Study Criminology and Criminal Justice - Bachelor of Arts
Criminology is the study of crime and its effects on victims and society, and the workings of the criminal justice system including the police, courts and prisons. Criminology is a great choice if you want a career in an organisation associated with the criminal justice system.
In the Criminology and Criminal Justice major you develop a sound understanding of criminology in national and international contexts. You explore crime and policing in New Zealand and overseas, approaches to crime prevention and punishment, restorative justice and critical issues facing the criminal justice system. Throughout the major, you develop problem-solving skills related to criminology and criminal justice.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
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This major will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the field of criminology, drawing on the theory and practice in both national and international contexts. You explore crime and its control in New Zealand and other jurisdictions, and become familiar with contemporary debates within criminology. Develop an understanding of criminal justice institutions and crime in New Zealand, critically examine criminal justice policies and practices, and explore how criminological concepts can be used in real-life settings.
We aim to educate students to assess the research literature within the discipline and formulate critiques of current approaches to crime and its regulation. You'll also be encouraged to think beyond critique and engage in problem solving.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Partnerships and Reduced Inequalities
Choose one of:
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- MAOR505 Te Mānutanga Beginners Māori Language 1
- MAOR506 Te Ekenga Waka Beginners Māori Language 2
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
Peace and Justice, Climate Action and Economic World
Choose one of:
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- EVNT500 Introduction to Event Management
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
- SOSC585 Climate Action
- TOUR511 Global Issues in Tourism
Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing
Choose one of:
- FOOD501 Food and the Senses
- CLSY513 Organisation and Human Behaviour Perspectives
- HOSP509 Hospitality Social Enterprise
- TOUR512 Tourism and Sustainability
Quality Education, Gender Equality and Reduced Poverty
Workplace experience is an important part of your degree, and the Work Integrated Learning course is the final part of your degree. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice. It's a great way to get industry experience while still being able to get feedback from AUT lecturers, and for many of our students this workplace experience also leads to a job offer.
Recent placements included:
- Department of Corrections
- Just Speak
- New Zealand Police
- Prison Fellowship New Zealand
- Rethinking Crime and Punishment
- South Auckland Violence Protection Network
- TYLA (Turn Your Life Around)
You could also take the Foundations in Research course if you’re considering continuing into postgraduate study.
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
Criminology and criminal justice courses
If you're majoring in criminology and criminal justice, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight criminology-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
Complete the following courses:
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- CRIM581 Understanding Crime
Year 2 courses
Complete the following courses:
- CRIM680 Policing and Society
- CRIM682 Crime and Deviance
- SOSC682 Methods of Social Research
Year 3 courses
Complete three of:
- CRIM780 The Police and Crime Prevention
- CRIM781 Prisons and Punishment
- CRIM782 Understanding Restorative Justice
- CRIM785 Crime Narratives in the Media and Beyond
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-arts/criminology-major
Career opportunities if you study criminology
- Department of Corrections
- 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
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Creative Writing
- Culinary Arts
- Economics (not open to new students from 2025)
- Education
- Event Management
- Global Tourism
- History
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting*
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
*This major focuses on New Zealand Sign Language and developing the skills to become a Sign Language interpreter. It doesn’t include the option to include courses from different subjects.
- Explores crime and its effects
- Strong links with: NZ Police, Community Probation, Mason Clinic, Rethinking Crime and Punishment, and local councils
- A great choice if you want a career in an organisation associated with the criminal justice system
- Includes workplace experience
- Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
- Passionate about justice
- A problem-solver with attention to detail
- Inquisitive and open-minded
- Good at keeping confidences
- Able to make good judgements
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.