired career. You can choose from elective courses in policing, corrections, working with offenders and victims, counter-terrorism, or crime analysis and investigation.

Industry and expert connections
In your final year, you'll have the option to complete a professional placement and gain practical experience, which helps expose you to potential careers of interest and employers. You may also have the opportunity to study abroad and gain invaluable learning and experience that can increase employment opportunities.

You will also have the opportunity to gain experience in cutting-edge criminological research through the Criminology Undergraduate Research Internship Program. You'll be mentored one-on-one by criminology experts and can select an internship to suit your interests from a diverse range of research projects. Internship opportunities are offered on a competitive basis three times a year and usually last four to six weeks. It's a priceless opportunity only available through Griffith.

In this double degree, you'll develop an understanding of the vital importance of human services within Australia's legal and social systems.

Through the human services component, you'll learn how to build a better future for individuals and families. You'll also be empowered by a greater understanding of the principles of social justice and social inclusion. In the criminology and criminal justice component, you'll learn about the causes of crime and how society responds to them through the justice system.

Industry and expert connections
Your study will include courses about policing, working with offenders and victims, and analysing and preventing crimes. You'll hear from academic and professional experts about how crime can be prevented and reduced.

You'll also undertake a range of courses to prepare you as a human services practitioner to create a more socially just world.  

You'll receive plenty of hands-on experience in your final year of study. Within a genuine human services environment, you'll put theory into practice in a supervised setting. This experience will enhance your skills in the workplace and get you ready to graduate job-ready.

Graduate Outcomes
You may find opportunities in policing and security, intelligence, probation and parole, child protection, crime analysis, courts and justice services, crime prevention and regulatory agencies.

You will be prepared for a career in areas such as law enforcement, working directly with offenders in welfare and counselling roles and in criminological research and policy roles.

This is your opportunity to expose yourself to an intensive research environment. You will develop expertise in research and learn the concepts, methods and skills required to apply knowledge with creativity and initiative to new situations. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is awarded on the basis of independent supervised study that produces a substantial piece of research as judged by independent experts of international standing.

This new double degree will combine the study of what makes criminals tick with an understanding of the justice system and policy making processes. With a better understanding of how policy is created and applied, plus an understanding of crime and criminal behavior, you will be equipped to influence the policy underpinning the justice system to ultimately deter crime rather than simply responding to criminal behavior.

This degree will give you a better understanding of the causes and consequences of complex crime and criminal justice issues and just how it is currently dealt with by government at local, national and global levels.