Program Overview

Program Overview

The Criminology program at Vancouver Island University offers a comprehensive education in the field of criminology, covering the study of laws, crime patterns, and the reaction to the breaking of laws.

What is Criminology?

Criminology is often referred to as the study of "the making of laws, the breaking of laws, and the reaction to the breaking of laws". Law, crime patterns, and the study of offenders make up much of the discipline, and knowledge is drawn from other disciplines such as history, psychology, sociology, economics, and political science.

The Making of Laws

The making of laws covers the historical and dynamic nature of law in Canada, including the way that judges apply the law to cases which come before them. Criminology courses which focus on law include:

• CRIM 135 (Intro to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective)
• CRIM 230 (Criminal Law)
• CRIM 400 (Law and Human Rights)

The Breaking of Law

The breaking of law refers to crime patterns seen from police reports, victimization and self-report studies. Criminology courses which focus on crime patterns and explanations for crime include:

• CRIM 101 (Introduction to Criminology)
• CRIM 204 (Deviance, Crime and Social Control)
• CRIM 103 (Psycho-social Explanations of Criminality)
• CRIM 210 (Law, Youth and Young Offenders)
• CRIM 213 (Gender, Crime and Justice)
• CRIM 360 (Advanced Criminological Theory)
• CRIM 480 (Organizational Crime: A Global Perspective)
• CRIM 470 (Dynamics of Terrorism)

The Reaction to the Breaking of Laws

The reaction to the breaking of laws covers our criminal justice system (police, courts and corrections) and criminal justice policy. Criminology courses which address society's reactions to crime include:

• CRIM 131 (Intro to the Criminal Justice System)
• CRIM 200 (Aboriginal Issues in the Criminal Justice System)
• CRIM 251 (Introduction to Policing)
• CRIM 241 (Introduction to Corrections)
• CRIM 290 (Alternative Conflict Resolution in Criminal Justice Systems)
• CRIM 321 (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Policy)
• CRIM 440 (Alternate Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills)
• CRIM 450 (Criminal Justice Systems: An International Perspective)

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Criminology program, students must meet the General Admission Requirements.

Course Requirements

The Criminology program requires students to complete a series of courses, including:

• CRIM 101 (Introduction to Criminology)
• CRIM 135 (Intro to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective)
• CRIM 230 (Criminal Law)
• CRIM 400 (Law and Human Rights)

Skills and Knowledge

Students in the Criminology program can expect to develop a broad-based education in the liberal arts tradition, including:

• Being open-minded to new thinking on familiar issues
• Understanding and appreciating the values and workings of the Canadian criminal justice system
• Understanding and applying theory to real world situations, events and processes
• Analytical and critical thinking about controversial issues
• Organizing and interpreting social, economic, and political data
• Reading and understanding research articles comprehensively and writing effectively
• Respecting and appreciating cultural and ethnic diversity
• Separating facts from values
• Developing an ability to persuade and influence others with rational arguments and evidence

Work-Study Opportunities

Some students in the Criminology program have participated in work-study projects with local agencies, including the parole office, the John Howard Society, and the RCMP. Upper-level students in the BA program spend at least two days a week in a field placement with a local agency during their final semester.

Diploma Requirements

To receive a Diploma in Criminology, students must complete all required courses and meet the minimum grade requirements. Students can apply for the Diploma online once they have completed all requirements.