Apply now

Registration for the Fall 2019 semester begins June 25. Watch your email for more details.

back to search

Criminology (Diploma)

Faculty: Humanities & Social Sciences

Department: Criminology

Credits: 60.0

Length: Four semesters

Campuses: Coquitlam, New Westminster

Credential: Diploma

Admission Type: Open Enrolment - General Admission Requirements

Learning Format: Full-time, Part-time

Offered: Fall, Summer, Winter

Program Page: Click for more information

overview
program requirements
admissions
cost
career pathways
guidelines
faqs
transferring

program overview

The Criminology Diploma Program is designed to prepare students to enter the criminal justice field as practitioners or academics in a variety of occupations. Through the study of central issues in criminology and the structures and processes in the Canadian justice system, students learn about the complex problems encountered in the criminal justice field.

curriculum framework

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of 60 credits
25% (15 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College

** A university transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the 5 Research Universities - SFU, UBC, UBCO, UNBC or UVIC – according to the BC Transfer Guide.

Course Requirements:

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
Select one course from the following two options:
CRIM 1120	Introduction to Policing	3.00
CRIM 1170	Introduction to Corrections	3.00
Select one course from the following two options:
CRIM 2251	Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour	3.00
CRIM 2252	Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour	3.00
Select one course from the following five options:
PHIL 1101	Critical Thinking	3.00
PHIL 1102	Values and Contemporary Issues	3.00
PHIL 1103	Knowledge, Reason and Experience	3.00
PHIL 1152**	Reality and Existence	3.00
PHIL 2201	Logical Reasoning	3.00
Required Courses:
CRIM 1100	Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	3.00
CRIM 1150	Introduction to Criminology	3.00
CRIM 1160	The Canadian Legal System	3.00
CRIM 2140	Interviewing and Professional Skills	3.00
CRIM 2260	Criminal Law	3.00
ENGL	ENGL 1130 (Highly Recommended) or Any UT English Course	3.00
PSYC 1100	An Introduction to Psychology (I)	3.00
SOCI 1125	Social Processes	3.00
CRIM Elective	Select four to six 1000-4000 level Criminology or Legal Studies courses (1000-2000 level courses must be University Transferable)	12.00 – 18.00
Electives	Select three to five University Transferable courses Relevant elective courses include: ANTH 1100, ANTH 1120, ANTH 1160 GEOG 1100, GEOG 1160, GEOG 1180 HIST 1113, HIST 1114 POLI 1102, POLI 2202 SOCI 2230, SOCI 2240, SOCI 2250	9.00-15.00
Total Credits		60.00

career transfer pathways

Studying criminology opens doors to many career possibilities. Some require more education, but all require a strong knowledge of the criminal justice system, which can be acquired through criminology courses at Douglas College. Typical employers in the criminal justice field are government, educational institutions and the non-profit sector.

All criminology credits from the diploma program can be transferred to Simon Fraser University, the University of the Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Many core credits can be transferred to the University of British Columbia, the University of Ottawa and other universities in Canada.

admission requirements

General College Admission Requirements

program cost

You can get an average cost for your program - tuition and student fees, books, uniforms, lab fees etc - on the Program Cost page.

Only programs approved for student loan funding are listed on the Program Cost page. For all other programs, refer to the Tuition Fee page.

curriculum guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester/year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Are there specific entrance requirements to become a student in the Criminology Program?

No. You apply to the College. Once you are accepted, you can register in Criminology courses. See the Admissions tab for more details.

Do I take only Criminology courses during my studies?

While there are core Criminology courses you must take, your program of studies requires that you take core courses and electives outside of Criminology such as English, Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy.

Can I complete a Certificate in Criminal Justice in 1 year (30 credits) or a Criminology Diploma in 2 years (60 credits)?

Yes this is possible, if you are attending full time (5 courses per semester). Students may need to take day or night classes or to travel to both campuses, depending on course offerings and availability of seats in the course(s) you require.

Are all the Criminology courses listed in the calendar offered each semester?

For some courses we will offer multiple sections, eg. Intro. to CJS, for some, like our special topic courses, we may offer one section per year. The majority of courses are offered in fall and winter with a smaller selection offered in the summer term.

What can I expect in a Criminology class?

to come to class prepared having completed any required readings or review questions
comprehensive reading and writing assignments
critical thinking, group discussions, oral presentations, debates
independent study

transferring

Students planning to transfer to a university should complete a minimum 24 credits (to a maximum of 60 credits) of courses that are transferable to their desired university. Admission is competitive and will be based on their grade point average. Certain programs will have other supplemental requirements, so it is important for students to visit the university’s website.

Douglas College Criminology Diploma students wishing to transfer to Simon Fraser University’s School of Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Program

If a Criminology Diploma student wishes to satisfy SFU transfer requirements, they should choose the following as electives: CRIM 2254, CRIM 2261, PSYC 1200, and PSYC 2300. They should also complete both CRIM 2251 and 2252 in order to transfer to SFU. *Important: The pre-requisite for PSYC 2300 is Principles of Math 11 with a minimum of “C” and PSYC 1100 and PSYC 1200 with a minimum of “C-.”

It is strongly suggested that students keep current on SFU’s lower division requirements, which are subject to change, and consult with an academic advisor should questions arise. This will help ensure seamless transfer to SFU’s Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. See here for specific lower and upper division program requirements at SFU:

http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2016/spring/programs/criminology/major/bachelor-of-arts.html

Douglas College Criminology Diploma or Associate of Arts students wishing to transfer to the Douglas College Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology

Students need to complete the requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree, or equivalent for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology, at Douglas College. The following are the graduation requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree at any B.C. college:

6 credits (2 courses) first-year English electives
6 credits (2 courses) first-year Humanities electives
6 credits (2 courses) first-year Social Sciences electives
6 credits (2 courses) first-year Arts electives
18 credits (6 courses) second-year Arts electives in 2 or more subject areas
3 credits (1 course) first-year Lab Science elective
3 credits (1 course) first-year Math, Statistics or Computing Science elective
3 credits (1 course) first-year Math, Statistics or Science elective
9 credits (3 courses) other University Transfer electives

See here for further details on the Associate of Arts: http://www.douglascollege.ca/programs-courses/catalogue/programs/ASARTS

While completing the Associate Degree in Arts, students should complete the following Psychology courses as they are required for the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology, at Douglas College: PSYC 1100, PSYC 1200, PSYC 2300*, PSYC 2301. As well as two of the following: PSYC 2315, PSYC 2341, PSYC 2360. *Important: The pre-requisite for PSYC 2300 is Principles of Math 11 with a minimum of “C” and PSYC 1100 and PSYC 1200 with a minimum of “C-.”

Douglas College Criminology Diploma or Associate of Arts students wishing transfer to the BCIT Forensic Science Option or the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Option

Completion of the CRIM diploma or Associate Degree in Arts do qualify for BCIT’s Forensic program admission. This program has a two-step admission process.

Step 1: Pre-entry assessment:

Applicants must have a pre-assessment with the program area to identify necessary pre-entry courses. Please contact the BCIT Forensic Program Assistant to make arrangements (http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/845bbtech#entry). You can apply if you have completed necessary pre-entry courses.

Step 2: Completion of one of the following options prior to admission:

Option 1: A two-year diploma (minimum of 60 credits) or associate or bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or

Option 2: A minimum of 60 credits of courses fulfilling the requirements of the first two years of study towards the completion of a defined undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution (e.g. BA, BSc, BComm, BASc, etc) or

Option 3: A minimum of 60 credits of courses from one or more recognized post-secondary institutions (minimum of 18 credits at second-year or higher level) or

Option 4: Certification as a police constable AND completion of 30 credits from a recognized post-secondary institution or

Option 5: Meeting of alternate entry/exception policy. Applicants must contact a BCIT Program Assistant for particulars. A completed pre-entry assessment document from the program area must be uploaded with your application. Processing times depend on individual assessment and could take up to 3 months to complete.

It is strongly suggested that students keep current on BCIT’s entrance requirements (which are subject to change). This will help ensure seamless transfer to BCIT. See here for BCIT’s program requirements in forensics: http://www.bcit.ca/cas/forensics/

Douglas College Criminology Diploma or Associate of Arts Students wishing to transfer to another accredited post-secondary institution

Please read the receiving institutions lower division requirements and consult with a Douglas College academic advisor should you have any questions about transferring. The BC transfer guide can provide you with information regarding the transferability of specific Douglas College courses to other institutions, in BC. See here: http://www.bctransferguide.ca/

If you are uncertain about your career aspirations and/or which receiving institution you would like to further your studies, consider arranging an appointment to consult with a Criminology Coordinator. Appointments can be made by emailing: crimcoordinator@douglascollege.ca

From Iraq, to Syria, to Canada Muhaned Shalash

Difficult past propels Criminology student toward bright future. Read more

Programs & courses

Programs

Criminology (Diploma)

Are there specific entrance requirements to become a student in the Criminology Program?

Do I take only Criminology courses during my studies?

Can I complete a Certificate in Criminal Justice in 1 year (30 credits) or a Criminology Diploma in 2 years (60 credits)?

Are all the Criminology courses listed in the calendar offered each semester?

What can I expect in a Criminology class?