Program Overview

Foundation Studies prepares you for a successful transition to degree-level study, providing a pathway to the first year of study of a bachelor’s degree at Murdoch University.

This course is suited to you if you:

• Need an entrance qualification for Murdoch University
• Want to accelerate your university preparation after Year 11, or equivalent
• Want to change your degree stream after Year 11, or equivalent

Course Structure
For Foundation Studies you will complete eight units over two study periods, studying a combination of core and elective units. The units you will undertake will be determined by your chosen degree. All students must complete the two English units and at least one unit from each Discipline Group.

Each unit of study builds concepts from an introductory level through to university entrance level. The units are designed to develop your learning techniques as well as bridging gaps in your unit knowledge.

• English
  • Essential Australian Studies
  • Introduction to Academic Communication
• Mathematics
  • Introductory Mathematics
  • Mathematics for Science
• Science and Technology
  • Information Technology for Academic Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• The Arts
  • Introduction to Media
  • Media Production
• Business and Legal Studies
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Economics

Leading to: Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Examine crime from a range of perspectives – including law, sociology and psychology – as you learn how to reduce and prevent crime, and help both victims and offenders in the criminal justice system. Explore how the mind works, why people commit offences, and what can be done to rehabilitate them. You’ll have the option to specialise in Legal Studies, Criminal Behaviour, Crime Science or White Collar and Corporate Crime.

By combining your criminology degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, you’ll build your expertise in the social and developmental areas of psychology, and complete a unit in Family Relations and Social Development. You’ll examine leading-edge research and practical applications to explore how we make sense of ourselves.

Major: Legal Studies
If you’re looking for an exciting career and the chance to make a difference, a major in Legal Studies within the field of criminology could really take you places. You’ll examine the Australian legal system and the way it shapes our society through a range of issues such as welfare law and human trafficking.

Law transcends all industries. Find out how the law interacts with other areas, taking units in criminology as you study the foundations of business law and other areas of the law.

You’ll learn about dispute resolution and have the opportunity to develop your own dispute resolution skills through role play and interactive activities. You will learn a variety of dispute resolution processes including negotiation, conciliation, mediation and arbitration.  

You will investigate the interactions between law, crime, frameworks in societies and the various social grouping within society.

3 reasons to study Legal Studies at Murdoch

• Challenge the way you think about the world as you explore the legal system and how it shapes society.
• Learn to produce high quality and persuasive communications (for example research reports, court reports and policy reports) so you are job ready when you graduate.
• Learn from respected experts in their field who often appear in the media to share their insights on current events and issues.

What you’ll learn
Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

• Social and welfare law
• Criminological research methods
• Alternative dispute resolution
• International and transnational crimes
• Law, justice and social policy