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 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (Online) |
| This paper is an introduction to topics, approaches and disciplines that help to define Security and Crime Science's approach to reducing and preventing crimes before they happen, thus helping to create safer communities. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRSCI201 | Understanding Crime Events | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) & 23B (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. | |||
| FPSYC201 | Psychology and Crime | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (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 | 23A (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRSST331 | Cyber Security and the Global Politics of the Internet | 15.0 | 23B (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