Program Length
- 4 Years
Credential
- Bachelor Degree
Options
- Major
- Minor
Location Offered
- Nanaimo
Explore crime, law and justice
If you're interested in current events, psychology and social justice, consider a Criminology degree. Criminology is a dynamic field of study that focuses on the scientific study of crime and the law. Criminologists also study how social and political factors influence crime policy and look for ways to prevent crime and reduce its harm.
In the VIU Criminology program you'll gain the applied skills to work in a wide range of well-paid criminal justice careers in BC and beyond.
Why study criminology at VIU?
As a VIU Criminology student, you gain real-world experience in a respected field placement program. We place students in criminology-related positions and many of our students find full-time employment through their field placement.
You will also develop the research, project, legal and communication skills sought after in many fields including the private sector.
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What can you do with a criminology degree?
A BA in Criminology helps prepare you to work in a wide range of careers in the criminal justice system and beyond.
- policing
- probation / parole
- corrections
- lawyer
- legal assistant
- Canadian border services
- forensics
- crime analysis
- researcher
- investigator
- public service
- counselling
- youth worker
- bylaw or conservation officer
- researcher
- victim or youth advocacy
Hands-on learning
Inside-out program
Gain insights about the criminal justice system by studying alongside students inside prisons.
Applied research
In year four, conduct an applied research project.
Field placement
Gain experience in a placement at a local stakeholder organization.
About the BA in Criminology
In VIU’s Criminology degree program, you'll focus on crime and criminality, particularly how experts understand, define and prevent it.
You will explore topics such as:
- terrorism, organized crime
- corporate and environmental harm
- drugs, crime and trauma
- sociological, psychological and biological explanations for criminal behaviour
- quantitative and qualitative research methods
- First Peoples, colonization and justice
- the administration of justice inside and outside of Canada
This program also specializes in law. You will take courses in:
- Canadian law and legal institutions
- criminal law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- youth law
- environmental law
- conflict resolution
- and law, society and human rights
First and second year criminology courses give you a foundation in criminological theory, law and the workings of the criminal justice system.
In third- and fourth-year courses, you can explore topics in a particular area of interest or gain exposure to a range of topics related to criminology.
In your last year of the program, you can choose to participate in a field placement in the community or conduct an applied research project.
Skills you can use in the real world
You gain professional skills through training in:
- professional ethics
- conflict mediation
- trauma-informed practice
- use of technology for research and analysis
- professional writing
- presenting data
- working in teams
- project management
Courses and Concentrations
Requirements for a Major
Students must fulfil all the institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements, and the courses listed below:
Program Outline
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRIM 101 - (Intro to Criminology) or three credits from INTR 102 (Intro to Criminology and Sociology) | 3 |
| CRIM 103 - (Psycho-social Explanations of Criminality) or three credits from INTR 104 - (Criminological Theory and the Lived Experience) or PSYC 103 - (Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behaviour) | 3 |
| CRIM 131 - (Intro to the Criminal Justice System) | 3 |
| CRIM 135 - (Intro to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: a Criminal Justice Perspective) | 3 |
| Select at least one course from the following list: PHIL 100 - (Rhetoric and Reasoning) PHIL 111 - (Intro to Philosophy: Theory of Knowledge) PHIL 112 - (Intro to Philosophy: Ethics) | 3 |
| PSYC 111 - (Contemporary Psychology I) | 3 |
| PSYC 112 - (Contemporary Psychology II) | 3 |
| SOCI 111 - (Intro to Sociology) or three credits from INTR 102 - (Intro to Criminology and Sociology) | 3 |
| Degree English Requirements Note: students who achieve a grade of “B+” or better in ENGL 115 or ENGL 117 do not have to take additional English credits, but will need to take a further 3 credits of electives towards a Major in Criminology. | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRIM 204 - (Deviance, Crime and Social Control) | 3 |
| Select one of the following Research Methods courses: CRIM 220 - (Research Methods in Criminology) or, SOCI 250 - (Introduction to Social Research) or, PSYC 204 - (Research Methods) or, SSID 250 - (Introduction to Social Research) | 3 |
| CRIM 230 - (Criminal Law) | 3 |
| Select at least one course from the following list: CRIM 200 - (First Peoples, Colonization, and Justice) CRIM 210 - (Law, Youth and Young Offenders) CRIM 213 - (Gender, Crime and Justice) CRIM 241 - (Intro to Corrections) CRIM 251 - (Intro to Policing) CRIM 290 - (Alternative Conflict Resolution in Criminal Justice Systems) CRIM 297 - (Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program – Exploring Critical Issues in the Justice System) CRIM 299 - (Current Topics in Criminology) | 3 |
| Select one of the following statistics courses: MATH 161 - (Intro to Statistics for Social Sciences) or, MATH 181 - (Introduction to Statistics) or, MATH 211 - (Statistics I) QUME 232 - (Business Statistics I) | 3 |
| POLI 151 - (Law and Politics in Canada) | 3 |
| Select one or two courses from the following list: Any INDG 100, 200, or 300 offering SWAG 210 – (Introduction to Indigenous Feminisms) SWAG 211 – (Introduction to Indigenous Gender) SWAG 310 – (Unsettling Canada: Indigenous Women's Activism) SWAG 311 – (Healing Words: Indigenous Women's Storytelling) SWAG 340 – (Indigenous Feminisms and Indigenous Law) HIST 116 – (First Nations People in Canadian History since 1867) PHIL 113 – (Indigenous Philosophy: Comparative Perspectives) Note: Students who only take 3 credits of Indigenous course content will need to take a further 3 credits of electives towards a Major in Criminology. CRIM 200 cannot be used to fulfill the Indigenous requirement. | 3-6 |
| Two to four electives chosen from any 100/200/300/400-level courses. The number of electives required depends on the number of Indigenous and/or ENGL credits completed. | 6-12 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
Note: Students who have completed a total of 60 credits and all first- and second-year requirements for the Criminology Major may apply to receive a Criminology Diploma.
| Year 3 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRIM 301 - (Trauma, Resilience, and the Justice System) | 3 |
| CRIM 321 - (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Policy) | 3 |
| CRIM 334 - (Law and Society) | 3 |
| CRIM 350 - (Qualitative Research Methods) or, SOCI 350 - (Qualitative Research) or, SSID 350 - (Qualitative Research) or, PSYC 304 - (Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology) | 3 |
| CRIM 351 - (Quantitative Research Methods) or, SOCI 351 - (Quantitative Research and Analysis) or, PSYC 300A - (Statistical Methods in Psychology I) | 3 |
| CRIM 360 - (Advanced Criminological Theory) | 3 |
| Twelve credits of electives, with a minimum of three elective credits chosen from 300/400 level courses. | 12 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Year 4 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRIM 400 - (Law and Human Rights) | 3 |
| CRIM 475* - (Justice Capstone Tutorial and Field Placement) or, CRIM 473** - (Capstone Research Preparation) and, CRIM 476** (Capstone Research Project) | 6 |
| Select nine credits from the following list: CRIM 420 - (Green Criminology and Environmental Law) CRIM 435 - (Charter Issues in Criminal Law) CRIM 440 - (Alternate Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills) CRIM 450 - (Criminal Justice Systems: An International Perspective) CRIM 460 - (Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice) CRIM 470 - (Dynamics of Terrorism) CRIM 480 - (Organizational Crime: A Global Perspective) CRIM 497- (Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program – Advanced Topics) CRIM 499 - (Selected Topics in Criminology) | 9 |
| Twelve credits of electives, with a minimum of three elective credits chosen from 300/400 level courses. | 12 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
* Criminology Majors taking CRIM 475 must have fourth-year standing and should schedule their classes to allow two free weekdays for working in an agency field placement.
** Completing CRIM 473 requires fourth-year standing and the supervision of a faculty member to be arranged at least one semester in advance of starting the course.
Requirements for a Minor
Students must fulfill all the Institutional B. A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and the courses listed below:
| Years 1 and 2 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRIM 101 - (Intro to Criminology) or, three credits from INTR 102 (Intro to Criminology and Sociology) | 3 |
| CRIM 131 - (Intro to the Criminal Justice System) or, CRIM 135 - (Intro to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective) | 3 |
| Two courses from the following list: CRIM 200 - (First Peoples, Colonization, and Justice) CRIM 204 - (Deviance, Crime and Social Control) CRIM 210 - (Law, Youth and Young Offenders) CRIM 213 - (Gender, Crime and Justice) CRIM 230 - (Criminal Law) CRIM 241 - (Intro to Corrections) CRIM 251 - (Intro to Policing) | 6 |
| Years 3 and 4 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Additional twelve credits of CRIM courses numbered 300-499 with the exception of CRIM 475 which is reserved for CRIM Majors only. | 12
|
Admission Information
For admission to first-year university courses, see General Admission requirements.
Admission to Criminology Major
Students may apply for admission to the four-year B.A. with a Criminology Major at all years of the degree, however, we normally admit to years one, two, and three of the degree. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements for VIU's Bachelor of Arts degree in order to be eligible to apply for the Criminology Major.
First year entry
- General admission requirements apply.
- English 12 with minimum "C" or equivalent.
- Foundations of Mathematics 11 or Pre-calculus 11 with minimum "C", or equivalent.
Second year entry
To be eligible for admission to second year, students must have completed a minimum of 24 credits of university courses towards the Bachelor of Arts Criminology Major program. Competitive admission averages will be calculated on the eight most recently completed transferable post-secondary courses (minimum 24 credits).
Third year entry
To be eligible for admission to third year, students must have completed a minimum of 54 credits of university courses towards the Bachelor of Arts Criminology Major program or possess a recognized Criminology diploma including completion of the Degree English Requirement. Competitive admission averages will be calculated on the eighteen most recently completed transferable post-secondary courses (minimum 54 credits).
Additional Requirements for Transfer Students
The overall GPA of students will be a minimum of 2.33 ("C+"), calculated on the most recent 24 credits completed.
Notes on Admission – Criminology Major
Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program and students with higher grades will be considered first.
Applicants will be prioritized by overall Grade Point Average. A wait list will be created if required.
Aboriginal students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students form.
Students who wish to take individual courses without being admitted to the program may do so where space is available and when prerequisites have been completed. Students who take courses in Criminology without being formally admitted into the program are not guaranteed entry into the program.
Notes on Progression - Criminology Major
- During the semester when Criminology Majors take CRIM 475, students must schedule their classes to allow two free weekdays for working in an agency field placement.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year* | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $169.73 per credit) | 5,091.90 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $38.87 per month) | 310.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 7,530.74 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year* | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $815.77 per credit) | 24,473.10 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $38.87 per month) | 310.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year | 1,500.00 |
| Total | 26,911.94 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology program has one start date each Fall.
Application Fee:
$46.06
Accepting Late Applications:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Nic Ismirnioglou Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Nicolas.Ismirnioglou@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Scott Brodie Email: Scott.Brodie@viu.ca
Document Deadline:
Offers of admission will be made on the following basis: first qualified, first offered. Students are encouraged to submit their official interim transcripts showing grades for their Fall term and enrolment or grades for the Spring (January term) as soon as possible to qualify for early admission. Final Grades for both first year and third year entry are required by: July 31, 2025
Comments:
B-CRIM (third year) applicants will be encouraged to apply by January 31, 2025. Note: Canadian Indigenous students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students (see Notes on Admission). Students interested in the Criminology diploma must apply to the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology. Students who have completed a total of 60 credits and all first and second year requirements for the Criminology Major may apply to receive a Criminology Diploma. |
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International
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Next Intake(s):
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology program has one start date each Fall.
Application Fee:
$153.00
Accepting Late Applications:
No
Waitlist:
No
Testing Required:
No
Co Chair Contact:
Name: Scott Brodie Email: Scott.Brodie@viu.ca
International Admissions Officer Contact:
Name: Nicolas Ismirnioglou Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Study@viu.ca
Comments:
Enrolment for this program is limited and applicants who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be offered admission to the program. Students interested in the Criminology diploma must apply to the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology. Students who have completed a total of 60 credits and all first and second year requirements for the Criminology Major may apply to receive a Criminology Diploma. For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to WorldVIU@viu.ca. |
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Program options to fit your goals
A BA with a major in Criminology gives you a wide range of career options and prepares you for post graduate studies in many areas including criminal justice, social work and more. But you can also choose a minor or a diploma.
Criminology Minor
A minor in Criminology can complement degrees in psychology, sociology, social work and even business or communications. It’s a great way to let employers know you have strong analytical and communication skills.
Criminology Diploma
As a VIU Criminology student, you have an option to leave with a Criminology diploma after two years of study. You can come back and finish the full degree any time.