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
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology provides students with a broad, liberal education in social science, criminal justice, and law. Students learn scientific research methods, legal and philosophical approaches to aid in understanding crime and related social problems, and social responses to crime. The BA degree program builds on the central core of method and theory established in two year programs and affords students opportunities to hone abstract, logical thinking, and critical understanding of the issues, arguments, and debates that shape the discipline's character and aims. Contemporary criminology courses developed especially for this degree expose students to cutting-edge theory and research. This program also provides students with highly transferable and marketable knowledge and skills.
CAREERS
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology provides a wide range of opportunities to students. Graduates of criminology programs find employment in every aspect of the criminal justice system, including law, law enforcement, corrections, crime prevention, and public and private justice administration. Many graduates pursue careers within the public and private sectors in occupations where familiarity with justice and the law is valued by employers; examples include customs and border security, security and investigations with regulatory and other public agencies, insurance and other private companies, and management and service provision with social service agencies. 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.
Criminology programs also offer excellent educational preparation for those who intend to major in law, social work, psychology, sociology, or philosophy. Students who wish to do graduate work in criminology are encouraged to take both CRIM 3103 and CRIM 3104.
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 Applications 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.
To be eligible to apply for or continue to third-year level studies, students must have completed 60 credits with the required GPA including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or its equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their Major and/or Minor program(s).
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 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 for all Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs:
- Complete a total of 120 credits with a minimum of 65 credits in Arts courses (Humanities and/or Social Sciences), and 45 credits with courses numbered 3000 or higher.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, with a minimum grade of "C" in all of the following required courses within the degree program (except where stated):
- 6-credit English writing requirement, which includes ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204.
- Minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement that must include a minimum of 3 approved quantitative courses, and of which one approved course must be taken from the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Applied Sciences or the School of Horticulture.
- 24-credit breadth requirement consisting of a minimum of one course in at least four separate Social Science or Humanities disciplines outside of the major program area, one of which must be at the 3000-level or higher. CMNS 3100, UNIV 1100, and UNIV 4100 may also be credited towards the breadth requirement.
- Second language at the Grade 11 level (Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement), or 6-credits of post-secondary language courses (in the same language). Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
- Required courses for the Major and/or Minor program(s).
To be eligible to apply for or continue to third-year level studies, students must have completed 60 credits with the required GPA including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or its equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their Major and/or Minor program(s).
Other completed courses may qualify to meet degree requirements. Students are encouraged to contact the BA Degree Advisor with questions about eligibility for program application or graduation.
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-level courses in Criminology and other areas.
1000 LEVEL
- Required courses:
- Plus one of:
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.
3000 AND 4000 LEVEL Students will complete a minimum of ten upper division criminology courses.
- Required courses:
- Plus one of:
Students must complete at least TWO courses drawn from group 1 below.
1. Theory and Methods:
Students must complete at least ONE course from each of groups 2 and 3.
2. Criminal Justice
3. Law, Advocacy and Conflict Resolution
Students may complete a maximum of TWO courses from group 4 to meet Criminology requirements. Note: If more than two are taken, you can count them towards upper-level electives.
4. Additional Courses
*Note: The area of study for CRIM 4900 will be established in advance by the department. Please email crimprograms@kwantlen.ca for proposed offerings. Please note that you will be allowed to take multiple offerings of CRIM 4900, as long as the course deals with a different topic each time.
GRADUATION
Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology. Students may have the option of adding a Minor to their credential by completing any of the BA Minor options at Kwantlen.