What will my study involve?

Entry requirements

To enrol in the degree, you will need:

• University Entrance (or equivalent). UC offers transition programmes for those who need help meeting these requirements.
• UC's English language requirements if English is not your first language. If you need help meeting these requirements, or would like to practise your English skills before studying, UC offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language programmes.

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

The BCJ does not require a background in any specific subject at secondary school and is open to anyone with entry to the University.

Subjects and courses

The BCJ is a multidisciplinary degree that includes study across different subject areas and options to select topics of interest, including criminal behaviour, rehabilitation, human ethics, and many more.

Year 1

• CRJU101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CRJU150 Legal Method in the Criminal Justice Context
• CRJU160 Legal Issues in the New Zealand Criminal Justice System
• HSRV103 Violence in Society
• HSRV104 Youth Realities
• PSYC105 Introductory Psychology – Brain, Behaviour and Cognition
• PSYC106 Introductory Psychology – Social, Personality and Developmental
• One course chosen from these options

If enrolled in the double degree BCJ and Bachelor of Laws, LAWS101 Legal System: Legal Method and Institutions is taken instead of CRJU150 and CRJU160.

Year 2

• HSRV210 Gender, Crime and Social Theory
• MAOR219 Te Tiriti: The Treaty of Waitangi
• SOCI293 The History of Gangs in New Zealand
• PHIL139 Ethics, Politics and Justice
• CRJU201 Crime and Justice
• CRJU202 Criminal Law for Criminal Justice

If enrolled in the double degree BCJ and Bachelor of Laws, LAW202 Criminal Law is taken instead of CRJU202.

Year 3

• CRJU301 Sentencing Theory and Practice
• CRJU302 Prisons and Corrections

Complete 105 points from this list of elective courses (or 90 if enrolled in a double degree BCJ and Bachelor of Laws). At least 45 points must be at 300-level.

One 15-point course at 200-level or 300-level can be chosen from courses from any other UC degree.

These courses are completed during the second and third years of study.

Further study

Career ready

Find out more about what can you do with a degree from UC.