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Criminology Honours
This structured program for outstanding undergraduate students compliments the criminology major program and consists of two terms of advanced course work and supervised research. Honours students write and defend a short thesis.
Students complete 132 units minimum with grade point averages (GPA) in accordance with general and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences graduation requirements including a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA (3.50 for first class honours).
間眅埶AV Requirements
Eligible students should apply to the undergraduate program director. The selection process normally happens each spring for September admission.
Students are admitted as a group each September, and must complete and defend their theses by the following April.
Students normally enter the program with a minimum of 110 units (see below) but may enter with less and complete one additional course in the first term with undergraduate program director permission.
Upper Division 間眅埶AV
The school limits upper division admission to its honours programs. Entry is based on a formal application as soon as the lower division requirements are complete, for upper division admission effective the following term. Students are eligible to apply for entry to the honours program after successful completion of 60 units, including the lower division group A and B required courses. Students should make application to the school immediately after they have completed the above requirements.
Appeal Procedure
Applicants denied admission to a criminology honours program may appeal in writing to the school’s director. If that appeal results in a negative decision, a written appeal to the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences may be submitted. Appeals will be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
Enrolment Priority
Enrolment priority for limited enrolment upper division seminar courses in the school will be established on the basis of cumulative GPA.
Transfer Students
Students transferring to 間眅埶AV from a two-year college that has articulated the first 60 units of study in criminology with the School of Criminology will be considered on the basis of their college cumulative GPA (recalculated on the basis of grades received in courses transferable to the University), as well as other relevant materials.
Continuation in Honours
For honours continuance, students must maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Those whose CGPA falls below 3.0 cannot enrol in CRIM 499 and, therefore, cannot complete the program. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.25 cannot enrol in any upper division CRIM courses including those offered through distance education. When it is restored to 2.25, students will be readmitted after review and approval of the director of undergraduate programs.
Program Requirements
Students complete 132 units, as specified below. Students must obtain a minimum grade of C- in all required group A and group B courses.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete 60 units including the requirements set out below under group A, group B and general electives.
- eight courses from group A
- six courses from group B
- an additional six courses of general electives
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences breadth requirements must be completed for graduation and the general electives should be considered for that purpose.
Students may not complete group B requirements other than those listed below unless permission is obtained from the school’s undergraduate curriculum committee prior to completing the course.
Group A Lower Division Requirements
For admission to the major program, students who have completed PSYC 201 with a C- grade or better may request a waiver from CRIM 220 by petitioning the undergraduate advisor. Only in exceptional cases will this waiver be granted, and if approved, an additional three units of upper division criminology must be completed to replace CRIM 220.
Students complete all of
Topics will include: examination of different terms and concepts commonly used in criminology, such as crime, delinquency, deviance, criminal, victim, rehabilitation and treatment. Criminology as a body of knowledge and as a profession. Position and subject matter of criminology. Relationship between criminology and other academic disciplines. Specificity of criminology. Relationship between theory and practice. History and evolution of criminological thought. Elements of continuity and discontinuity between classical and modern theories of criminality. Levels of explanations in criminology. Practical applications of criminology. The foundations of a modern criminal policy. Breadth-Social Sciences.
An introduction to, and critical examination of, biogenetic, psychiatric, and psychological explanations of criminal and deviant behavior. Special attention will be given to the hypothesized links between criminality and genetics, physiology, the endocrine system, mental disorders, personality, moral development, and other forms of social learning. Recommended: PSYC 100 and 102. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A survey of some major sociological perspectives on crime and deviance that will include both mainstream and critical theories. These will include: anomie, neutralization, control, group conflict, sub-cultural, ecological, functionalist and critical theories. Critical analysis of the assumptions upon which each theory is based. Examination of the similarities and differences between/among the various explanations. Recommended: SA 150. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Introductory analysis of the structure and operation of the Canadian criminal justice system. Examination of the patterns of crime and victimization; police operations, discretion and decision making; the criminal courts, including sentencing; the corrections system, including correctional institutions and community-based models; the youth justice system. Patterns of contact and conflict between various social groups and the criminal justice system. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A general introduction to the fundamental and competing principles of jurisprudence and to the basic legal institutions of Canada. Prepares students for those law and law related courses offered within the School of Criminology and will consider the history of Canadian law, the development of the Canadian constitution, the system of Canadian courts and the roles and responsibilities of members of the legal profession. In addition, the course will consider the nature of legal reasoning, the doctrine of precedent, principles of statutory interpretation and will also introduce the fields of contract, torts, administrative law, and family law. Also examines the process of law reform in Canada. Breadth-Social Sciences.
An introduction to criminological research that is intended to develop the student's research and analytical skills. Specifically, the course will focus on the theory of inquiry, the logic, and structure of criminological inquiry, research design, data gathering, analysis and reporting. Students with credit for CRIM 120 may not take CRIM 220 for further credit. Recommended: any 100 division CRIM course. Quantitative. Prerequisite: . Equivalent Courses: CRIM120. Quantitative.
Nature, purpose, scope, sources and basic principles of the criminal law. Study of certain fundamental legal concepts such as mens rea, negligence and strict liability. Analysis of the concept of criminal responsibility in Canada. Critical examination of the legislative policies expressed in the Criminal Code. Study of the basic elements of a criminal offence. Examination of the legal principles relating to certain specific crimes and to certain major defences. Impact of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the criminal law. Prerequisite: CRIM 135.
and one of
Historical review of society's reaction to crime and deviance, relating this history to religious, political, social and philosophical movements and schools of thought. Consideration of the history and evolution of punishment and penal methods and the historical forces influencing the development, implementation, and modification of these methods. Prerequisite: Any 100 division CRIM course.
An analysis of the definition and control of youthful misconduct in an historical and contemporary context. Attention is focused upon: the social construction of 'juvenile delinquency', the decline of the concept, and the emergence of the concept of the 'young offender'; the Young Offenders Act and related legislation; the growth of the welfare state and the role of social workers in 'policing' youth and families; explanations for the criminal behavior of young persons; state and private sector programs designed to deal with such behavior. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and CRIM 131.
This course offers an historical and analytical overview of women and crime, taking into account the role of gender in both criminality and social responses to crime. Specific emphasis will be given to feminist theories. Attention will focus on the specific crimes and patterns of control and punishment. Prerequisite: Any 100 division CRIM course.
An examination of the organization, structure and operation of contemporary Canadian corrections. A consideration of the history and development of provincial and federal correctional systems. The role of sentencing in the correctional process and alternatives to confinement. Discussion of the social organization of correctional institutions, including the inmates, correctional officers, correctional treatment staff and administrators. Parole board decision making and the issues surrounding the re-entry of offenders into the community. Community-based corrections programs and outcomes. Prerequisite: CRIM 131.
An examination of the organization and operation of contemporary Canadian policing. Consideration of the history and development of policing in Canada, the role of the police in Canadian society and the police occupation, including recruitment and training. Discussion of police decision making and the exercise of discretion, police powers, and structures of accountability. Managing the police organization. Examination of police-community relations and crime prevention initiatives. Prerequisite: CRIM 131. Students with credit for CRIM 151 may not take this course for further credit.
Group B Lower Division Requirements
Students complete seven courses, including
and one of
A comprehensive introduction to the study of politics and government for both political science majors and students specializing in other disciplines. The course will explore the major concepts, methods, approaches and issues in political science, as well as the primary components of government structure and the political process. POL 101W is the Writing certified version of POL 100 and students cannot receive credit for both courses. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A comprehensive introduction to the study of politics and government for both political science majors and students specializing in other disciplines. Explores the major concepts, methods, approaches and issues in political science, as well as the primary components of government structure and the political process. This course is identical to POL 100 and students may not take both courses for credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
The development of laws and their application to the citizen and social groups. Special consideration will be given to civil liberties. Breadth-Social Sciences.
and one of
Covers basic descriptive and inferential techniques most appropriately applied to the various forms of data from psychological research. Should be completed by majors and honours before the end of term 4. Prerequisite: PSYC 201W and BC high school Math 12 with a minimum grade of C (2.0) or BC high school Math 11 with a minimum grade of B- (2.67). See the Letters of Permission section within the undergraduate Department of Psychology. Quantitative.
Chance phenomena and data analysis are studied through simulation and examination of real world contexts including sports, investment, lotteries and environmental issues. Intended to be particularly accessible to students who are not specializing in Statistics. Students with credit for STAT 101, 201, 203, 270 or BUEC 232 will not receive additional credit for this course. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
The collection, description, analysis and summary of data, including the concepts of frequency distribution, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing. To receive credit for both STAT 100 and STAT 101, STAT 100 must be taken first. Intended to be particularly accessible to students who are not specializing in Statistics. Students with credit for STAT 102, 201, 203 (formerly STAT 103), 301, MATH 101 or 102 may not take STAT 101 for further credit. Students with credit for ARCH 376, BUEC 232 (formerly 332) or STAT 270 (formerly MATH 272 and 371) may not subsequently receive credit for STAT 101-3. Quantitative.
Descriptive and inferential statistics aimed at students in the social sciences. Scales of measurement. Descriptive statistics. Measures of association. Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. Students in Sociology and Anthropology are expected to take SA 255 before this course. Intended to be particularly accessible to students who are not specializing in Statistics. Prerequisite: Recommended: SA 255, CRIM 120, POL 213 or equiv. Students with credit for STAT 101, 102, 103, 201, 270, ARCH 376 or, BUEC 232 (formerly 332), may not subsequently receive credit for this course. Quantitative.
and one of
An introduction to the evaluation of arguments as they are encountered in everyday life. The central aim will be to sharpen skills of reasoning and argumentation by understanding how arguments work and learning to distinguish those which actually prove what they set out to show from those which do not. Open to all students. Quantitative.
An introduction to some of the central problems of philosophy. Topics to be discussed include the different theories of reality; the nature and sources of knowledge, truth, evidence, and reason; the justification of belief and knowledge about the universe. These topics and problems will be considered as they arise in the context of issues such as: relativism versus absolutism; the existence of God; personal identity; the nature of the mind and its relation to the body; free will and determinism; the possibility of moral knowledge. Open to all students. Students with credit for PHIL 100 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
The aim of this course is to familiarize students with fundamental techniques of correct reasoning. Special attention is given to the methods of logic in particular, and to their role in the discovery of truth not only within science and philosophy but within all forms of rational enquiry. Open to all students. Quantitative.
An introduction to the central problems of ethics: for example, the nature of right and wrong, the objectivity or subjectivity of moral judgments, the relativity or absolutism of values, the nature of human freedom and responsibility. The course will also consider general moral views such as utilitarianism, theories of rights and specific obligations, and the ethics of virtue. These theories will be applied to particular moral problems such as abortion, punishment, distributive justice, freedom of speech, and racial and sexual equality. Sometimes the course will also focus on important historical figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant and Mill. Open to all students. Students with credit for PHIL 120 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of philosophic thought from late antiquity to the Renaissance. Special attention will be given to the works of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. The views of these great thinkers have helped to shape the ways in which we see the world. This course is therefore recommended to everyone with an interest in our intellectual heritage. Open to all students. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of philosophic thought from the Renaissance to the 20th Century. Special attention will be given to the works of Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel and Mill. The views of these great thinkers have helped to shape the ways in which we see the world. This course is therefore recommended to everyone with an interest in our intellectual heritage. Open to all students. Breadth-Humanities.
An introduction to central problems of political and social philosophy: for example, the basis of political obligation, the proper limits of state power, the appropriate scope of individual liberty, and the nature of social justice. Sometimes the course will focus on the views of historically important political philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Bentham, Mill and Marx.
A study of existentialist philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus and a survey of precursors such as Kant and Hegel.
and both of
Acquaints the student with the major issues in contemporary psychology and considers the historical antecedents. Special attention is given to questions of methodology and research design in psychology. Topics in physiological psychology, perception, learning and motivation are considered. Students with credit for PSYC 101 may not take PSYC 100 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Acquaints the student with major issues in contemporary psychology and considers their historical antecedents. Topics in learning, cognition, social psychology and abnormal psychology are considered. Recommended: PSYC 100 is recommended but not required. Students with credit for PSYC 101 may not take PSYC 102 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
* STAT 203 is recommended
General Electives Lower Division Requirements
Students complete the balance of the first 60 units by choosing any other 100-200 division courses or the transfer equivalent thereof. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences breadth requirements must be completed for graduation and general electives should be considered for that purpose.
Declared criminology majors normally complete all lower division group A and B requirements before proceeding to upper division. Students may proceed to upper division courses without having completed these lower division courses only with the express written approval of the criminology undergraduate curriculum and articulation committee.
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 60 upper division units. Of these 60, students complete a minimum of 50 in upper division criminology courses, which will include
A detailed examination of current theories and perspectives in criminology. The content of the course will change with developments in the area. Students can expect to study biological, psychological and sociological theories and perspectives, as well as those from other relevant disciplines and fields of inquiry (e.g. geography, political science and cultural studies). Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Students with credit for CRIM 300 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
A detailed examination of the quantitative research methods and techniques most frequently used in criminological research. Advantages and shortcomings of each method and the appropriateness of each technique for criminological research. Problems of pure and applied research. Specific issues of interdisciplinary research. Critical evaluation of the quantitative methods used in certain major criminological studies. Prerequisite: CRIM 101; one of CRIM 120 or 220. CRIM 320 may be taken concurrently with CRIM 321. Quantitative.
A detailed examination and application of qualitative research methods and techniques most frequently used in criminological research. Advantages and disadvantages of each method and the appropriateness of each technique for criminological research. Ethics of criminological research. Specific issues of interdisciplinary research. Critical evaluation of qualitative methods used in certain major criminological studies. Prerequisite: CRIM 101; one of CRIM 120 or 220. This course may be taken concurrently with CRIM 320.
Critical examination of selected topics in criminal procedure and evidence, including jurisdiction, police powers of search and seizure, the right to counsel and pre-trial and trial procedures. Brief survey of the system of rules and standards by means of which the admissibility of evidence is determined. Close examination of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its impact on criminal procedure and evidence. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 230.
An in-depth investigation of a selected topic in criminology, including a comprehensive review of the literature as well as initial and partial completion of the thesis research. Open only to students who have been admitted to the criminology honours program. Prerequisite: Open only to students who have been admitted to the Criminology Honours Program.
A detailed and comprehensive examination of the dominant theoretical research programs currently found in criminology. The subject matter of the seminars may change from year to year according to topicality and may include the following: biological theory and research; social psychological research programs (e.g., social learning theory); environmental criminology; left realism; feminism; post structuralism and post modernism. Students are also required to attend a weekly pro-seminar. Prerequisite: Normally open only to students who have been admitted to the criminology honors program. Other students may be admitted under exceptional circumstances with the written permission of the director of undergraduate programs.
An honours thesis is a research report written under the supervision of a faculty member, a copy of which is to be permanently lodged in the School of Criminology. Students are required to attend a weekly seminar at which various issues associated with the linking of theory and method are examined and where students can both discuss their progress and share their research experiences. On completion, the thesis is to be orally defended in a school seminar. Open only to students who have been admitted to the criminology honours program. Students are not permitted to take other courses while enrolled in this course. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of B in CRIM 490 and 491 is required.
To satisfy degree requirements, the remaining units may be selected at the student’s discretion. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences breadth requirements must be completed for graduation so general electives should be considered for that purpose.
Many upper division courses have prerequisites or enrolment restrictions. If in doubt about eligibility to enrol in a non-criminology course, contact the advisor in the appropriate department well in advance of any attempt to enrol.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Requirements
For all bachelor of arts (BA) honours programs, students complete 132 units, which includes
- at least 60 units that must be completed at 間眅埶AV
- satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
- students complete at least 60 upper division units, which must include at least 50 units in upper division courses in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program; no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution can be used toward this requirement
- Students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
- students are required to achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to 間眅埶AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
| Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
| W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 間眅埶AV within the student’s major subject | |
| Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division | |
| B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth | Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci |
|
6 |
Additional Breadth | 6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas. |
|
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 as upper division work.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.