Minor in Criminal justice

Minor in Criminal Justice

Overview

The Minor in Criminal Justice offers students a rigorous, multidisciplinary foundation in the study of crime, criminality, justice, and social control, with a central focus on how criminal justice systems define, govern, and respond to crime.  Integrating perspectives from sociology, psychology, law, public policy, and forensic science, the minor moves beyond the technical investigation of offences to examine the broader architecture of the criminal justice process—from policing and prosecution, to adjudication, corrections, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

The minor equips students with conceptual, analytical, and digital competencies to understand not only why crime occurs, but how crime is governed — how policy, practice and culture intersect to shape the criminal justice landscape. Students critically explore the causes of offending and victimisation, the workings of justice institutions such as the police, prosecution service, judiciary and penal system, and the broader social, economic, environmental, and cultural contexts that shape patterns of offending, victimisation and justice. Anchored in Singapore’s unique legal and multicultural landscape, the minor highlights how policy, practice, and institutional legitimacy intersect to structure the criminal justice environment. Through exposure to real-world case studies, forensic methodologies, criminal investigations, data-informed policy problems, and evidence-based policy interventions, students will gain a holistic understanding of how societies respond to crime, manage risk, govern deviance and process justice.

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Academic Convenor

A/P Narayanan Ganapathy

Requirements

This Minor in Criminal Justice will take effect from Sem 2 AY26/27.

Students must pass a minimum of five courses (20 units) from the list of Minor in Criminal Justice courses, including two core courses (4 Units each) and three elective courses (4 Units each):

  • SC2212 Sociology of Deviance (compulsory course)
  • HS2916 Love that Kills: A Criminal Justice Perspective (compulsory course)
  • At least one course (4 Units) from each of the following baskets
    - Basket 1: Foundations in Law, Justice and Society
    - Basket 2: Digital / Forensic / Methods
    - Basket 3: Advanced Criminal Justice Topics
  • All courses read in fulfillment of the minor requirements should be graded. Courses taken on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may not be counted towards the minor requirements. (Cohort 2013 and before)
  • Courses taken on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may be counted towards the minor requirements. (Cohort 2014 and after)
  • Up to 8 units (40% of the unit requirements for a Minor) may be double counted and used to meet (i) the Minor requirement and (ii) another requirement, e.g., General Education (Cohort 2021 onwards), College (e.g., Common Curriculum), Faculty, Major, Second Major, Minor, Specialisation or other requirement, i.e., at least 12 units of the Minor must be distinct and not overlapping.
  • A minimum of 60% of the Minor requirements must be earned from courses read at NUS. Courses read at NUS include all courses taught, co-taught, supervised or co-supervised by NUS faculty member(s). These consist of graded courses or courses with an ‘S' or ‘CS' grade. The remaining units may be earned through credit transfers, advanced placement and exemptions, from courses deemed relevant to the particular Minor. For students on overseas exchange, unit transfer of up to 8 Units of relevant courses for the Minor may be accepted. (All cohorts)

Courses Offered

List of Criminal Minor Courses Offered in AY26/27
(courses for Semester 2 are subjected to changes)

Course Type

Note:

Last updated: 13 July 2026

Courses Description

To view the courses description and timetable, please visit https://nusmods.com/courses.

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