In Year 10, students are provided with opportunities to explore the investigative field of Criminology – both in the past and the present. This course encourages critical thinking about justice, morality, and the evolution of crime through a historical lens.
They will learn about forensic psychology, exploring the collection and analysis of evidence such as DNA, fingerprints and blood splatter. This elective looks at human nature: evidence and rumours; assumptions and proof; and the link between expected social behaviour and the human mind.
Students will also delve into the darker chapters of history, investigating notorious criminals, unsolved mysteries, and landmark cases. They will explore historical contexts, motives, and social impacts of infamous figures such as Jack the Ripper and Ned Kelly. Through the analysis of primary sources, media coverage, and investigative methods of the time, students will gain insight into how historical crimes were solved, or left unresolved, and how they influenced public perception and legal reform.
This course is a one-year course and provides a foundation for students wanting to study Psychology or Modern History in Years 11 and 12.