Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Adelaide

Program Overview

If you’re curious about why people think, behave, and sometimes break the rules — and you want to make a real difference in communities — the Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Adelaide is built for you. Over four engaging years, you’ll explore the mind, human behaviour, and crime, blending theory with practical experience so you graduate not just with knowledge, but with confidence and a clear sense of purpose.

Campus: North Terrace Campus, Adelaide (primary campus) and Waite/Magill Campus, Adelaide, South Australia

Curriculum Structure

First Year
Your first year sets the foundation. You’ll start by exploring how the criminal justice system works, with courses like Introduction to Criminal Justice and discussions around crime and justice. In psychology, you’ll uncover the basics of human behaviour and development. This is a year for asking questions, thinking critically, and learning to see the bigger picture — from individual behaviour to social systems and inequalities.

Second Year
In your second year, you’ll start connecting theory to real-world behaviour. Psychology courses explore lifespan development and research methods, while criminology dives into topics like forensic criminology and cybercrime. This is the year you start shaping your own interests, seeing how psychology and criminology intersect, and understanding how prevention, justice, and human behaviour all fit together.

Third Year
Year three is about going deeper and applying what you’ve learned. You’ll strengthen research and analytical skills in psychology and tackle advanced criminology topics like policing, corrections, and criminal systems. You’ll also get hands-on experience through internships or field placements, building real-world skills while connecting with organisations and potential employers.

Fourth Year
Your final year is where it all comes together. You’ll complete professional placements or internships in community, policy, or justice settings, putting your knowledge into action. Electives let you tailor your studies to your goals — whether that’s research, advocacy, frontline work, or policy development. By the end, you’ll graduate ready to make a meaningful impact or continue your journey in postgraduate study.

Focus Areas
Human behaviour and development, crime causation and prevention, justice systems, and societal impact.

What You’ll Gain
You’ll leave the program with strong critical thinking, research skills, and ethical understanding, alongside practical experience analysing behaviour and influencing justice and wellbeing in communities.

Professional Alignment
This double degree equips you with the core skills both psychology and criminology professionals rely on. Psychology gives you a solid foundation in human behaviour and research, while criminology prepares you for ethical, evidence-based work in justice, policy, and community settings.

Reputation and Employability
Studying at Adelaide University means learning at a world-class institution ranked in the top 100 globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. With strong graduate outcomes and a respected reputation, your degree carries weight with employers worldwide.

If you’re fascinated by people, motivated to create safer communities, and want a degree that blends understanding with action, this program gives you both the knowledge and hands-on experience to launch a meaningful career.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Adelaide is designed to give students hands-on experience alongside their academic studies. Throughout the degree, students investigate criminal behaviour, crime prevention, justice systems, and human psychology while developing practical research, analytical, and problem-solving skills. The program combines classroom learning with real-world professional experiences, allowing students to apply psychological and criminological concepts in authentic settings and build valuable industry connections before graduation.

This practical focus is reinforced through a range of experiential learning opportunities and facilities:

Industry Internships: Students complete internships in mental health or community organisations during the third and fourth years of the program, gaining professional experience and building industry networks. A society and culture internship in the final year provides additional workplace exposure and practical application of classroom learning.
Research Training: Psychology courses develop advanced research and data-analysis skills through subjects such as psychology research methods and data analysis, preparing students to interpret behavioural data and conduct evidence-based investigations.
Criminology Practice-Based Learning: Students explore specialised areas including forensic criminology, cybercrime, policing, crime control, criminal justice systems, and victim support while applying theoretical concepts to contemporary criminal justice issues.
Group Projects and Applied Assessments: Assessment activities include group projects, case studies, research projects, presentations, reports, practical exercises, internships, and workplace-based learning activities that mirror professional practice.
Work-Integrated Learning: The criminology component incorporates work-integrated learning opportunities that allow students to engage with industry professionals and gain insight into criminal justice careers.
Industry Expert Engagement: Students learn from industry experts and criminal justice specialists, gaining exposure to current practices, emerging issues, and professional perspectives across psychology and criminology fields.
Libraries and Learning Spaces: Students have access to modern libraries, collaborative study areas, lecture theatres, workshops, laboratories, technology-enabled learning spaces, and a 24/7 online learning platform that supports both independent and group learning.
Research and Analytical Skills Development: The degree places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, behavioural analysis, data interpretation, and evidence-based decision-making, helping students build skills valued by employers in psychology, criminal justice, policy, and research sectors.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Psychology/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Adelaide combines two highly complementary disciplines, giving graduates a deep understanding of human behaviour, mental processes, crime, and justice systems. This double degree prepares students for diverse careers where psychological insight and criminological expertise are increasingly valued. Graduates may pursue roles such as Intelligence Analyst, Youth Justice Officer, Behavioural Research Officer, Community Corrections Officer, Policy Advisor, and Crime Prevention Practitioner.

This combination of skills creates outstanding career opportunities:

Career Preparation & Employability Services: Students benefit from the University's Career Services, which provide career counselling, resume and interview workshops, employer networking events, internship support, and career planning resources. The university's industry-focused learning approach helps students develop practical skills and professional connections throughout their studies.
Employment Outcomes: University of Adelaide graduates are highly regarded by employers, with the university consistently recognised among Australia's leading institutions for graduate employability. The combination of psychology and criminology knowledge provides graduates with a competitive advantage across government, justice, research, and community sectors.
Median Salary: Graduates entering criminology, criminal justice, behavioural research, intelligence, and community services roles typically earn a median starting salary of approximately AUD $70,000–$85,000 per year. Graduates who progress to registered psychology pathways or senior government positions may achieve significantly higher earnings.
University–Industry Partnerships: Students learn from academics with strong industry and research connections and may engage with projects and initiatives involving government agencies, justice organisations, research institutes, and community service providers. These partnerships help ensure graduates develop skills aligned with current workforce needs.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop expertise in psychological assessment, research methods, human behaviour, criminological theory, criminal justice systems, critical thinking, communication, data analysis, and evidence-based problem-solving. These highly transferable skills support careers across justice, public policy, mental health, research, and social services sectors.
Long-Term Qualification Value: The psychology component is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, providing the first step towards becoming a registered psychologist through further accredited study and supervised training. Combined with criminology and criminal justice expertise, this creates strong long-term career flexibility and professional recognition.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this double degree, graduates may continue into an Honours year in Psychology, which is the next step toward professional registration as a psychologist. Graduates may also pursue postgraduate studies in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Public Policy, Social Work, Counselling, Security Studies, or related disciplines. These pathways can lead to specialist careers in psychology, research, policy development, forensic services, academia, and leadership positions across the justice and human services sectors.