Overview (2027)
Key Information
Duration
Minimum 2 years, up to a maximum of 5 years.
Location
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
The Associate Degree in Social Sciences (Policing Practices) builds on a strong social science foundation with specific knowledge and skills of policing.
The degree brings together a range of disciplines that relate to human experience and behaviour, such as policing, criminology, risk management, law, sociology and psychology, politics, and public policy.
The Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management in Tasmania endorses these professional programs. The Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme (which involves Commissioner's scholarships and interest-free loans) is an incentive for eligible Tasmania Police officers to undertake study at the University of Tasmania.
- 1 Explain recent innovations in policing practice and their relationship to good policing outcomes for all stakeholders.
- 2 Document and appreciate the roles and expectations of police in the context of a changing society.
- 3 Demonstrate judgement and accountability in applying the ethical and legal requirements of the policing profession.
- 4 Explain the conceptual and practical knowledge required to identify complex policing problems.
- 5 Communicate under supervision to provide clear, procedurally just, and professional advice to different audiences.
- 6 Recognise the multiple sources of intelligence and evidence needed to facilitate ethical and professional practice.
Course structure
This unit examines the roles that police and other public safety organisations play in society as a major agency of government responsible for the critical functions of order maintenance and law enforcement. Its purpose is to develop knowledge and skills in three broad areas of…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM101 Integrity and Governance in Policing and Public Safety
This unit examines complex social issues undermining public order and safety and the social, psychological, and physical risks posed to individuals, groups and the community by disorderly behaviour. The management of these risks concerning such matters as alcohol and drug…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM102 Preventing Public Disorder and Maintaining Social Order
This unit examines the new harmonized national work, health and safety legislation, associated regulations and codes of practice and the roles that police play in their implementation. This includes interventions dealing with dynamic and formal risk assessments including hazard identification,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit explores two important aspects of policing related to investigations: custody and detention; and coronial investigation. Regarding coronial investigation, the unit provides knowledge and skills in the roles police play in assisting the coroner to determine causes of sudden…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM104 Custodial and Coronial Oversight and Investigation
This unit is aligned with Module 8: Effective workplace communication and leadership in the Tasmania Police Recruit Course. This unit requires students to consider the theory and practice around conflict resolution & negotiation, speaking and communicating with a wide range…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM105 Strategic Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Leadership
This unit covers the functionality and usage of various information and communication technologies (ICT) systems and infrastructure within policing and public safety frameworks, and systems such as IDM (Information Data Management), TRIM (Records Management), EDACS (Enhanced Digital Access Communications System)…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM106 Information and Communication Technologies in Policing
This unit gives students an understanding of and opportunity to apply their knowledge of the common law legal system in the context of arrest, search and evidentiary considerations as a police witness and criminal incident investigator. It covers a range…
Credit Points: 25
This unit introduces the field of forensic practice, including crime scene investigation, forensic science, e-forensics, forensic interventions in social work, the sociology of forensic science, and related ethical considerations. The unit provides an overview of the history and development of…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit examines complex social problems underlying interpersonal violence and the social, psychological, and physical risks posed to individuals, groups, and the community by this form of behaviour. The management of these risks concerning such matters as family violence, sexual…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM202 Understanding and Responding to Interpersonal Violence
This unit examines the complex social problems concerning property loss, damage and misappropriation through theft, residential and business burglary, fraud and e - crime, arson and unlawful fire - setting and the significant social, psychological and physical risks posed to…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM203 Impact of and Responses to Property Loss and Fraud
This unit examines contemporary social issues relating to drug abuse and its policing, which is one of the most complex and controversial topics confronting today's society. The unit focuses on the demand for, and the supply of illicit and licit…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM204 Drug Law Enforcement and Harm Minimisation
This unit explores investigative techniques used to identify, understand, manage and record social behaviour in a number of specific areas and settings relevant to policing practice. Investigative, evidence-based interviewing and conversation management techniques will be studied to develop core professional…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM205 Investigative Techniques for Policing
This unit examines the complex social issues associated with deprivation, diversity and discrimination based on a variety of vulnerability attributes (social determinants of health) and their relevance to policing and public safety. The challenges faced by police organisations, and other…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM206 Law Enforcement and Public Health
The Applied Policing Practicum 1 requires students to complete 960 hours of applied policing under supervision, and the completion of an Applied Policing Practicum portfolio [APPP], which documents the acquisition and certification of practical knowledge and skills taught during the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 |  |  | ||
| Semester 2 | | | |||
| Trimester | | | |||
- Key:
On-campus- Off-Campus
International students- Domestic students
The Applied Policing Practicum 2 requires students to complete 960 hours of applied policing under supervision, and the completion of an Applied Policing Practicum portfolio [APPP], which documents the acquisition and certification of practical knowledge and skills taught during the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | ||
| Semester 2 | | | |||
| Trimester | | | |||
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Entry requirements
This program is only available to candidates who have received a Certificate of Professional Suitability from an Australian policing service after completion of all recruitment tests and examinations.
Police officers seeking to transfer from other Australian policing jurisdictions may be granted advanced standing and/or recognition for prior learning for units in the Associate Degree in Social Sciences (Policing Practices) and will be required to complete some learning that is specific to the jurisdictional context (for example, law).
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
This is a full-fee course, which means you’ll need to pay the full amount for your studies. Commonwealth Supported Places are not available in this course.
Your tuition fees will depend on specific unit enrolment, and are subject to annual increases each year. You can find the complete fee details for each unit of study on the individual unit pages. The units for this course are found in the course structure section of this page.
Detailed information for domestic students, including the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), is available at Scholarships, fees and costs.
FEE-HELP loans
You may be able to fund all or part of your tuition fees by accessing a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian Government. FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists domestic full-fee students to pay for University, which is repaid through the Australian Tax System once you earn above a repayment threshold. This means you’ll only have to start repaying the loan once you start earning above a specific amount.
Further information on HELP loans can be found at Australian Government Study Assist.
Domestic scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
Course year 2027
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