Overview (2027)
Key Information
Duration
Minimum 3 years, up to a maximum of 7 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
Nikayla Roach
The Bachelor of Social Science (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.
Whether you wish to work in policing, forensics, intelligence, risk analysis, justice, legal or correctional services, the Bachelor of Social Science (Policing Practices) is the perfect degree to provide you with the knowledge and expertise for policing solutions in the real world.
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 Critically evaluate and apply innovations in policing practice to ensure good policing outcomes for all stakeholders.
- 2 Analyse 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 Synthesise theoretical and practical knowledge to identify and resolve complex policing problems.
- 5 Communicate independently to provide clear, procedurally just, and professional advice to different audiences.
- 6 Critically evaluate multiple sources of intelligence and evidence to facilitate ethical and professional practice.
Course structure
The Bachelor of Social Science (Policing Practices) requires the completion of 300 credit points from the Schedule.
Entry to Qualifying Process 1 requires approval from the Tasmanian Police Academy.
This unit is designed to provide police officers seeking advancement with contemporary evidence and best practice around the policing of domestic family violence. Topics to be covered include most recent research on risk factors, victim and offender characteristics and presentation,…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM301 Domestic and Family Violence in Context
This unit is designed to achieve an enhanced level of knowledge, understanding and competence in the areas of criminal procedure and evidence law. Students will consider the formal legal requirements leading to sound operational practice in areas such as arrest,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit introduces you to educational psychology and the theories of learning, relating them to contemporary teaching practices. As a result of studying this unit, you will understand why contemporary teaching practice is focused on learning rather than just educational…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 2 |  |  |  | |
- Key:
On-campus- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EAL110 Theories of Learning and Teaching
PEM307 Evidence-led Policing Practice introduces students to the array of strategies used to identify gaps and critical issues in policing practices, and to evaluate alternative policy/practice solutions. In addition to learning the policy/practice development cycle, students will be exposed to…
Credit Points: 12.5
The development and provision of education and training for professionals operating in police and emergency management environments requires knowledge of unique risk management processes and procedures mandated by legislation, and internal and external policies. This unit provides a critical understanding…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM308 Risk Management in Policing and Emergency Services
This unit examines the process of decision making in emergency management. You will analyse the elements that contribute to decision making in dynamic, complex, and uncertain environments as experienced in emergency management. The unit will address the processes, structures, and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for PEM320 Decision Making in Emergency Management
Entry to Qualifying Process 2 requires approval from the Tasmanian Police Academy.
The unit engages students in higher level police supervision skills and capabilities required of operational policing in an increasingly complex social, cultural, and economic environment. Students will engage with assignment work grounded in critically analysing how to provide initial and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | ||
| Semester 2 | | | |||
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for PEM303 Frontline Supervision in Policing
This unit examines the role of police in responding to critical incidents and emergency management situations, specifically focusing on frontline, tactical, command and control. Tactical policing practices and command and control (C2) are addressed in a variety of circumstances, and…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for PEM304 Tactical Command and Control in Policing
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 to the Sergeants Qualifying process requires approval from the Tasmanian Police Academy.
For students not intending to complete the Sergeants Qualifying process, these units may be replaced by Additional Elective units.
This unit examines the roles and functions that the police play as a major agency of governance in society. The structures and strategies of policing are analysed and the relationships between the police, other governmental institutions and the general public…
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
View all details for PEM305 Advanced Leadership and Governance
This unit examines the role of police in supervising emergency management, specifically focusing on command and control in policing. Operational policing practices are addressed in a variety of circumstances, and students are exposed to the issues involved in supervising command…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | ||
| Semester 2 | | | |||
| Trimester | | | |||
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for PEM306 Supervising Command and Control in Policing
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.
Students who have graduated with an Associate Degree in Arts (R2B) equating to the first 200 credit points of the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Police Studies) 13D or the Associate Degree in Social Sciences (Policing Practices) will be granted advanced standing for all Level 1 and Level 2 units. Completion of the Associate Degree in Social Sciences (Policing Practices) or equivalent is essential to enrolment in the Bachelor degree.
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.
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