Bachelor of Forensic Science / Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

This double degree pairs the science of forensic evidence with the study of crime, justice and how the two meet in practice. You take core units in biology, chemistry and molecular science alongside criminology units on policing, courts, corrections and crime prevention. The science side gives you laboratory time, analysing biological samples, understanding DNA, toxicology and trace evidence, while the criminology side asks harder questions about why crimes happen, how evidence is used in court, and what happens to people once they enter the justice system.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees normally run three years full time; a double degree adds a year because you complete the requirements of both awards, so this one takes four. Griffith runs its academic year in trimesters, and you enrol in units of study, each carrying credit points. You need to pass the required number of credit points from each discipline, plus the shared core. The final year typically includes a capstone unit or research project where you pull the two halves together, for example, a piece of work on forensic evidence and its use in criminal proceedings.

Skills you build

You learn to handle evidence properly: collection, chain of custody, lab analysis, interpretation and reporting. You learn to read a case file and a scientific report side by side. Writing matters, expert reports, court statements, policy briefs. You also get practice in ethical reasoning, because forensic science sits close to questions about privacy, bias and miscarriages of justice.

Who it suits

This suits students who like lab work but do not want to spend their whole degree at a bench, or who are drawn to criminology but want a science skill set behind them. It is a good fit if you are interested in forensic laboratories, policing, customs, intelligence or the court system, and you want a qualification that can move between them. Griffith has strong links to Queensland's justice and forensic agencies, and the degree includes work-integrated learning where you apply your units in a real workplace. Check the official Griffith page and the CRICOS register for current unit lists, placement requirements and fees.

• Forensic scientist or laboratory technician, state and territory forensic science services, police laboratories, private analytical labs.
• Crime scene examiner or evidence officer, state police services and forensic units.
• Police officer or detective, state and territory police, Australian Federal Police.
• Corrections officer or case manager, state corrective services, community corrections.
• Intelligence analyst, police, border protection, defence, national security agencies.
• Court or justice officer, courts administration, legal aid, public prosecutions.
• Policy or research officer, government justice departments, criminology research bodies, NGOs working in justice reform.
• Customs or border officer, Australian Border Force and related agencies.

Graduates can also continue to honours or postgraduate study in forensic science or criminology. International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, and while studying, student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight.