Like the pillars of a building, criminal law serves as one of the fundamental pillars in sustaining the discipline of law. Since the early development of legal studies, criminal law has consistently remained one of its central fields of study. Over the past decades, criminal law has also continued to attract public attention and become a subject of discussion across all levels of society. Consequently, criminal law constitutes an essential part of the development of legal scholarship. Every Faculty of Law or School of Law, both in Indonesia and abroad, undoubtedly offers a specialization in Criminal Law. What distinguishes one institution from another, however, lies in the substance of the knowledge taught, the outcomes achieved through the learning process, and the manner in which the discipline of criminal law responds to contemporary challenges arising from new dimensions of crime. Mastery of fundamental principles and theories that form the foundation of legal studies remains one of the key strengths of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Moeljatno, one of the founders of Universitas Gadjah Mada, was among the most influential scholars of Indonesian criminal law. To this day, his works continue to be widely used and cited as authoritative references.

The Department of Criminal Law offers five compulsory courses that are highly relevant and essential for future legal professionals. First, the Criminal Law course introduces students to the fundamental principles of criminal law, which are indispensable for both legal practitioners and legal scholars. Many legal disputes today cannot be properly resolved due to a lack of understanding of these basic principles. Second, students are equipped with knowledge of Criminal Procedure Law to enhance their ability to understand and apply criminal law within the formal legal process. Contemporary debates surrounding concepts such as pretrial proceedings and judicial review continue to demonstrate the significance of this field. Third, through the Special Crimes course, students gain knowledge of criminal offenses regulated outside the Indonesian Criminal Code that possess specific characteristics, such as corruption, narcotics, terrorism, and human rights crimes. In addition to broadening students’ knowledge, the course also strengthens their competence in handling specialized criminal cases. Fourth, International Criminal Law prepares students to face the challenges of globalization. The course provides students with knowledge of the forms, history, and both substantive and procedural aspects of international criminal law. Fifth, students participate in the Criminal Court Legal Practice (PLKH) course, in which the Department collaborates with police officers, prosecutors, advocates, and judges in conducting practical legal training. Through this course, students develop advanced litigation skills that are valuable across various legal professions. In addition, students may take seven concentration courses in Criminal Law, namely Criminology, Criminal Policy, Penal Enforcement, Juvenile and Women’s Criminal Law, Criminal Law Reform, Forensic Medicine, and Forensic Psychiatry. These courses are designed to prepare future experts in criminal law. The Department of Criminal Law remains committed to continuously developing and strengthening the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education within the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada.