Diploma in Criminology

Vancouver Island University

Criminology is an interdisciplinary science that focuses on law and its interpretation by the courts, patterns in crime, the explanation of deviant and criminal behaviour, and society's reaction to law-breaking. The program introduces students to criminal law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and case-law decisions made by the courts. Students will examine in separate courses the three main components of the criminal justice system—police, courts and corrections—that form an organized response to crime. The program addresses the trends and correlates of crime, including the influences of age, ethnicity, gender, and social class. The major explanations for crime try to account for these patterns by looking at historical, individual and social causes. The criminological focus is broadened with courses from other disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities.

The program aims to provide students with conceptual, critical and applied skills to work in fields where a legal/justice focus is beneficial. The curriculum emphasizes development of professional and applied skills though training in professional ethics, conflict mediation, use of information technology for researching relevant topics, writing, presenting data, and working in small groups on specific tasks. Although the core of the curriculum is centered on justice-related issues, students will find the program applies equally to areas in the private sector where research competence, project management, legal analysis and communication skills are essential.

Students who successfully complete the first two years of the program with a minimum program cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 may apply to receive a Diploma.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Diploma program have accessed careers in provincial corrections or probation, federal parole or corrections, policing, customs and immigration, court-related occupations, or working with youth in correctional/therapeutic settings.