Criminology Department

We provide our students with a broad justice education. We focus on the structures and processes of criminal justice and we emphasize historical, theoretical, conceptual and critical approaches.

We offer the first two years of university transfer courses. Our courses range widely from general and beginning courses to special topics. Course outlines can be viewed online. Detailed information is available in the Criminology Student Handbook (PDF).

We promote our students' employability by developing the following:

• writing and research skills
• communication and interpersonal skills
• critical thinking and problem solving abilities
• presentation and self-confidence

Courses typically involve a variety of teaching techniques and may include group work, debates and student presentations aside from lectures.

Department Website

For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.

Career/Further Educational Opportunities

We offer the first two years of a wide range of university-transfer courses. All criminology credits can be transferred to Simon Fraser University, the University of the Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Many core credits can be transferred to the University of British Columbia, the University of Ottawa and to other universities in Canada.

Employment in Criminal Justice can be found in government, private sector, educational institutions and non-profit societies. Students are encouraged to discuss career options with Criminology faculty and to view career options on the Criminology Department website. Students are encouraged to attend specific career information sessions and career fairs that are held on campus.

Location

Criminology courses are offered at both the New Westminster and David Lam campuses.

Financial Awards and Scholarships

There is a variety of awards and scholarships that Criminology and/or Legal Studies students can apply for. Please consult with the Financial Aid office for information on eligibility requirements. The following awards are examples:

• Brodie Osborne-Campbell Memorial Scholarship
• Westminster Community Legal Services Society Bursary
• Jack Ferguson Memorial Scholarship
• The Law Foundation of BC Legal Studies Award
• Cassady & Company Award
• Peter W. Webster Award

Intake Dates/Application Deadlines

**Application deadlines may be extended.

All Criminology courses are open enrolment university transfer courses and are offered in all three semesters - Fall, Winter, and Summer. Refer to specific course description section of this calendar for detailed information. You can also refer to course availabilty information in the calendar.

See Application Deadlines.

Prerequisite Compliance

1. General Admission Requirements
2. English 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or approved substitution

Students who are requesting transfer credit from other institutions or submitting high school transcripts from outside of BC to satisfy prerequisite compliance are required to apply and submit those documents no later than three months in advance of the intake.

Other Information

This program offers a free Information Session.

Credentials

• Diploma in Criminology
• Certificate in Criminal Justice Studies
• University Transfer Courses
• Diploma in Legal Studies
• Associate of Arts (Forensic Studies)
• Associate of Arts (Criminology)

Recommended Course Sequence

Students should consult with a Criminology faculty member or academic advisor if they have questions about course selection. The following are the requirements for the diploma, university transfer and certificate programs.

Diploma Program

Careers in the criminal justice field demand increasing knowledge, skills and sensitivity. The diploma program seeks to prepare students to enter this field as practitioners or academics with the ability to meet the day-to-day requirements of their various occupations. Through the study of the central issues in Criminology and the structures and processes found in the Canadian justice system, students learn to appreciate the complex problems encountered in the criminal justice field.

Students may transfer to a university upon completion of the program to pursue a degree in Criminology or some other field. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible for a Diploma in Criminology.

Admission Requirements

1. General Admission Requirements
2. English 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or approved substitution

An effort is made to offer the complete program to both full-time and part-time students.

Students should consult periodically with the Criminology faculty or an academic advisor about course selection and other questions.

Criminology Diploma Program Requirements

The student must successfully complete 60 credits of university transfer courses. Program requirements are as follows:

1. Core Courses (33 credits)
   CRIM 1100, 2140, 1150, 1160, 2260
   CRIM 1120 or 1170
   CRIM 2251 or 2252
   ENGL 1130
   PHIL 1101, 1102, 1103, 1152, 1201 (choose one)
   PSYC 1100
   SOCI 1125
2. CRIM courses (12 credits), selected by the student
3. Electives (15 credits), including at least six credits of non-Criminology courses. Course options outside the criminology discipline include any university transferable course. The following are suggested as relevant to the Criminology diploma:
   ANTH 1100, 1120, 1160
   GEOG 1100, 1160, 1180
   HIST 1113, 1114
   IDST 1100, 1110
   POLI 1102, 2202
   SOCI 2230, 2240, 2250
   CSIS 1110

The following is a typical program of study for the Diploma in Criminology

Semester I

Course	Title	Credits
*CRIM 1100	Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	3
*PSYC 1100	An Introduction to Psychology I	3
*SOCI 1125	Social Processes	3
*ENGL 1130	Academic Writing (or any first-year literature course)	3
*CRIM 1160	Canadian Legal System	3
		15

Semester II

*PHIL 1101, 1102, 1103, 1152 or 1201	(choose one)	3
*CRIM 1150	Introduction to Criminology	3
*CRIM 2260	Criminal Law	3
*CRIM 1120/1170	(choose one)	3
Any University Transfer course		3
		15

Semester III

*CRIM 2251/2252	(choose one)	3
*CRIM 2140	Interviewing & Professional Skills	3
Crim Elective		3
Any University Transfer course		6
		15

Semester IV

CRIM Elective		3
CRIM Elective		3
CRIM Elective		3
Any University Transfer course		6
		15

*Required core courses

**Criminology electives can be any lower- or upper-level Criminology course provided the prerequisites have been completed.

Students wishing to satisfy the SFU transfer requirements (the first two years of a BA in Criminology) should take those courses required for the Diploma in Criminology and both CRIM 2251 and 2252. Also, students should choose the following electives: CRIM 2254, CRIM 2261, PSYC 1200 and PSYC 2300.

Students wishing to transfer into third year at UFV or any other university to complete a degree in criminal justice or criminology should check with that university for their requirements. Choose electives with long range plans in mind.

Criminology Certificate Program

The Criminal Justice Certificate program appeals to students who do not plan to transfer to university but who want to take a series of courses in the field of criminal justice in order to increase their knowledge of the structures and processes in the Canadian justice system.

For many, this provides an opportunity to consider vocational goals or to prepare for the access to justice-related occupations. The majority of courses in the program are university transfer courses so students, if they wish, can continue their studies at a university.

Admission Requirements

1. General Admission Requirements
2. English 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or approved substitution

An effort is made to provide the complete program to both part-time and full-time students.

NOTE: Students should consult an Academic Advisor concerning program plans.

Program Duration

This certificate program may be completed in one year. In order to complete the one-year program in two sequential semesters, it is advisable, but not necessary, to begin the program in September. The program may also be completed on a part-time basis.

Certificate Program Requirements

The student must successfully complete 30 credits: 21 credits of core courses, six credits of Criminology options and three credits of electives (normally any three credit course). The following is a typical program of study for the Certificate in Criminal Justice Studies.

Semester I

Course	Title	Credits
*CRIM 1100	Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	3
*PSYC 1100	An Introduction to Psychology I	3
*ENGL 1130, CMNS 1110, CMNS 1111, CMNS 1115	(choose one)	3
*SOCI 1125	Social Processes	3
*CRIM 1120	Introduction to Policing	3
		15

Semester II

*CRIM 1160	The Canadian Legal System	3
*CRIM 1170	Introduction to Corrections	3
CRIM Elective		3
CRIM Elective		3
Any University Transfer course		3
		15

*Required core courses.

**Criminology electives can be any lower- or upper-level Criminology course provided the prerequisites have been completed.

Diploma in Legal Studies

The Diploma in Legal Studies is a 60-credit diploma program and is the only one of its kind in British Columbia. It is ideal for students who have a general interest in the law as an area of study in the liberal arts.

The program covers a wide range of law and legal system courses including the administration of justice, business law, criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, public law (including immigration and human rights law), constitutional law, and private law (torts, contracts and property). The program also offers an exposure to legal research skills, legal remedies and the basic principles of legal reasoning.

In keeping with the liberal arts basis of the program, students must take 24 credits of electives and are strongly encouraged to take a wide variety of courses outside of their law and legal system courses.

The Diploma in Legal Studies is university transferable, and has been designed to ensure a smooth transition for students into the SFU major in Criminology and minor in Legal Studies.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE (CRIMINOLOGY)

An Associate of Arts Degree is another option available at Douglas College. A student may choose to pursue an Associate of Arts Degree with a focus on Criminology. This will allow a student to work on completing the Simon Fraser University School of Criminology requirements, University of the Fraser Valley or Kwantlen Polytechnic University Criminology Department requirements while completing the requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree at Douglas College. Please note the current admission criteria for students transferring with an Associate of Arts Degree to Simon Fraser University. It is also important to note that you must apply to the university first, then to the School of Criminology.

The following information is from the Douglas College Calendar at douglascollege.ca (see “Credentials”). Please note that this site provides further information on specific courses that qualify for each type of requirement listed below, e.g., Lab Science. An academic advisor in the Registrar’s Office can also assist you in planning a course of study for this program.

The Associate of Arts Degree recognizes the achievements of students in the areas of academic studies. Students may apply for the Associate of Arts Degree upon successful completion of a minimum of 60 university transferable credits. These must include a minimum of 18 credits in Arts at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas. The overall GPA obtained must be at least 2.0 (*GPA requirements at SFU may be higher). The Associate of Arts Degree is granted after completion of:

1. Arts Requirements: 1st year courses (no more than 6 credits in any one subject areas)
   • English (6 credits)
   • Social Sciences (6 credits)
   • Humanities (6 credits)
   • Arts (6 credits)
     
     
2. Arts Requirements: 2nd year courses
   • 18 credits in two or more subject areas
     
     
3. Science Requirements: 1st or 2nd year courses
   • Lab Science (3 credits)
   • Math or Statistics or Computing Science (3 credits)
   • Math or Statistics or Science (3 credits)
     
     
4. Electives: Any university transferable course (9 credits)

Upon completing the requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree, students may enter university at the third level in a discipline in which they have completed the appropriate first and second year courses. Block transfer is available at many universities in BC. Please consult an academic advisor.

An Associate of Arts Degree also improves job opportunities for those who choose to complete their post-secondary education at Douglas College.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (FORENSIC STUDIES)

The Associate of Arts Degree (AA) is a credential awarded to students who complete two years of university transfer courses with a concentration in Arts. Students who complete their AA degree can transfer into many Bachelor of Arts programs at the third year level. In addition, students can transfer into several Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) programs at BCIT. The AA degree stream in Forensic Studies sets out three clear pathways for students who wish to pursue a B. Tech. Degree.

Preparation for BCIT

Students are eligible for admission into the third year of BCIT’s B. Tech. in Forensic Investigation if they have completed an AA degree and a set of “bridging requirements” (see http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/845cbtech). The bridging requirements may be completed as part of students’ AA degree.

Four Pathways

BCIT has four B. Tech. streams defined by unique sets of bridging courses. At Douglas College, students may follow pathways into all four streams:

1. Forensic Science
2. Computer Crime Studies
3. Crime and Intelligence Analysis
4. Economic Crime Studies

Core Requirements

Each of the pathways to a B. Tech. at BCIT may be accommodated within an Associate of Arts Degree. The Forensic Programs at BCIT suggest that students would be well advised to take a number of Criminology courses as part of their AA degree. Therefore, the program identifies a set of core Criminology courses:

• CRIM 1100 and 1150
• At least four of the following courses: CRIM 1120, 1160, 2140, 2240, 2220, 2251, 2252, 2260, 2262 , 3390

Additional Bridging Courses

In addition to the core Criminology courses outlined above, students must complete one of the following sets of Bridging courses:

1. Forensic Science

• Chemistry course
• 1 Biology course
• 1 Statistics course

2. Computer Crime Studies

• CSIS 1110
• A minimum of two and a maximum of three of the following courses: CSIS 1150, 1175, 1280, 2200, 2300

3. Crime and Intelligence Analysis

• Geography 2270
• 1 Statistics course
• 2 of the following Computing courses: CSIS 1150, 1175, 1280, 2200, 2300

4. Economic Crime Studies

• 1 Economics course
• 1 Accounting course
• 1 course in Mathematics of Finance

Admission Requirements
This program will operate as open enrolment with general College admission requirements only. Student apply directly to AA for Forensic Studies stream of the Associate of Arts program.

Credential
Upon completion of the AA for Forensic Studies, students will receive an AA degree.