Honours
The Criminology honours program provides advanced study at fourth-year level. The honours program is also open to students of Socio-Legal Studies.
Students complete a specialized research and coursework program that provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing to higher degree research at the MA or PhD level, or for improving employment options and professional advancement.
A key part of the honours program includes the option of undertaking a Criminology Internship. This field experience gives students the opportunity to complete a research project with a social or criminal justice agency.
Students who graduate with honours report exceptionally high rates of satisfaction with the professional and academic directions they pursue beyond graduation.
Course information
The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies are:
- Completion of all the requirements for the BA
- Completion of a major in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies; and
- An average grade over the second/third year subjects within the major equivalent to at least an H2A (75%)
For further information on honours eligibility, entry requirements, application procedures, course structure and subject outlines, refer to the honours section of the Faculty of Arts honours web page.
Course structure
Students undertaking pure honours in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies must complete:
- Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies Thesis (50 points); and
- One compulsory subject Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points); and
- One Methods Subject: Either Qualitative Research Methods Or Social Research Design and Evaluation; and
- Two elective honours subjects (25 points) Or the Criminology Internship (25 points)
Students undertaking combined honours in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies must complete:
- Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies Thesis (50 points)
- One compulsory subject Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points)
- Three honours subjects in the combined area of study (totalling 37.5 points)
or
- Honours thesis in the combined area of study (50 points);
- One honours subject in the combined area of study (totalling 12.5 points); and
- Three elective honours subjects in Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies (37.5 points) Or the Criminology Internship (25 points) plus One other Criminology or Socio-Legal Studies elective (12.5 points)
Human Research Ethics
Honours students undertaking research that involves interviews and/or questionnaires may need to submit an ethics application to the School Human Ethics Advisory Group (SHEAG). Such an application needs to be approved BEFORE commencing your research. It is recommended that honours students aim to submit their ethics applications either to the April SHEAG meeting or, for mid-year entry, the October SHEAG meeting. For further information, consult your supervisor, refer to the Office for Research Ethics and Integrity website and visit the School Ethics Clearance for Research web page.
Research supervision
The School's Research Supervisor web page provides information on academic staff research and supervision areas.
University policy documents
For information on University policies and guidelines in connection with your studies, please refer to the Melbourne Policy Library website.
School administrative information
- 2013 SSPS Academic Programs Policy & Procedures (Students)
- Essay writing guide
- SSPS Assessment Coversheet
- Extension Application Form
- 2013 timetable
Information for Thesis Students
- Thesis Submission Dates 2012-2013
- Thesis Submission Dates 2013
- Supervision Guidelines
- Thesis Topic Form
- Guidelines for Thesis Presentation