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Study Criminology at Otago

Examine the social impacts of criminal behaviour

Criminology is currently one of the fastest growing and most popular areas of study in the social sciences internationally.

Criminology at Otago focuses on the critical study of crime and victimisation, theories of crime causation and prevention, the criminal justice system and the responses of the broader community to crime.

Why study Criminology?

The minor in Criminology provides the opportunity to study core concepts in criminology:

  • crime and deviance
  • social control
  • crime and victimisation in the media and cultural discourses
  • the shifting boundary between what is socially considered legitimate and criminal behaviour
  • the wider institutional dynamics of legal systems
  • justice processes and institutions.

Career opportunities

Students studying Criminology will be introduced to insights and debates that can help inform their future careers in law, social work, teaching, public health, theological ministry or work with

Combine the Criminology minor with high-profile majors

Students who take the minor in Criminology will find that it provides both an opportunity to study a fascinating and relevant area of life in New Zealand and a strong support programme for some of Otago's high-profile disciplinary majors like Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, Anthropology, Politics, or Media, Film and Communication Studies.

Diploma for Graduates in Criminology

The Diploma for Graduates in Criminology enables students to develop a sophisticated understanding of how crime has been defined, researched, represented and governed across time and space, and in Aotearoa New Zealand today. We examine a wide variety of different forms of crime and theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding and researching crime.We explore the criminal justice system, victims' perspectives on crime, and crime in relation to gender, ethnicity, class, medial, culture, technology, the environment, and more.

The Diploma for Graduates is ideal for students planning towards careers in areas such as social work, law, human rights, justice advocacy, the criminal justice system, violence prevention, and victim support. Our programme can also serve as a bridge to postgraduate study.

The Diploma for Graduates in Criminology consists of papers worth at least 120 points, of which four papers are at 300-level or above. The programme may be completed in one year full-time, or over more than one year part-time.

Further study opportunities

Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

Programme details

Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).

Papers

View a list of all related papers below.

More information

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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