Criminology: Bachelor of Arts Major and Honours

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, philosophical and theoretical 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 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 integrates opportunities to engage in undergraduate research, service learning, and practicum placements that provide students with highly transferable and marketable knowledge and skills.

Students who graduate with a BA degree may apply to law school or pursue a graduate degree in criminology or other disciplines. Those who are interested in applying to graduate school, or who prefer a more extensive research experience, are encouraged to undertake a structured program leading to a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Major in Criminology.

Note: See the Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice for information on an alternate program.

Admission Requirements

Students pursuing a major in Criminology must be admitted to the Faculty of Arts.

Declaration Requirements

Students intending to graduate with this Faculty of Arts Bachelor’s degree must declare the credential by the time they complete 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• In good academic standing with the University
• Completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following with a minimum grade of “C”:
  • 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
  • 6 credits at the 1100 level or higher in the Major area

Curricular Requirements

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.

Major

1000 Level

Required courses:
	CRIM 1100	Introduction to Criminology	3 credits
	CRIM 1101	Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	3 credits
	CRIM 1107	Canadian Legal Systems	3 credits
	CRIM 1207	Introduction to Criminal Law	3 credits
	CRIM 1208	Methods of Research in Criminology	3 credits
	CRIM 1215	Interpersonal and Professional Development in Criminology	3 credits
	PSYC 1100	Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes	3 credits
	SOCI 1125	Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures	3 credits
Plus one of:
	PHIL 1100	Introduction to Philosophy	3 credits
	PHIL 1110	Confronting Moral Issues: Introduction to Ethics	3 credits
	PHIL 1145	Critical Thinking	3 credits
	PHIL 1150	Introduction to Formal Logic	3 credits

2000 Level

Required courses:
	CRIM 2103	Quantitative Data Analysis I	3 credits
	CRIM 2330	Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour	3 credits
	CRIM 2331	Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour	3 credits
	CRIM 2341	Canadian Criminal Justice Administration	3 credits
Plus one of:
	CRIM 2204	Criminal Justice and Psychology	3 credits
	CRIM 2205	Crime, Criminal Justice, and the Media	3 credits
	CRIM 2211	Introduction to Policing	3 credits
	CRIM 2214	Corrections: Theory and Practice	3 credits
	CRIM 2249	Youth Justice	3 credits

3000 and 4000 Level

Students will complete 30 credits in upper-level CRIM courses. All upper-level criminology courses require 6 credits of English as pre-requisites as of Fall 2013.

One of:
	CRIM 3103	Quantitative Data Analysis II	3 credits
	CRIM 3104	Qualitative Research Methods	3 credits
Students must complete at least TWO courses drawn from Group 1 below.
	Group 1. Theory and Methods:
	CRIM 3100	Advanced Theories of Crime and Community	3 credits
	CRIM 3111	Contemporary Sociological Criminology	3 credits
	CRIM 3113	Critical Criminology	3 credits
	CRIM 4112	Contemporary Psychological Criminology	3 credits
Students must complete at least ONE course from each of groups 2 and 3.
	Group 2. Criminal Justice:
	CRIM 3118	White-Collar and Corporate Crime	3 credits
	CRIM 3213	Community Corrections	3 credits
	CRIM 3249	Issues in Youth Justice	3 credits
	CRIM 4201	Community Safety and Crime Prevention	3 credits
	CRIM 4235	Minorities and the Criminal Justice System	3 credits
	CRIM 4410	Policy and Program Evaluation	3 credits
	Group 3. Law, Advocacy, and Conflict Resolution:
	CRIM 3302	Procedure and Evidence	3 credits
	CRIM 3305	Law and Society	3 credits
	CRIM 3307	Issues in Conflict Resolution	3 credits
	CRIM 3351	Philosophy of Law	3 credits
	CRIM 4300	Administrative and Regulatory Law	3 credits
	CRIM 4301	Community Advocacy and Human Rights	3 credits
Plus 15 additional credits of any CRIM courses at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Honours

In addition to the 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Criminology degree must complete the following additional 12 credits:

	CRIM 5000	Honours Thesis I	3 credits
	CRIM 5010	Honours Seminar	3 credits
	CRIM 5020	Honours Thesis II	6 credits

Enrolment in Criminology Honours courses requires the permission of the Criminology Honours committee. In order to be considered for Honours courses, students normally must:

• have completed 90 credits or more at the time of application;
• achieve a CGPA of 3.5; and
• have completed CRIM 3104 and CRIM 4410.

Please see kpu.ca/arts/criminology for further information regarding application deadlines and selection criteria.

Students may receive either the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology degree or the Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Criminology degree, but not both.

Co-operative Education

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology is offered with a Co-operative Education option. Co-operative Education gives a student the opportunity to apply the skills gained during academic study in paid, practical work experience semesters. Degree students in the Co-op option are expected to complete a minimum of three work terms while completing their degree. Work terms generally occur full-time in separate 4 month work semesters but may also be available part-time over an 8 month continuous (parallel) placement. Work semesters alternate with academic study.

Students wishing to enter and participate in the Co-op Option must meet the following requirements:

Declaration/Entrance Requirements:

• Declaration into the BA in Criminology
• Minimum GPA of 2.7

Program Continuance Requirements:

• Completion of COOP 1101 prior to 75 programs credits
• Minimum program GPA of 2.7
• Instructor permission

Co-op Requirements

The Co-operative Education designation requires successful completion of the following courses:

Required:
	COOP 1101	Job Search Techniques	1 credit
And all of:
	COOP 1150*	Co-op Work Semester 1	9 credits
	COOP 2150*	Co-op Work Semester 2	9 credits
	COOP 3150*	Co-op Work Semester 3	9 credits
Optional:
	COOP 4150*	Co-op Work Semester 4	9 credits

* Part-time (parallel) work terms may be taken over two semesters as COOP 1150A/1150B, COOP 2150A/2150B, COOP 3150A/3150B, or COOP 4150A/4150B respectively.

Additional requirements:

In addition to the requirements stated above, all Co-op students must satisfy the General Co-operative Education Requirements.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of the honours program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Transcripts will indicate a Major in Criminology. 

Upon successful completion of the major program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Criminology.

Upon successful completion of the Co-operative Education Option in the major program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts (Co-operative Education Option). Transcripts will indicate a Major in Criminology.