Bachelor of Arts — Major in Criminology
Offered At: | Start Date: |
---|---|
1st and 2nd year courses are offered 3rd and 4th year courses are offered |
September, January, May |
Enrolment Access: | Format: |
Limited | Full-time Part-time |
Contact Us: | |
Enrolment and Registrar Services | |
To contact Enrolment and Registrar Services at any Kwantlen campus, phone 604.599.2000. | |
E-mail: admissions@kwantlen.ca | |
Educational Advising | |
To book an appointment with an educational advisor on any Kwantlen campus, visit Enrolment and Registrar Services in person, or phone 604.599.2000. | |
Student Awards and Financial Assistance | |
To contact Student Awards and Financial Assistance at any Kwantlen campus, phone 604.599.2000. | |
How Do I Apply? | |
Apply in person at one of our Enrolment and Registrar Services offices or online at: www.kwantlen.ca/apply |
Note: See Bachelor of Arts in 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, Major in Criminology program 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, Major 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, regulatory and other public agencies, insurance and other private companies. 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 (both are required for entry into the Honours degree option for the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology).
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Students may be admitted into the BA program at any time that admission requirements are met and will receive priority course registration. For admission to the BA program, students must have a grade of 'B' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of 'C' in either Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12.
Students who do not qualify upon initial application to Kwantlen but possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a passing grade in Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12, will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the BA program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to meet an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed at least 60 credits of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a grade of 'C' in all required courses including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their declared major and/or minor program(s).
CONTENT
During the first two years, the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology 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, LCOM 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).
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 the various departments within the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities.
Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for a B.A. degree; however, they may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis. If such an exemption is granted, then residency may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper level credits within the subject area must be completed at Kwantlen.
1000 LEVEL
- Required courses:
- CRIM 1100 Introduction to Criminology
- CRIM 1101 Criminal Justice System Intro
- CRIM 1107 Canadian Legal Systems
- CRIM 1207 Introduction to Criminal Law
- CRIM 1208 Methods of Research in Criminology
- PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
- SOCI 1125 Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures
- Plus one of:
2000 LEVEL
- Required courses:
*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 Crime and Community
- CRIM 3103 Quantitative Data Analysis II
- CRIM 3104 Qualitative Research Methods
- CRIM 3111 Contemporary Sociological Criminology
- CRIM 3113 Critical Criminology
- CRIM 4112 Contemporary Psychological Criminology
Students must complete at least ONE course from each of groups 2 and 3.
2. Criminal Justice
- CRIM 3118 White-Collar and Corporate Crime
- CRIM 3213 Community Corrections
- CRIM 3249 Issues in Youth Justice
- CRIM 4201 Community Safety and Crime Prevention
- CRIM 4235 Minorities and the 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 criminology requirements. Note: If more than two are taken, you can count them towards upper-level electives.
4. Additional Courses
- CRIM 3115 Crime Mapping
- CRIM 3512 Mental Disorder and Canadian Law
- CRIM 4150 Directed Studies
- CRIM 4400 Ethics and Professional Development
- CRIM 4900 Special Topics*
*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.
HONOURS DEGREE OPTION
Students interested in applying to graduate school, or into a more extensive research experience, are encouraged to undertake a structured program leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology, Honours degree. In order to be considered for admission into the honours program students will normally have completed 90 credits or more at the time of application, must achieve a CGPA of 3.5, and have completed CRIM 3103 and CRIM 3104. Students with a CGPA less than 3.5 (but not below 3.0) may be granted admission with special permission. Interested students can obtain an application from the Criminology Degree Program Coordinator. A limited number of seats are available.
In addition to the 120 credits required by the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology program, honours students will need to complete the following additional 12 credits of course work:
- CRIM 5000 Honours Thesis I* (3 credits)
- CRIM 5010 Honours Seminar* (3 credits)
- CRIM 5020 Honours Thesis II* (6 credits)
* New for September 2009
GRADUATION
Upon successful completion of these programs, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology, or Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology, Honours. Students may have the option of adding a Minor to their credential by completing any of the BA Minor options at Kwantlen.