Criminology is an interdisciplinary program which draws on the theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of social sciences and humanities. The Criminology program thus builds on a first year that is common to many other programs in the Faculty of Arts, with specialized study in Criminology in years two to four.
Semesters One and Two: In the first year, which is shared with the programs in English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Politics and Governance, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology, students are introduced to Criminology through introductory core courses that provide an overview and assessment of the administration of the criminal justice system in Canada, the main theories of criminality, and the nature and extent of crime in Canada. Students also acquire skills and knowledge in Academic Writing and Research and Critical Thinking, and choose electives from a broad range of areas, such as Business, Law, and Natural Sciences.
Semesters Three and Four: In second year, students study the foundations of criminal law in Canada, the role and experiences of victims of crime, and concerns about social inequality in the criminal justice system. In addition, students are introduced to the quantitative and qualitative research methods that are necessary to study criminal justice effectively.
Semesters Five through Eight: In the upper years, students study criminal justice issues in greater depth, exploring such topics as youth justice, aboriginal justice, strategies of crime control and prevention, criminal justice ethics, security threats and a series of special topics such as how crime is depicted in the media, the establishment of the International Criminal Court, and many more. In addition to program courses, students choose courses from a broad range of subject areas that complement their professional studies and broaden their career preparation. These include courses in Business Communication, Human Resources Management, Law, Nonprofit and Volunteer Sector Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, Economics, Geography, Politics and Governance, Sociology, Psychology, and the sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.