Criminology Diploma

Diploma
Type
Length
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Courses

CORE required courses

CRIM-101
Introduction to Criminology
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary subject of criminology. Students are oriented to criminology as a profession, and as a historically specific body of knowledge. Criminology is situated as a scientific discipline guided by diverse theoretical trajectories and methods of analysis. The explanatory capacity of criminological approaches to crime, criminality, and social control encourages a focus on current issues related to crime, and the administration of justice.
PSYC-101
Introduction to Psychology I
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This general survey course includes topics such as a brief history of psychology, basic research methodology, biological psychology, sensation, perception, consciousness, learning, memory, language and thought.
SOC-101
Intro. to Sociology I
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course is an introduction to the basic sociological theories and methods for studying individuals, groups, and institutions with Canadian materials and Indigenous content. Topics will include culture, socialization, families, education, gender, aging, and deviance. These concerns will be illustrated and developed with Canadian materials.
CRIM-102
Psych of Crime and Deviance
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: CRIM 101 or PSYC 101 minimum C
Description
This course is an introduction to, and critical examination of, psychological approaches to criminal and deviant behavior. Surveying a variety of psychologically informed explanations of crime and deviance, such as biological, psychoanalytic, behavioral, and cognitive theories, this course examines hypothesized/causal links between criminality and genetics, mental disorders, personal, and moral development.
PSYC-102
Introduction to Psychology II
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: PSYC-101 minimum C
Description
This course is a continuation of PSYC 101. Topics include developmental psychology, intelligence and intelligence testing, personality and personality assessment, motivation, emotion, stress and health, social psychology, an introduction to psychological disorders and their treatment.
SOC-102
Intro. to Sociology II
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: SOC-101 minimum D
Description
This course examines topics that include the characteristics and changes in the general population, local and Indigenous communities and ethnic groups This course also looks at social movements, political parties, work settings, and religious organizations. These concerns are illustrated and developed with Canadian materials.
CRIM-103
Intro to Criminal Justice
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This introductory course explores the structure and operation, and the legal and social organization of the Canadian Criminal justice system. The accused is followed from initial contact with the police to a final disposition on the street, at court, or in the correctional system. The rights and responsibilities, patterns of contact and conflict, and discretionary practices of all participants in the proceedings are examined in terms of their fairness and effectiveness.
ENGL-103
Composition & Style
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
A study of grammar, composition, and style. A vigorous program of essay-writing plus a variety of writing assignments or exercises dealing with specific problems in essay-writing. Strongly recommended for students who wish to improve their writing skills.
CRIM-106
Crime and Deviance
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course examines classical and contemporary sociological perspectives and theories of crime and deviance. The assumptions, and strengths and weaknesses, of each theory are critically assessed. Each of the sociological theories explored is evaluated in terms of its contemporary utility and practical applicability in Canadian criminal justice policy.
CRIM-135
Intro to Cdn Law and Legal
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
A general introduction to the fundamental and competing principles of jurisprudence and the basic legal institutions of Canada. This course considers the history of Canadian law, the development of the Canadian constitution, the system of Canadian courts, and the roles and responsibilities of legal professionals. Other topics include the nature of legal reasoning, the doctrine of precedent, principles of statutory interpretation, and introduces the fields of contract, torts, administrative and family law, and the process of law reform in Canada.
CRIM-220
Soc Science Research Methods
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Math Prerequisite: PSYC-201 or MATH-104 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: CRIM-220L
  • Prerequisite: CRIM-101, CRIM-103 or SOC-101, SOC-102 minimum C
Description
This course is an introduction to research in the social sciences that will develop students' research and analytical skills. Specifically, the course will focus on theoretical inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research logics, and the process and structure of research, including: research design, data collection and analysis, and an introduction to report writing.
CRIM-230
Criminal Law
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: CRIM-135 minimum C
Description
This course narrows down the understanding of Canadian Law through honing in on the nature, scope, sources, and basic principles of criminal law. Topics of study and critical examination include, fundamental legal concepts, such as mens rea, negligence, and strict liability; criminal responsibility in Canada; legislative policies expressed in the Criminal Code; basic elements of a criminal offence; actus reus and mens rea; and legal principles relating to crimes and their defences.

PHIL 101, 102, 110 or 220

PHIL-101
Moral Philosophy
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
Morality and ethics are framed socially and culturally in every human society, and are thus dependent on local, social, and historical contexts. This course surveys the development of moral philosophy in the Western tradition. Students will review major thinkers and texts, identify the values and ideas that have shaped Western philosophical thought since 600 BC, and critically examine those contributions and positions in relation to the present through the lens of key moral questions.
PHIL-102
Theory of Knowledge
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course introduces the ideals of Reason, Truth, and Knowledge in Western philosophy. Students will confront the fundamental possibility of knowledge by addressing questions such as: What distinguishes knowledge from opinion? Does evidence have to convince to constitute proof? Is truth dependent on agreement? Can perception show us how the world really is or merely how it appears to us? Should we believe only what there is sufficient evidence to support? How is faith related to knowledge and belief?
PHIL-220
Political Philosophy
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course is an introduction to political philosophy in the Western (European) tradition. Students will study those ideas, principles, and values that were foundational to the making of dominant political frameworks in the West. They will also become familiar with the key figures that shaped and influenced modern Western political structures, policies, and governance and examine questions relating to the duties and obligations of the state towards its citizens, the submission of citizens to the laws of the state, and other relevant issues.

MATH 104 or PSYC 201

MATH-104
Elementary Statistics
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: Foundations of Math 11, PreCalculus 11, or MATH-045, or equivalent minimum C
Description
This course is an introduction to the theory, techniques and applications of elementary statistics and statistical methodology. It is intended primarily for students majoring in health sciences, business, and liberal arts programs. Topics include descriptive statistics, sampling, elementary probability, probability distributions, statistical inference, correlation, linear regression and analysis of variance. Applications to a wide variety of real-world problems are emphasized.
PSYC-201
Statistics for Social Sciences
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall/Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: PSYC-201L
  • Pre-Requisite: Foundations of Math 11, Pre-Calculus 11, MATH-045 or equivalent minimum C
  • Recommended Prerequisite: PSYC-101 minimum grade C
Description
This course introduces students to the concepts and applications of statistics in the social sciences. The focus will be on the analysis and interpretation of data using descriptive and inferential statistics. In the laboratory, students will gain experience with computerized data analysis.

PSCI-100 or PSCI-131

PSCI-100
Intro to Politics & Government
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course is designed to provide students with a basic foundation in the study of politics, government and society. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the complex world of politics, in order to develop the skills required to critically assess questions related to ideology, social justice, political organization, government policies and decisions. By learning about the essential concepts of politics, and the processes of government, students will develop the skills to be engaged yet critical citizens. Although much of the emphasis will be on Canadian politics, we will be focusing on political developments in other parts of the world.

CRIM 201, 241, 250, or 260

CRIM-201
Policing in Modern Society
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: CRIM-101 or CRIM-103 minimum C
Description
This course examines both historical and current issues related to policing in modern society. Topical emphasis will be on police roles, powers, accountability, discretion, surveillance, and technology. Analysis of these issues will be comparative between "public" and "private" methods of policing.
CRIM-241
Canadian Corrections
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Occasionally
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: CRIM-101 or CRIM-103 minimum C
Description
This course explores the correctional system in Canada both inside prisons and outside in communities. Topics explored may include: the history and development of prisons in Canada; philosophies of punishment and incarceration; the structure, organization, and dynamics of correctional institutions; and, treatment and programming in Canadian corrections.
CRIM-250
Restorative Justice
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ABST-100, ABST-101, CRIM-101, CRIM-103, SOC-101 or SSWK-171 minimum C
Description
This course explores the history, theory, principles, and practice of restorative justice. Positioned against adversarial and retributive models of criminal justice that occupy much of the Canadian criminal justice system's landscape, restorative justice will be explored as an alternative model of transformative justice. Core restorative justice programs and models are explored alongside the keystakeholders, including victims, offenders, the community, and the specific roles they play in the administration of justice.
CRIM-260
Women, Crime & Justice
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ABST-100, ABST-101, CRIM-101, CRIM-103, SOC-101, SSWK-171, or WMST-101 minimum C
Description
This course explores the nexus between women, crime, and criminal justice. Feminist theories and methods are employed to redress inaccuracies, misperceptions and/or skewed representations of women evidenced within the criminological discipline and the criminal justice system. Course topics include: the development of feminist criminology, media representations of criminality and women, "gender-blind" criminal justice policies, and the gendered dimensions of criminal act commission, criminal justice processing, incarceration, and employment in the criminal justice system.

4 electives from approved subjects

Entry Requirements

While it wasn’t always easy combining classroom time and field trips on top of the hours for studying and homework, it’s been great to gain so much hands-on experience during the courses.

Michelle Lindemann
Civil Engineering Technology

I like the problem-solving nature of millwrighting. I love how diverse the trade is. There’s always something new and different to work on.

Dusty Cathcart 2026
Vanderhoof Industrial Mechanic

This program gives you the ability to have a lot of hands-on time in the clinic where you can practice the skills you are learning and get a bit of an idea of what it is like to be a dental assistant.

Jordyn Karl
Dental Assistant Certificate Student

Taking this program is one of the most exciting things I could've done. It helped me grow into a professional, while also growing personally. I have carried my knowledge forward and will always hold the program and faculty close to my heart.

Janessa Sigurdson 2025
Accounting and Finance

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