Crime Science
Crime Science is a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based problem-solving field that focuses on understanding the drivers of crime, to provide tools and information that will reduce victimisation and increase the safety and quality of life for all New Zealanders.
Crime Science can be studied as a minor in any undergraduate degree at The University of Waikato.
Students will develop specialist knowledge in security and crime topics, and transferrable skills such as the ability to think like scientists, critically analyse theories and research, and identify and solve practical problems using a scientific approach.
Students will gain knowledge of various types of data analysis, and of ethical, legal, human rights and civil liberties issues.
Students will understand the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi in addressing crime in New Zealand, and will be able to apply what they have learned across security, law enforcement and criminal justice organisations.
Employment prospects include police, security agencies, the private sector (e.g. fraud and cybersecurity specialisms) and throughout the criminal justice system.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton, Online Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
|---|---|
| Area of Study: |
Career opportunities
- Crime Prevention
- Law Enforcement
- Corrections
- Crime Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Fraud Analyst
- Government Researcher
- Data Scientist
- Cybersecurity Professional
Study in Tauranga
Tauranga students can study via the online options.
Papers
Available Crime Science papers
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRSCI101 | Introduction to Security and Crime Science | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online) |
| This paper introduces the topics, theories, and approaches that make up Crime Science. The central focus is on understanding crime. | |||
| DATAX111 | Statistics for Science | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga) & 24C (Hamilton Waikato College) |
| An introductory paper in statistics that uses Microsoft Excel. Topics include the collection and presentation of data, basic principles of experimental design, hypothesis testing, regression and the analysis of categorical data. | |||
| DATAX121 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton), 24A (Secondary School - Unistart) & 24X (Hainan University, Haikou, China) |
| An introduction to statistical data collection and analysis. Topics include general principles for statistical problem solving; some practical examples of statistical inference; and the study of relationships between variables using regression analysis. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRSCI201 | Understanding Crime Events | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| The focus of this paper is on crime as a potentially preventable event. Crimes occur in a patterned way that is partly determined by situational factors and people's decision-making. This paper introduces students to theories about crime events, and approaches to analysing these events. | |||
| DATAX201 | Practical Data Science | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Online) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| This paper gives students practical experience for the entire data science process. It covers the data collection process, data cleaning and manipulation, and data visualisation and presentation. | |||
| DATAX221 | Statistical Data Analysis | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the R programming language which is used to investigate a collection of real data sets. Analysis of variance, multiple regression, non parametric methods and time series are covered. | |||
| ENVPL201 | Introduction to Resource Management | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper is designed to provide students with an introduction to law and policy relevant to the practice of environmental planning and management in Aotearoa-New Zealand. | |||
| ENVPL203 | Urban Development in Aotearoa New Zealand | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will introduce students to the theory and practice of urban development in Aotearoa-New Zealand cities. | |||
| FPSYC201 | Psychology and Crime | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online) |
| Crime is a result of how people think, feel, and behave within their ecological context, making psychology one of the core disciplines in understanding, explaining and addressing problems associated with crime. | |||
| GEOGY228 | Introduction to Geographical Information Systems and Big Data | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| GIS and big data are revolutionising the application of Geography in the job market. This paper provides foundational knowledge in digital Geography and Geographical Information Systems, which are used at level 3 and postgraduate level. Students will develop confidence in the use of GIS, cartography, and data handling techniques. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENVPL300 | Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with a practical understanding of the broad range of different types of contemporary urban planning which occurs in New Zealand cities, towns and regions. | |||
| ENVPL309 | Urban Spatial Analysis | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will develop quantitative problem solving and spatial thinking skills applied to real-world problems such as sea-level rise and housing inequality. | |||
| GEOGY328 | Geographical Information Systems | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online) |
| GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is compulsory for the GIS minor and covers all aspects of GIS analysis, including remote sensing and model building. ArcGIS Pro is used in the labs and students have the opportunity to instal... | |||
| IRSST331 | Cyber Security and the Global Politics of the Internet | 15.0 | 24B (Online) |
| This course explores the global politics of cyber security and the internet. It covers the major political/strategic/theoretical debates around enhancing the security of computer systems and how states and non-state actors are responding. | |||
Subject requirements
To complete a minor in Crime Science, students must complete 60 points from CRSCI101 CRSCI201, GEOGY228, FPSYC201 or IRSST331.
To complete a minor in Crime Science, students must complete 60 points from CRSCI101 CRSCI201, GEOGY228, FPSYC201 or IRSST331.
For more information about subject requirements please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information.
If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4080 or email: [email protected]
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
The new minor in Crime Science is taught by staff based in Te Puna Haumaru New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science (NZISCS).
The new minor in Crime Science is taught by staff based in Te Puna Haumaru New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science (NZISCS). The Institute is the first in the southern hemisphere dedicated to Crime Science, and builds on the very successful embedding of Crime Science in the UK, the US and other countries. The mission of Crime Science is to reduce crime and the harms of crime through innovative policy-relevant research. We do this by better understanding the drivers of crime, and implementing practical solutions that are inspired by multiple disciplinary traditions (e.g., architecture, computer science, zoology to name a few).
For information about the Institute, its partners and research interests please check out their website
Contacts
If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone:
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
or check out Te Puna Haumaru New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science
Contact: Lisa Thomson [email protected] at NZISCS