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Bachelor of Arts - Major In Criminology

Note
See Bachelor of Arts, Community Criminal Justice for information on this program. For information on the Minor in Criminology, see Bachelor of Arts, Double Minor program.

DESCRIPTION

Criminology is a diverse academic discipline that provides a wide range of opportunities to students. Graduates of criminology programs find employment in every aspect of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, corrections, crime prevention and justice administration. Many also pursue careers within the public and private-sector in occupations where familiarity with justice and the law is valued by employers; examples include customs and border security, insurance companies, security and investigative companies, and social service agencies. Criminology programs also offer educational preparation for those who intend to major in law, social work, psychology, sociology or philosophy. For information on the Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice see the Bachelor of Arts program section.

Kwantlen University College offers five programs within the Criminology Department. Students completing the 30 credit certificate program can continue into the 60 credit diploma program without being required to make up additional course work. Students interested in a four-year undergraduate degree in this field are strongly encouraged either to complete the 60 credit Associate of Arts Degree in Criminology (required for admission into the Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice) or to enter the Bachelor of Arts (Criminology Major) .

Programs within the Criminology Department are widely transferable. For details, please refer to the BC On-line Transfer Guide at www.bccat.bc.ca

The Bachelor of Arts (Criminology Major) will provide students with a broad liberal education emphasizing social scientific, legal and philosophical approaches to the study of social problems, especially crime. The program also provides highly transferable and marketable knowledge and skills.

The program includes:

  • The development of knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of Bachelor of Arts programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice

  • Favourable labour market predictions for criminal justice and related areas. (There are also many opportunities to pursue graduate studies in criminology, law, social work, etc.)

  • Access to Kwantlen’s established community justice curriculum. Students will be well equipped to meet the continuing needs of traditional criminal justice agencies and to adapt to emerging opportunities in other sectors

  • Highly qualified, innovative faculty

  • The opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at Kwantlen University College where there is established emphasis on teaching, emerging emphasis on undergraduate research, long standing connections to South Fraser communities, and accessibility for students in the expanding South Fraser region       

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Labour market predictions for criminal justice and related areas are very favourable, as demographic trends and public safety and security concerns have increased demand for criminal justice professionals. The conceptual, critical and applied skills that students acquire in this program will be attractive to employers in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Law

  • Policing

  • Private Security

  • Investigations (Private, Corporate, etc.)

  • Corrections

  • Border Services (Customs and Immigration)

  • Community Service

  • Public Administration

  • Social Work

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Students may be admitted into the BA program at year one or three. In order to enter the BA program at year one and enroll in required writing and quantitative courses, students must have a grade of ‘B’ in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of ‘C’ in Principles of Math 11 or application of Math 12 (or equivalent). Students who do not qualify upon initial registration at Kwantlen will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year and then enter the BA program after they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Students can transfer into the BA program at any time provided seats are available and they meet entrance requirements. Full-time BA program students receive registration priority over part-time and non-program students. In addition to Kwantlen’s standard application start date, students will be considered for admission based on the date of qualification.

CONTENT

During the first two years, the Bachelor of Arts (Criminology Major) will provide students with a rigorous, broad foundation in the liberal arts tradition. Specifically, courses will expose students to the theoretical and methodological bases of psychology, sociology, history, political science, and the natural sciences. The third and fourth years of the program include courses falling into four main groupings:

  • Theory and Methods

  • Criminal Justice

  • Law, Advocacy and Conflict Resolution

  • Additional Courses

Knowledge and skill mastery will develop as students approach issues and utilize skills across the various streams. The relationships between definitions of crime, criminological theories and research and the criminal justice system are critically examined throughout the curriculum. Their complex relationships to political, social and economic conditions are stressed. Problem solving and skill development will be an integral part of all courses.

The following core requirements are to be completed within the first 60 credits:

  • 6-credit writing requirement including ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204 (or equivalent)

  • 6 credits of a minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement must be completed within the first 60 credits taken. These 9 credits must involve a minimum of 3 courses. (See list of approved courses.)

  • At least 3 credits (i.e., 1 course) of the above 9 quantitative credits must be taken from courses offered by the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Applied Sciences and the School of Horticulture

  • 12 credits of a minimum 24-credit breadth requirement must be completed within the first 60 credits taken. The breadth requirement will consist of a minimum of one course in at least four separate social science or humanities disciplines outside of the major program area with a minimum of one course at the 3000-level or higher. CMNS 3100 may be taken as an Arts breadth requirement. UNIV 1100, a first-year foundational course, and UNIV 4100, a fourth-year summative course, may also be credited toward this requirement

  • Second language to grade 11 level (students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived)

     

Students must also complete the following:

  • A minimum of 120 credits, with at least 45 credits at the 3000 or 4000 levels

  • At least 60 credits must be completed at Kwantlen University College; however, students may, upon approval, transfer up to a maximum of 90 credits towards the degree program. As a requirement for graduation, students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, as well as a minimum grade of C in all required courses.

In addition to completing the core requirements of all Kwantlen Bachelor of Arts degree programs indicated above, students will have to complete course prerequisites as necessary in order to enroll in upper levels courses in Criminology and other areas.

Note

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Criminology Major) are currently being finalized. Please check the online version of the Kwantlen University College Calendar for official requirements.

  • 1000 LEVEL

  • 2000 LEVEL

    • Required courses:

      • CRIM 2103 Quantitative Data Analysis I*

      • CRIM 2330 Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour

      • CRIM 2331 Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour

      • CRIM 2341 Canadian Criminal Justice Administration 

      • *Students who commenced their studies at Kwantlen prior to September 2005 may complete either PSYC 2300 or SOCI 2365 in place of CRIM 2103.

    • Plus one of:

  • 3000 AND 4000 LEVEL

    Students will complete a minimum of ten upper division criminology courses.

    • Required courses:

      • CRIM 3302 Procedure and Evidence

    • Plus one of:

Students must complete at least TWO courses drawn from group 1 below.

  1. Theory and Methods:

    • CRIM 3100 Advanced Theories of Crim and Community

    • CRIM 3103 Quantitative Data Analysis II 

    • CRIM 3104 Qualitative Research Methods

    • CRIM 3111 Contemporary Perspectives in Sociological Criminology

    • CRIM 4112 Contemporary Perspectives in Psychological Criminology

    Students must complete at least ONE course from each of groups 2 and 3.

  2. Criminal Justice

    • CRIM 3213 Community Corrections

    • CRIM 4201 Community Crime Prevention

    • CRIM 4235 Minorities and Criminal Justice System

    • CRIM 4410 Policy and Program Evaluation

  3. Law, Advocacy and Conflict Resolution

    • CRIM 3305 Law and Society

    • CRIM 3307 Issues in Conflict Resolution

    • CRIM 3351 Philosophy of Law

    • CRIM 4300 Administrative and Regulatory Law

    • CRIM 4301 Community Advocacy and Human Rights

    Students may complete a maximum of TWO courses from group 4 to meet degree requirements.

  4. Additional Courses

    • CRIM 3512 Mental Disorder in Canadian Law

    • CRIM 4150 Directed Studies

    • CRIM 4400 Ethics and Professional Development

    • CRIM 3115 Crime Mapping - TBA

    • CRIM 4900 Special Topics in Criminology -TBA

GRADUATION

Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology.