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Criminology (BA)
Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

In this Guide

Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.

Year-to-Year Academic Experience Co-Curricular Opportunities Knowledge and Skills Career Options and Graduate Outcomes

Your Year-to-Year Experience

Complete these recommended tasks to enhance your academic experience.

Explore Co-Curricular Experiences

Co-curricular experiences are all the on-campus volunteer opportunities you can participate in to complement your Laurier academic journey.

As a Criminology student, you can: 

Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in. 

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.
  • Psychology minor
  • Forensic Psychology specialization
  • Law and Society minor
  • Human Rights and Human Diversity minor
  • Youth and Children's Studies minor

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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Pursuing Further Education
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Employed
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Other

128 respondents from the 2022 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • JD - Law
  • Master’s Degree - Criminology, Psychology, Public Safety, Social Justice and Community Engagement, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
  • College Program - Conflict Mediation and Resolution, Forensic Identification, Mental Health and Addictions, Paralegal, Public Administration
  • Bachelor’s Degree - Education, Indigenous Social Work

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • child and youth worker
  • diversity, inclusion, and community engagement
  • Indigenous victim services advocate
  • legal case manager
  • policy advisor
  • probation and parole officer
  • senior investigator, anti-money laundering

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

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!



Share Your Feedback

We'd love to hear from you. Complete the Laurier Experience Guide Feedback Survey to share your thoughts.