Course Outline

CRM304 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management

Course Coordinator:Timothy Prenzler (tprenzle@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Corruption and misconduct have been recurring issues in criminal justice agencies. This course examines the nature and extent of the problem, and various causal factors. Ethical issues and dilemmas for criminal justice professionals are also examined. Methods of identifying and preventing misconduct are now highly developed. A diverse range of these integrity management strategies and institutions is examined, including anti-corruption commissions, codes of conduct, complaints investigations and profiling, and covert tactics.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – For consumption before tutorials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorial 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Online
Learning materials – For consumption before tutorials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorial 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Ethics and accountability in the public sector

Policing – (1) ethical issues and standards, (2) misconduct and misconduct case studies, and (3) integrity management.

Criminal courts – (1) ethical issues and standards, (2) misconduct and misconduct case studies, and (3) integrity management.

Corrections – (1) ethical issues and standards, (2) misconduct and misconduct case studies, and (3) integrity management.

Mature content is discussed across all topics.

Mature Content

Drug Use, Nudity, Sex/Sexual references, Violence, Coarse Language, Adult themes

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Critically evaluate ethical issues and standards, the nature and causes of misconduct, and the rationales for integrity strategies in the public sector and police. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
2 Critically evaluate ethical issues and standards, the nature and causes of misconduct, and the rationales for integrity strategies in the criminal courts. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
3 Summarise and critique ethical issues and standards, the nature and causes of misconduct, and the rationales for integrity strategies in corrections. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
4 Apply scholarly writing, research and reference practice. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Ethical

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Years 1 and 2 of a criminology, social science or law degree

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Quizzes and follow up discussions and activities in class will provide early feedback.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Essay Individual 35%
1800 words
Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Essay Individual 35%
1800 words
Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 30%
1.5 hours
Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Essay
Goal:
To develop a substantive critique of the main ethical issues and standards, misconduct types and cases, and integrity strategies in the public sector and policing.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Essay completed individually. Topics and guidance will be provided by Week 1. Quizzes and follow up discussions and activities in class will provide early feedback for the essay. Students will be required to use Cadmus as part of their submission of this task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Critique of ethical issues and standards, the nature and causes of misconduct, and the rationales for integrity strategies in the public sector and police.
1
2
Written communication including essay structure, grammar and referencing.
1 4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Essay
Goal:
To develop a substantive critique of the main ethical issues and standards, misconduct types and cases, and integrity strategies in the criminal courts.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Essay completed individually. Topics and guidance will be provided by Week 6. Quizzes and follow up discussions and activities in class will provide early feedback for the essay. Students will be required to use Cadmus as part of their submission of this task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Critical evaluation of ethical issues and standards, the nature and causes of misconduct, and the rationales for integrity strategies in the criminal courts.
2
2
Written communication including essay structure, grammar and referencing.
2 4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Exam
Goal:
Assess learning in the final block of the course
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Online multiple choice test. Guidance will be provided in advance.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identify key course content regarding ethics, the nature and causes of unethical conduct, and integrity strategies in corrections.
3
Generic Skills:
Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Tim Prenzler 2021 Ethics and Accountability in Criminal Justice: Towards a Universal Standard 3 Australian Academic Press

Specific requirements

N/A

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: