In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take Criminology courses including Introduction to Criminology and Introduction to the Criminal Justice System and explore other programs of interest through electives.
- Jump right into the subjects that interest you by enroling in criminology electives during your first year. Your courses will include lectures, case studies and seminars, as well as guest lectures from people who work in the field every day.
- Attend the Criminology Students' Association Annual Conference.
- Attend networking events with faculty and students.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support.
- Take Criminology courses including Psychology of Crime, Theories of Crime and Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
- Participate in the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS).
- Participate in ‘Brown Bag’ lunch sessions with faculty as they present their current research.
- Research social issues and work with community partners such as SOAR Community Services, Elizabeth Fry Society, Why Not Youth Centre, and the City of Brantford Social Services department.
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Criminology. Engaged professors are active in cutting-edge research on topics such as policing, media and crime, international crime, sex work, and youth crime.
- Visit the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto and the Grand Valley Institution for Women on planned bus trips.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Enrol in the Quantitative or Qualitative Research Methodologies course (or both!).
- Consider a directed studies course to explore a topic of interest in Criminology.
- Apply for the UU499 BR: Thesis course to complete an independent thesis under the direct supervision of a faculty advisor.
- Complete the UU400: Internship course for an opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting and develop competencies.
- Look for opportunities to present your academic work at paper competitions and the Criminology Students' Association Annual Conference.
- If you’re applying to graduate school:
- Talk to your professors about letters of reference.
- Sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
- Consider Laurier's Master of Arts in Criminology and discuss your options with the graduate program coordinator.
As a Criminology student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Criminology Students’ Association (CSA) or the Laurier Pre-Law Society and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Participate in co-curricular activities run by the Criminology Student Association, an active student group that organizes events such as guest lectures, field trips, career fairs and student conferences.
- Attend or participate in the Justice, Crime, and Deviance Conference (jcdconference@gmail.com) or the National Conference on Critical Perspectives.
- Consider the following volunteer opportunities:
Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in.
- Check out the Experience Catalogue for a full list of co-curricular experiences that are currently offered across campus.
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Laurier Orientation, Hawk Walk, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Volunteer on campus with the Accessible Learning, Global Engagement, Sustainability Office, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, WLU Student Publications and more.
- Get involved in the local community by volunteering off campus.
- Apply for on-campus jobs:
- Check Navigator frequently for job postings or contact individual departments directly.
- Search for job opportunities on the Students’ Union website.
- If you meet eligibility criteria, apply for the Laurier Work Study Program or International Student Work Experience Program.
- Attend Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Explore ways to get involved in research.
- Look into StartUp Lab opportunities for support in launching a new venture.
Job/Volunteer Search Tips
- While on-campus opportunities are posted year-round, recruitment often starts early! Start looking in the winter term for opportunities in the following academic year.
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed by Career Centre staff for both on and off-campus opportunities.
- Laurier offers a variety of co-curricular certificates that you can complete during your studies. Earn certificates in topics including academic development, professional development, wellness, leadership and career development.
- Participate in workshops, programming and events offered by the Career Centre, Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support, Laurier Library, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and more.
- Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils and House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
- Connect with Global Engagement to learn about international options available to you including opportunities abroad and language and culture sharing programs.
Design Your Degree
These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.
Develop Your Knowledge and Skills
As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Competency Framework
Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include:
- Adaptability and Resiliency
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Communication
- Creativity and Innovation
- Critical Thinking
- Digital Literacy
- Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
- Functional Knowledge
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Professional Attributes
- Self-Awareness
Functional Knowledge
- Gain an understanding of why some behaviours (and not others) are defined as criminal, the causes of law-breaking behaviour and how society reacts to crime.
- Gather and assess information related to the prediction and management of criminal and deviant behaviours.
- Discover the effects of research on policy in areas such as housing and homelessness, policing and mental health training, surveillance studies, online hate, and corporate wrongdoing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of public policy, and interpret and assess its societal impact.
- Develop an understanding of various governmental, community, and social institutions and their roles, and the ability to provide information to assist individuals and organizations to make informed decisions.
- Gain an understanding of how economic, cultural, and societal change impacts individuals' behaviour.
- Study and investigate criminal activities and identify methods of prevention and response.
- Develop applied skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods and the use of data analysis software like SPSS and NVIVO.
- Prepare interesting and informative reports and presentations in a variety of formats including podcasts, infographics, and collaborative wikis.
- Identify and research real-world problems and develop responses using relevant information and resources such as crime prevention principles.
Discover Career Options
All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
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111 Criminology respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. Other includes those travelling, volunteering or out of the workforce. 6% of graduates were looking for employment when survey data collection ended.
Alumni Careers and Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- JD - Law
- Master’s Degree - Criminology, Criminal Justice Policy, International Affairs, Public Safety, Social Work, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
- College Program - Community Justice, Law Clerk, Paralegal
- Bachelor’s Degree - Education
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- behaviour support specialist
- child and youth counsellor
- clinic coordinator
- court officer
- law clerk
- police constable
- screening officer
- senior project management consultant
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- criminal intelligence analyst
- document specialist and legalization supervisor
- fraud consultant
- human resources manager
- lawyer
- police officer
- social worker
- youth services officer
Career Options and Resources
Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you.
Career and Industry Options
- advocacy
- corrections
- crime prevention
- criminal justice
- cybersecurity
- finance/insurance
- forensic science
- government
- immigration
- intelligence
- law enforcement
- law/legal field
- mediation
- mental health
- social policy
- social work
Career Resources
- Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
- Canadian Council on International Law
- Canadian Criminal Justice Association
- International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
- John Howard Society
- SOAR Community Services
- Charity Village (non-profit job postings in Canada)
- Ontario Public Service
- Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)
- Public Service Commission of Canada
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
- Brantford Police Service
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
Your Experiences Tell Your Story
Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!
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