Criminology/Criminal Justice
www.ufv.ca/criminology

Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice) degree

A four-year, 124-credit program which provides for advanced study beyond the Criminal Justice diploma program. Specifically, the program prepares students for front-line jobs after two years, but it also provides them with the opportunity beyond that (within an additional two years of study) to acquire a liberal arts orientation and the research skills, knowledge base, and analytical ability necessary for graduate studies and advanced career opportunities in the criminal justice field. This program will be of interest to people already working in the criminal justice field who seek supervisory positions, and to those who ultimately seek careers in the areas of criminal investigation, national security, evaluation research, crime prevention, offender case management (including probation and parole), and criminal law.

Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice) degree with minor or extended minor in another discipline

Students who choose to combine their BA in Criminal Justice with a minor or extended minor in another discipline (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, English) must complete all the requirements of the BA in Criminal Justice and all the discipline requirements of the minor or extended minor. If you are interested in pursuing this option, contact the Arts Advice Centre to discuss your program plan.

Entrance requirements

Applicants must have completed, by the end of the fall semester in the application period, at least 45 credits that may be applied to the degree program with a CGPA of at least 2.67.

In addition, applicants must:

• Attend an orientation session in April during which criminal justice faculty present an overview of the options available and career opportunities in criminal justice. You must attend the orientation and interview or make special arrangements with the program head to be eligible for admission to the program
• Students will be contacted regarding orientation process.
• Provide a neat and well written 300- to 500-word statement articulating your personal strengths and weaknesses and interest in criminal justice.

A CGPA of 2.67 and attendance at an orientation are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission to the program.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Criminal Justice Studies program path.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca. See the Program Charts for a complete list of application dates and general information.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
• A 300- to 500- word statement articulating your personal strengths and weaknesses and interest in criminal justice.
• Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from every post-secondary institution you have attended showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements.
• You must attend the orientation or make special arrangements with the program head to be eligible for admission to the program.

2. You will be advised of an admission decision and provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees are due the end of the second week of classes.

3. In cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course.

Dates and location

Full-time students are advised to register for the fall semester. Since many courses in the diploma, degree, and university-transfer options are sequential, students registering in January may be unable to take preliminary courses until the following September.

The normal university college year is from September through April, with between 15 and 18 hours of classes required in each of the fall and winter semesters. Students enrolled in field practice in any semester (normally requiring two full days per week) would normally take 11 hours of classes. Occasionally, courses are challenged for credit, making it possible to complete the program more quickly. Mastery of course objectives must be demonstrated in order to successfully challenge a course.

Program requirements

To maintain their status as a program student, individuals with more than 15 credits must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0. Further, to maintain status as a degree program student, individuals registering for upper-level criminology courses must possess a CGPA of at least 2.67.

Continuance in program

Students who do not maintain the required cumulative grade point average will be placed on Academic Warning for one semester. If you do not attain the required CGPA, you will be required to withdraw. Students who have been required to withdraw are not normally readmitted to the program.

Re-taking courses

The Criminology/Criminal Justice department does not approve challenge requests from students who are asking to re-take a Criminology course. These students must register in, and complete the requirements for, a regularly timetabled section of the course.

Auditing courses

Students wishing to audit a course in Criminology/Criminal Justice must request permission from the instructor no later than the end of the fourth week of classes. No changes from regular to audit status will be permitted after this date.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a requirement which must be met before a student enters a course or program. A P grade does not, unless stated otherwise, meet a prerequisite requirement. Students who do not have the stated prerequisite courses may not register in a course having these requirements without the permission of the instructor.

Transfer credit

At least 25 per cent of the course work must be completed at UCFV. However, students must complete at least 50 percent of the upper-level Criminology credits required for the degree and minor and extended minor at UCFV.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

You may be able to obtain credit for prior learning through evaluation of previous studies or learning through experience after you have completed 30 credits in the diploma program. Contact the department for further information.

Course withdrawal deadlines

Course withdrawal deadlines follow university-college policy.

Graduation

Candidates who qualify to receive a UCFV degree must be approved by the UCFV Criminology/Criminal Justice department and the University College Council. Students must submit a Request for Graduation form to the UCFV Admissions and Records office by April 1.

Program outline

Lower-level requirements

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Note: Students who have taken (the now discontinued) CRIM 260 course may use it instead of CRIM 265. CRIM 160 (now discontinued) may be used as a general elective.

Semester IV

Students wanting a diploma must also complete CRIM 201, and one of CRIM 202 or CRIM 203.

Note: Students should plan their 100/200-level electives to ensure they will have the necessary prerequisites for the required 300/400-level non-criminology electives.

Upper-level requirements

Note: Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.67 in order to continue into upper level.

Semester V

Semester VI

Semester VII

Note: The prerequisite for BUS 203 (BUS 100 or 102) will be waived for Criminal Justice degree reserved seats.

Semester VIII

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.