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 Science
This is the only degree of its kind in Western Australia. Study a Bachelor of Criminology with a Bachelor of Science to gain a unique set of skills and expand your career options.

Combine a major in Forensic Biology and Toxicology from your Bachelor of Science with your choice of  major in Legal Studies, Criminal Behaviour, Crime Science or White Collar and Corporate Crime for your Bachelor of Criminology.

In your Bachelor of Science coursework, you will learn about a range of forensic disciplines including forensic palynology (the use of pollen grains to connect a suspect with a crime scene), the pathology of asphyxiation, electrocution, gunshot wounds and fatal fire injuries, as well as how to recognise blunt and sharp force injuries and the weapons that cause them.

In Criminology, you’ll learn what’s behind the motivations and patterns of criminal behaviour in Australia, the science that helps solve major crime, and how our justice system works in Australia.

This unique combination degree will lead you to a range of different career paths, including current student Danika's dream to become a Forensic Pathologist.

3 reasons to study a combined degree in Criminology and Science at Murdoch

• This combined degree is not offered anywhere else in Australia.
• Study the latest analytical techniques for toxicology in our state-of-the-art laboratory, which is part of the Australian National Phenome Centre.
• Be mentored by real-life criminologists who will inspire you to investigate social and crime problems from a range of perspectives.

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:

• Crime scene investigation
• Children and crime
• Forensic DNA analysis, anatomy and anthropology
• Forensic toxicology
• Motives, methods and psychology of serious offenders
• Police procedures, the judicial process and how forensic evidence is interpreted