Criminal Justice - Bachelor of
BCJ
Program Office: 403.329.7246 • infojustice@lethbridgecollege.ca
The Bachelor of Criminal Justice prepares students for a career in the diverse field of public safety as well as for continuing their education at the graduate level. The curriculum has been shaped through collaboration with industry and focuses on developing skills for success: critical thinking; collaboration; conflict resolution; ethical decision-making; global awareness; inclusivity; communication; leadership; and research. Students will benefit from work-integrated learning and applied research opportunities with industry partners. The program has flexible delivery to accommodate those already working in the field.
Work Integrated Learning
The college dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the directive field study placement.
Applicants are advised they will be required to undergo a Criminal Record Check prior to enrolling in the placement. The existence of a criminal record may affect placement and future employment prospects. The agencies reserve the right to determine who is considered a suitable candidate.
Your Investment
Program fees will vary. To view fee information for your program, go to lethbridgecollege.ca/programs and select your program.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree.
Note: Employing agencies may have additional requirements for employment, such as a valid driver’s licence, Standard First Aid and CPR. Students are encouraged to maintain their credentials in these areas so that they are current at time of graduation.
Post-Graduate Pathways
Graduates of the BCJ program may be eligible for acceptance into a variety of master’s degree programs. See an academic advisor for more information.
New third-year applicants, or transfer applicants with advance standing through completion of a related diploma, are accepted into the program in the Fall (September) term for either on-campus or online study. Students can also start in the Winter (January) or Spring (May) terms for online study.
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Academic Requirements
Students who have completed a Correctional Studies Diploma or Criminal Justice - Policing Diploma from Lethbridge College, or equivalent will be accepted directly into the Bachelor of Criminal Justice.
Applicants with a related diploma/degree in a human service or justice related field such as child and youth care, law enforcement, addictions counselling, social work, criminology, or psychiatric nursing will also be admitted, and may be required to complete bridging courses in order to meet degree requirements.
Applicants with a diploma/degree require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be accepted directly into the Bachelor of Criminal Justice.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | ||
| Term I | ||
| HUM-3350 | Ethics in Justice | 3 |
| JUS-3351 | Introduction to Research Methods in Justice | 3 |
| JUS-3360 | Indigenous Peoples and Culture in Justice | 3 |
| MGT-3375 | Leadership in Justice Organizations | 3 |
| Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Term II | ||
| JUS-3362 | Human Rights, Diversity & Social Incl | 3 |
| JUS-3363 | Victims in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| RSR-3356 | Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analys | 3 |
| Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from List) | 3 | |
| Discipline Elective (Choose 1 from list) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Term I | ||
| FWK-4450 | Work Placement I | 1.5 |
| JUS-4462 | Gender & Justice | 3 |
| RSR-4460 | Criminal Justice Research Project I | 3 |
| Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list) | 3 | |
| Discipline Elective (Choose 1 from list) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13.5 | |
| Term II | ||
| FWK-4452 | Work Placement II | 1.5 |
| JUS-4463 | Advanced Social Policy | 3 |
| RSR-4462 | Criminal Justice Research Project II | 3 |
| Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list) | 3 | |
| Discipline Electives (Choose 2 from list) | 6 | |
| Credits | 16.5 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Breadth Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-3362 | Microbiology and Social Issues | 3 |
| ENG-3350 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| HUM-3390 | Contemporary Media | 3 |
| LAW-3360 | Indigenous Law | 3 |
| PSY-3352 | Human Behavioural Ecology | 3 |
| PSY-3360 | History of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY-4452 | Human Behaviour and Social Technologies | 3 |
| SOC-3360 | Sociology of Crime & Deviance | 3 |
| SOC-3361 | Sociology of Surveillance | 3 |
| SOC-3362 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
Discipline Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUS-3357 | Contemporary Youth Justice in Canada | 3 |
| JUS-3369 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| JUS-3373 | Community Policing | 3 |
| JUS-3374 | Crime Prevention | 3 |
| JUS-3375 | Restorative Justice | 3 |
| JUS-3387 | Crisis Management | 3 |
| JUS-4455 | Comparative Justice Systems | 3 |
| JUS-4470 | Addictions and Mental Health | 3 |
| JUS-4471 | Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| JUS-4472 | Risk Assessment & Management | 3 |
| JUS-4473 | Seminar in Black Studies | 3 |
| JUS-4475 | Critical Incident Analysis | 3 |
| JUS-4476 | Special Topics | 3 |
| PSY-4450 | The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour | 3 |
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements
This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.
Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g. immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g. police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g. CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student. Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage. In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside of Alberta). These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.
Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.
In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g. health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.
WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals. WIL’s may include day, evening, and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program will be prepared to enter career paths including the following:
- Case Workers in Provincial and Federal Justice Organizations
- Parole Officers • Probation Officers
- Supervisors/Managers in Justice Organizations
- Communications Officer
- Victim Service Worker
- Crisis Support Worker
- Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Government Policy Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Business Planner
- Continued Studies in Graduate School