Program Overview

Introduction to the Criminology Program

The Institute of Criminology at Te Herenga WakaVictoria University of Wellington is internationally renowned for its world-leading research and teaching in Criminology. Established in 1975, the Institute is a hub for academic staff and postgraduate students involved in acclaimed criminological research.

Criminology Degrees

The Institute of Criminology provides rigorous and critically focused teaching on the nature of crime, harms, and justice, from local to global levels. The program explores the impacts and effects of offending behaviours, as well as societal attempts to prevent or punish them. With the largest Criminology program in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Institute offers expansive and engaging options, from undergraduate level through to postgraduate study at Honours, Master's, and PhD level.

Undergraduate Study

Undergraduate study in Criminology begins with the 100-level course, Introduction to Criminology, which explores the development of criminological thinking and reflects on how diverse groups experience crime and justice in different ways. At 200-level, courses allow students to deepen their understanding of significant current issues in Criminology and to appreciate the specific nature and context of crime and justice in Aotearoa NZsocial, cultural, legal, political, and historical. Pursuing 300-level courses, students engage with criminological theory and practice more broadly, developing a deeper understanding of topics like:

• Prisons
• Policing
• Sexual violence
• White-collar crime
• Environmental crime Students also extend their general knowledge of theory and research methods.

Postgraduate Study

The Institute offers postgraduate study at Honours, Master's, and PhD level, providing students with the opportunity to engage in advanced research and scholarship in Criminology.

Research Areas

The Institute of Criminology is involved in a range of research areas, including:

• The nature of crime, harms, and justice
• The impacts and effects of offending behaviours
• Societal attempts to prevent or punish crime
• Criminological theory and practice
• Specific topics such as prisons, policing, sexual violence, white-collar crime, and environmental crime

Community Connections

The Institute has active connections to New Zealand communities, policy-makers, and politicians, contributing to significant legal, social, and political shifts in response to crime. Researchers at the Institute are regular recipients of prestigious academic awards and grants, and their work is published around the world.