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Program Requirements
Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your academic advisor should you notice any discrepancies.
Undergraduate Programs
Note: For any academic concerns or help understanding program requirements, contact Academic Advising.
Laurier Brantford has developed a comprehensive Honours BA Criminology program, which is suitable for students who wish to use Criminology as a basis for a variety of different career paths.
The honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminology program is only available at Laurier’s Brantford campus. It consists of 20.0 credits of which no more than 7.0 credits may be at the 100 level. The program must include a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 credits in Criminology (CC).
Requirements
Year 1
- 2.0 required credits: CC100, CC102, CC210 and EN241
- 1.0 additional 200-level CC credits
- 2.0 elective credits
Year 2
- 1.0 required credit: OL/CC/HS233 and CC290
- 0.5 required credit: One of either CC/PD291, CC292 or LY205
- 1.0 additional credit in senior-level CC courses
- 2.5 elective credits
Year 3
- 1.5 required credits: CC327, CC390 and CC328
- 1.0 additional credit in 300-level CC courses
- 2.5 elective credits
Year 4
- CC498
- 0.5 additional credit senior-level CC course
- 1.0 additional credit in 400-level CC courses
- 3.0 elective credits
Notes
- Students may complete a maximum of 12.0 credits in Criminology (including cross-listed courses)
- Students who complete PS295 and/or PS296 towards CC requirements must replace OL/CC/HS233 and/or CC327 with a senior 0.5 CC credit for each course in order to meet graduation requirements. Academic advising is strongly recommended.
- Refer to the university regulations chapter of the academic calendar for progression and course regulations and the earlier section regarding regulations for all honours programs.
Note: For any academic concerns or help understanding program requirements, contact Academic Advising.
The Honours BA Criminology (Sussex LLB Stream) enables students who successfully complete its requirements to earn an Honours BA degree from Laurier and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom in six years.
Honours BA Criminology Component
The Honours BA in Criminology is only available at the Brantford Campus. It consists of 20.0 credits of which no more than 7.0 credits may be at the 100 level. The program must include a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 credits in Criminology.
Upon successful completion of their LLB at the University of Sussex, students will be awarded 5.0 transfer credits equivalent to: 1.0 senior CC credit, 1.0 credit at the CC 300 level, and 3.0 senior elective credits. Taking into account the awarding of these 5.0 transfer credits then, students must complete all required Criminology courses (4.5 credits) as listed in the calendar, 3.5 additional CC elective credits (including 1.0 credit at the 400 level), and 7.0 elective credits while studying at Laurier.
Note that in the final year of the program to be completed at Laurier (Year 6), students will take 2.5 of their additional elective credits in the form of courses to be offered by Laurier to prepare to write the National Accreditation exams.
Prior to departing for studies at the University of Sussex, students must have completed the 10.0 credits that are listed under Year 1 and Year 2 below. Due to the compacted nature of the Sussex Stream, students are strongly encouraged to pursue their degree in the following manner:
- Year 1: CC100 (F), CC102, CC210 (W), EN241; 1.0 credit of senior CC electives, 2.0 elective credits. Total: 5.0 credits
- Year 2: CC233 (F), CC290 (F), one of: CC291, CC292 or LY205; CC327 (W), CC328 (W), CC390 (W); 1.0 credits of CC electives, 1.0 elective credits. Total: 5.0 credits
- Years 3-5: Students pursue an LLB at the University of Sussex. Upon successful completion of their LLB, students will be awarded 5.0 transfer credits equivalent to: 1.5 senior CC credit, and 3.5 senior elective credits. Total: 5.0 credits
- Year 6: CC498; 1.0 credit of CC at the 400 level, and 1.0 credit of CC at the 300 level. Students will take 2.5 of their additional credits in the form of courses to be offered by Laurier to prepare to write the National Accreditation exams. Total: 5.0 credits
Note: (F)=Fall Semester, (W)=Winter Semester, to assist with prerequisite planning.
Notes on Progression Requirements
- Progression to Year 2 requires completion of five credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in all Criminology courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 8.00 in all 5.0 credits. All credits taken during Year 1 will be included in the GPA requirements for progression into Year 2. These course and GPA requirements must be achieved by Aug. 31.
- To be recommended for application to the Sussex LLB program in year three, students must have maintained a minimum overall GPA of 8.0 (B) over all credits completed over their first three full terms (i.e, minimum 7.5 credits). These course and GPA requirements must be achieved by Dec. 31 of the students’ second year.
- Refer to the university regulations chapter of the academic calendar for progression and course regulations and the earlier section regarding regulations for all honours programs.
Application to Sussex
- Students will apply to Sussex via the standard Sussex application procedures. Students will apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for entry. Students will provide Sussex full application documents, including high school and University transcripts, references (Laurier students will submit references on a standardised reference form), and a personal statement, in line with normal admissions procedures. Sussex will consider applications according to its normal procedures. Students will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the progression requirements described above and where students have achieved Sussex's standard English language entrance requirements, where appropriate.
- Note: The University of Sussex reserves the right not to provide a guaranteed offer after consideration of any relevant unspent criminal convictions a student may have. Sussex recommends that if students have a conviction, Laurier contact the Admissions Office to discuss this before proceeding further.
Note: For any academic concerns or help understanding program requirements, contact Academic Advising.
The combined Honours Criminology program consists of 20.0 credits, of which not more than 7.0 may be at the 100 level. A minimum of 6.0 and a maximum of 8.0 senior credits may be in Criminology (CC).
Program Requirements
Required Courses (5.0 credits)
- CC100, CC102, CC210, OL/CC/HS233, CC290;
- EN241
- CC390, CC327, CC328
- CC498
Additional Criminology Requirements (2.0 credits)
- An additional 0.5 CC credit at the 300-level
- An additional 0.5 CC credit at the 400-level
- An additional 1.0 senior-level CC credit
Degree Program Electives
An additional 13.0 credits toward the degree total of 20.0 credits, which includes the second Honours BA major, and no more than 2.0 CC credits.
Notes
- The Criminology combined major is only available at the Brantford Campus.
- Students who are required to take research methods and statistic courses in their second honours program should seek academic advice to avoid duplication.
- Students completing the combined honours Criminology program are excluded from completing the Honours Law and Society program. Students may hold a minor in Law and Society.
- Students who complete PS296 and/or PS295 towards CC requirements must replace each OL/CC/HS233 and/or CC327 with a 0.5 senior CC credit for each course in order to meet graduation requirements. Academic advising is strongly recommended.
- Refer to the university regulations chapter of the academic calendar for progression and course regulations and the earlier section regarding regulations for all honours programs.
The minor in Criminology is available virtually and at the Brantford and Waterloo campus.
The minor in Criminology consists of 3.0 credits in Criminology (CC) courses, including CC100 and CC102, and 2.0 senior (at the 200 level or above) CC credits.
Refer also to the regulations governing minors in the academic calendar.
Specializations
A maximum of two Specializations within thematic streams of the program are permitted within a Criminology (single or combined) major. Specializations consist of 2.0 credits. Completion of the Specialization will result in the Specialization being noted on student transcripts.
Note: Students are advised that some courses have pre-requisites. Students are responsible for ensuring pre-requisites and other program requirements are met.
Students are introduced to key criminological considerations of cyber and technology-augmented crimes.
Required Courses:
- CC240 - Introduction to Cybercrime
- CC340 - The Impact of Social Media on Crime and Justice
- CC440 - The Human Factor in Cybercrime
And one of:
- CC441 - Comparative Cybercrime Policy and and Practice
- PD305 - Media, Social Media, and Crime
- PD404 - Cybercrime
- SAFE203 - Critical Infastructures
- SAFE220 - Introduction to Digital Technology and Public Safety
Students are introduced to key criminological perspectives on the relationship between media and crime. Students will examine how crime and justice are represented in the news, film, television, and social media, and explore how these portrayals shape public perceptions, policy debates, and criminal justice practices.
Required courses:
- CC295 - Societal Reaction and Interpretive Theories of Crime
- CC/MX311 - Crime, Media and the Law
- CC402 - Social Construction of Crime
And one of:
- CC340 - The Impact of Social Media on Crime and Justice
- CC409 - Deviance and Crime in Sports
- CC413 - Special Topics in Criminology and Popular Culture
The Specialization explores how social identities and inequalities shape experiences of crime, victimization, and criminalization. Courses critically assess the impact of factors such as gender, race, class, sexuality, and mental health to examine how crime and justice are constructed and understood. Students will engage with intersectional and critical perspectives that highlight the role of power in shaping both social harms and justice responses.
Required courses:
- CC203 - Women, Law and Crime
- CC225 - Racialization, Racism, and the Criminal Justice System
- CC/HS/PD312 - Mental Health and Justice
And one of:
- ID/CC309 - Indigenous Forms of Justice
- CC330 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice
- CC401 - Deviance, Criminalization, and Stigma
- CC403 - Gendered and Sexual Violence
The Crime and Justice Policy Specialization explores how laws, institutions and justice practices shape responses to crime and social harm. Courses assess the politics of crime and law enforcement, systemic failures, and alternative approaches to justice, to assess the role of policy in shaping the Canadian Criminal Justice System.
Required courses:
- CC208 - Politics of Crime
- CC301 - Crime, Sentencing and Punishment in Canada
- CC408 - Contemporary Crime Policy and Legislation in Canada
And of one:
- CC/HR313 - Miscarriage of Justice
- CC308 - Corporate Deviance and Crime
- CC318 - Compartive Criminal Justice
The Advanced Criminological Research Specialization develops skills in designing, conducting, and evaluating criminological research. Students gain training in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, with opportunities for hands-on data collection, analysis, and directed study.
Required courses:
- CC330 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice
- CC319 - Crime Prevention
- CC314 - Offender Rehabilitation
And one of:
- OL315 - Evaluation Research
- CC420 - Advanced Directed Studies in Criminology
- UU499 - Thesis (Note that this course is 1.0 credit and spans two terms)
This specialization explores the connections between migration, human trafficking, and social justice in Canada and around the world. Students gain criminological insights into global and local issues related to topics.
Required courses:
- UNDC100 - Introduction to the UNODC (0.25 credit, 6-week course)
- UNDC103 - Trafficking in Persons/Smuggling of Migrants (0.25 credit, 6-week course)
- HR/CC324 - Human Trafficking and Other Contemporary Forms of Slavery
- CC431 - The Politics of Human Trafficking
And one of:
- CC203 - Women, Law and Crime
- CC225 - Racialization, Racism, and the Criminal Justice System
- CC401 - Deviance, Criminilization, and Stigma
Graduate Program
Students wishing to pursue graduate studies in Criminology at Laurier may complete a Master of Arts (MA) in Criminology. The MA Criminology program is a full-time, in-person program based on the Laurier Brantford campus and consists of two program streams.
Students may elect to complete a one-year Coursework based program in three consecutive semesters (Fall-Winter-Spring), or a two-year research-intensive Thesis program that provides students with sound methodological and theoretical training as well as professionalization in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice. See the academic calendar for more information, including admission requirements.
The coursework-based Master of Criminology program is expected to be completed in three consecutive terms (Fall-Winter-Spring) and consists of eight (8) courses.
Students are expected to complete four required courses and four elective graduate-level Criminology courses during the three terms.
To meet all degree requirements, a student must earn a "pass" in CC606 - Research and Professionalization Seminar (graded as pass/fail), must earn no less than a B- in any given course, and must hold a minimum of a B average at the end of all courses.
Completion of the Coursework program includes:
- CC601 - Qualitative Fieldwork into the Study of Deviance
- CC602 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
- CC603 - Theories of Crime and Crime Control
- CC606 - Research and Professionalization Seminar
- 4 elective courses (Students may also arrange to take one of their electives as a Directed Studies course under the supervision of an individual professor.)
The thesis-based Master of Criminology program is normally expected to be completed in six consecutive terms. Students must develop their program in consultation with the Criminology Graduate Program Coordinator who must approve the student's proposed thesis research. The major requirement of the program is the defence of a thesis based on original research. Students are required to complete four required courses in their first two terms of study (Fall-Winter) and then are expected to be enrolled in the CC699 Thesis course for their remaining terms of study.
Required courses include:
- CC601 - Qualitative Fieldwork into the Study of Deviance
- CC602 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
- CC603 - Theories of Crime and Crime Control
- CC606 - Research and Professionalization Seminar
- CC699 - Thesis
To meet all degree requirements, a student must earn a "pass" in CC606 - Research and Professionalization Seminar (graded as pass/fail), must earn no less than a B- in any given course, must hold a minimum of a B average at the end of their course work and must successfully complete a thesis.
If they fail to complete their coursework with the required B average, the student will not be allowed to move onto the thesis stage and may be required to repeat the course to improve their standing.
The university regulations on master's theses and defences apply.