AUT - Bachelor of Arts
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Bachelor of Arts
Criminology
There is more to criminology than just the study of crime; it is also about examining our response to crime as individuals and as a society.
Now is a pertinent time to study criminology in New Zealand. It is a period of great change and there are sweeping reforms taking place that will transform the way in which we are policed. Our prisons appear to be filling up faster than we can build them and the fear of crime is greater than the risk of being victimised. This major puts the discipline of criminology at the forefront of how we think about crime and criminal justice in New Zealand. The areas taught are based on the latest criminological research.
Who studies criminology?
With public interest in crime being at an all time high, our students come from varied lifestyles and diverse backgrounds. What these students have in common is an interest in the subject of criminology and some key characteristics. Some of these characteristics and the people most likely to enjoy studying criminology are:
- People who are inquisitive and willing to challenge their assumptions about the world
- People who are determined to enthusiastically apply themselves to understanding the complexities of crime and its control
- People who are interested in understanding more about the police and crime prevention
- People who are interested in the prison system and alternative aspects of punishment
- People interested in the different causes of crime and its analysis
- People with a social conscience who are interested in human rights issues
- People who want to become experts in some aspect of criminology
Our graduates
What this programme covers
Criminology is the study of the characteristics of criminal law, the extent of crime, the effects of crime on victims and society, methods of crime prevention, the attributes of criminals, and the workings of the criminal justice system such as the police, the courts, and prisons. Some of the issues examined by criminologists include youth crime, gangs, corporate crime, prisons and the police.
This major will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the field of criminology, drawing upon the theory and practice of both national and international contexts.
You will explore crime and its control in New Zealand and other jurisdictions, and gain a broad understanding of criminological matters. It is our goal to educate criminologists to assess the research literature within the discipline and formulate critiques of current approaches to crime and its regulation. You will also be encouraged to think beyond critique and engage in problem solving.
Visiting criminologists
In , 2010, Dr Russell G Smith, Global Cybercrime expert presented a public lecture at AUT on “Online identity fraud: understanding and responding to consumer scams.
Dr Smith is Head of the Global Economic and Electronic Crime Programme, Principal Criminologist at the Australian Institute of Criminology and President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology. In the era of the globalised economy and the internet, where technology provides new opportunities for fraudulent criminal activities, his work raises the question: how do we regulate wrongdoing in cyberspace?
Career opportunities
Criminology is an excellent topic to study if you want to pursue a career in an organisation associated with the criminal justice system. Occupations include those within:
- Department of Corrections
- Educational Institutions
- Local Authorities
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Social Development
- National and International Human Rights Organisations
- New Zealand Customs
- New Zealand Police
- Non-Governmental Community Groups
- Research Consultancies
Key staff
Papers
Throughout the three years of the BA, students take core papers that provide the necessary skills in writing, research and IT capability to prepare them for academic work and their working life. For a list of core papers see the Bachelor of Arts overview.
Core papers
145713 Writing or
165600 Undergraduate Writing for Academic Purposes
146734 Communicating
285104 Research and Analysis
287901 Cooperative Education
955203 Communication and Presentation Systems
Criminology papers
285001 Introduction to Psychology A
285702 Introduction to Sociology
286107 Criminology and Criminal Justice
286109 Understanding Crime
286110 Policing and Society
287001 The Police and Crime Prevention
287004 Prisons and Punishment
287005 Understanding Restorative Justice
287206 Crime and Deviance
Want to learn more?
Because of the popularity of careers in the social sciences sector we are seeing a large number of applications. We encourage you to talk to our Course Information team before you apply.Course information
Phone: 0800 AUT UNI (0800 288 864)
Email: courseinfo@aut.ac.nz