Criminology (Diploma)

Program Overview

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The Criminology Diploma program at Douglas College equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and the complex issues it faces. Through a blend of theoretical and practical courses, students gain knowledge of policing, corrections, criminal behavior, and the Canadian legal system, preparing them for careers in the criminal justice field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Criminology Diploma program at Douglas College prepares students to enter the criminal justice field. Students will study the criminal justice system and learn about the complex problems encountered in the field. They will also gain knowledge of the processes and structures of the Canadian justice system.

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Outline:

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Content:

• Introduction to Policing
• Introduction to Corrections
• Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
• Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
• Critical Thinking
• Values and Contemporary Issues
• Knowledge, Reason and Experience
• Reality and Existence
• Logical Reasoning
• Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
• Introduction to Criminology
• The Canadian Legal System
• Interviewing and Professional Skills
• Criminal Law
• English
• An Introduction to Psychology (I)
• Social Processes
• Criminology Elective
• Electives

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Structure:

• The program consists of 60 credits.
• Students must complete 25% of their coursework at Douglas College.
• The program can be completed in four semesters.

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Course Schedule:

• Courses are offered in fall, winter, and summer semesters.
• The majority of courses are offered in fall and winter with a smaller selection offered in the summer term.

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Individual Modules with Descriptions:

• Introduction to Policing: This course provides an overview of the history, organization, and functions of the police in Canada.
Students will learn about the role of the police in society, the challenges they face, and the ethical issues they must consider.
• Introduction to Corrections: This course provides an overview of the history, organization, and functions of the corrections system in Canada.
Students will learn about the different types of correctional facilities, the programs and services offered to inmates, and the challenges facing the corrections system.
• Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour: This course examines the psychological factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.
Students will learn about the different theories of crime causation, the role of mental illness in crime, and the effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing crime.
• Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour: This course examines the sociological factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.
Students will learn about the different theories of crime causation, the role of social inequality in crime, and the effectiveness of social programs in reducing crime.
• Critical Thinking: This course develops students' critical thinking skills.
Students will learn how to identify and evaluate arguments, how to construct sound arguments, and how to communicate their ideas effectively.
• Values and Contemporary Issues: This course examines the ethical issues that arise in contemporary society.
Students will learn about the different ethical theories, the role of values in decision-making, and the challenges of living in a pluralistic society.
• Knowledge, Reason and Experience: This course examines the nature of knowledge, reason, and experience.
Students will learn about the different theories of knowledge, the role of reason in acquiring knowledge, and the importance of experience in shaping our understanding of the world.
• Reality and Existence: This course examines the nature of reality and existence.
Students will learn about the different theories of reality, the role of consciousness in our experience of the world, and the challenges of understanding the nature of existence.
• Logical Reasoning: This course develops students' logical reasoning skills.
Students will learn how to identify and evaluate arguments, how to construct sound arguments, and how to communicate their ideas effectively.
• Introduction to the Criminal Justice System: This course provides an overview of the criminal justice system in Canada.
Students will learn about the different components of the system, the processes involved in criminal cases, and the challenges facing the system.
• Introduction to Criminology: This course provides an overview of the field of criminology.
Students will learn about the different theories of crime causation, the methods used to study crime, and the challenges facing criminologists.
• The Canadian Legal System: This course provides an overview of the Canadian legal system.
Students will learn about the different courts, the different types of law, and the processes involved in legal cases.
• Interviewing and Professional Skills: This course develops students' interviewing and professional skills.
Students will learn how to conduct effective interviews, how to communicate effectively in a professional setting, and how to manage their time and resources effectively.
• Criminal Law: This course provides an overview of the criminal law in Canada.
Students will learn about the different types of crimes, the elements of each crime, and the defences to each crime.
• English: This course develops students' English language skills.
Students will learn how to read, write, and speak English effectively.
• An Introduction to Psychology (I): This course provides an overview of the field of psychology.
Students will learn about the different areas of psychology, the methods used to study psychology, and the challenges facing psychologists.
• Social Processes: This course examines the social processes that shape our lives.
Students will learn about the different theories of social interaction, the role of social institutions in society, and the challenges of living in a globalized world.
• Criminology Elective: Students can choose from a variety of criminology electives to complete their program of study.
• Electives: Students can choose from a variety of electives to complete their program of study.

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Assessment:

The program uses a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning. These methods include:

• Exams
• Quizzes
• Papers
• Presentations
• Projects

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Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are experts in their field. The faculty use a variety of teaching methods to engage students and help them learn. These methods include:

• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Role-playing
• Simulations

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Careers:

Graduates of the Criminology Diploma program are prepared for a variety of careers in the criminal justice field. These careers include:

• Police officer
• Correctional officer
• Probation officer
• Parole officer
• Social worker
• Victim advocate
• Researcher
• Policy analyst