Online Criminology Degree

Are you passionate about criminology, public safety, the court system, forensics, youth advocacy or social work? Do you seek a career in law enforcement? Our combined Honours BA in Criminology and Policing is an online criminology degree that prepares you for a career in criminology and justice with focused techniques and real-world experience.

Honours BA in Criminology and Policing Program Summary

Admissions Requirements
  • No prior experience in law enforcement is needed
  • Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of Canada
  • High school transfers: a secondary school diploma from within Canada with at least a mid-70s average, including university-level English at 60% or higher
  • College transfers: 70% or higher overall average, with a minimum of 1 year completed in an academic college program
  • University transfers: 67% or higher overall average, with a minimum of six months of study completed
  • For high school, college, or university students with an international education background, all previous education must be assessed by World Education Services (WES)

After you apply, an admissions coordinator will evaluate your transcripts to provide an initial assessment. Your final assessment of transfer credits will be completed by the Admissions Committee once your file has been submitted for review.

Get your digital program guide for more info about credit transfers

Program Features
  • Real world knowledge: Learn from professionals with experience in the field
  • Gain a broader view of public safety through a combined focus on criminology and policing
  • With three starts per year and applications accepted year-round, you don’t have to wait to begin advancing your education
  • Consists of a combination of core and elective courses that will complete the 20 credits degree requirement
  • Each course is 12 weeks long and can be taken at any pace to a maximum for three courses per term
  • By completing two to three courses per term, individuals can earn their degrees in three to four years
Why Choose Laurier’s Honours BA in Criminology and Policing?
  • 100% online: coursework is accessible and convenient
  • No prior law enforcement experience needed: an online criminology degree that prepares or furthers your career in law enforcement or public safety
  • Real world knowledge: Learn from professionals with experience in the field
  • Gain a broader view of public safety through a combined focus on criminology and policing
  • With three starts per year and applications accepted year-round, you don’t have to wait to begin advancing your education

Hear more about the program from Professor Oliver Stoetzer:

Enrolment Advisor Support
  • Receive support from a dedicated Advisor, every step of the way

 

Hear From Our Students

Laurier Online students come from all around the country, with different backgrounds, but they share the same goal: getting a high-quality education with an established curriculum, taught by faculty who have worked in the field. Learn more from some of the students who have invested in their future.

 

 

Online BA in Criminology and Policing Program Curriculum

Below is a sample list of courses you will be required to complete for the online BA in Policing program:

Next application deadline:

  • June 1, 2023

Next start date:

  • September 7, 2023

Get your program guide

CC100: Introduction to Criminology (0.5 credit)

This course introduces students to the discipline of criminology from both a historical and a contemporary perspective. Students will be introduced to classical and contemporary theorists in the field, as well as research methods and disciplinary debates, with a focus on both Canadian and global issues in criminology.

PD200: Police Psychology (0.5 credit)

This course will introduce students to the techniques used to measure and assess police personnel, and deepen their understanding of the on-the-job experiences that can affect the mental health of police personnel. Students will learn about intelligence and personality testing, the effects of experiencing trauma and compassion fatigue, the importance of stress management, self-care and fit-for-duty assessments.

CC/HS/PD312: Mental Health and Justice (0.5 credit)

Students will identify what constitutes a mental disorder and understand the prevalence of various mental illnesses in Canada. Students will focus on legal issues related to mental health including NCRMD and fitness to stand trial procedures, provincial mental health legislation, risk assessment and management techniques, violence risk and victimization, dangerousness and stigma, and criminal justice policy. Exclusion: PD303 six week Prerequisite: CC100 or CC102, Senior student status.

CC426/PD426: Qualitative Methodologies in Criminology (0.5 credit)

This course examines qualitative research methodologies in Criminology. It is designed to introduce students to epistemological issues that distinguish qualitative from quantitative methodologies and to provide an overview of dimensions of qualitative research methodologies, including research ethics, grounded theorizing, sampling, data collection techniques, and qualitative analysis. The course will assist in the development of the necessary critical thinking skills for critiquing and evaluating existing research on crime and deviance. Topics may include interviews, participant observation, interpretive research, ethnomethodology, historical research, discourse analysis, and feminist methodologies. Prerequisite: CC100 and OL/CC/HS233 or PS295 and Year four status in Criminology or Policing.

CC210: Psychology of Crime (0.5 credit)

This course will explore sources of individual variation in criminal conduct from a psychological perspective. Students will be introduced to classic biological, developmental, cognitive, and psychiatric explanations of criminal behaviour. Course topics will focus on associations between criminality and genetics, brain functioning, psychophysiology, mental disorders, personality and moral development, and social learning. Prerequisite: CC100.

Career Outlook with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology

The online combined BA in Criminology and Policing gives you a broader educational base to succeed in jobs related to crime, justice, and criminology. The program enables you to focus on specific areas of interest through curriculum electives.

Probation Officer

Average base annual salary: $64,267

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Risk Management/Risk Control
  • Case Management
  • Counselling
Corrections Officer

Average base annual salary: $66,508

Source: Payscale

In-demand skills:

  • Security Policies and Procedures
  • Emergency Response
  • Counseling
Crime Scene/Forensic Analyst

Average base annual salary: $48,595

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Attention to detail
  • Critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills 
  • Ability to remain focused despite the environment
Animal Control Officer/Animal Cruelty officer

Average base annual salary: $40,322

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Ability to read, comprehend, and explain state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances as they pertain to animal control
  • Ability to communicate with members of the public and to obtain their cooperation and compliance
  • Ability to handle animals in various forms of distress in a safe and humane manner.
Customs Officer

Average base annual salary: $44,500

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Ability to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.
  • Ability to analyse information and solve problems
  • Observant, with an eye for detail
Addiction Counsellor

Average base annual salary: $46,537

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Surveillance
  • Research
  • Critical Thinking
Victims Advocate

Average base annual salary: $56,000

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Crisis Intervention
  • Counseling and Advocacy skills
  • Ability to recognize problems and the willingness to participate in team problem-solving
Mediator

Average base annual salary: $64,341

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Negotiation
  • Legal Compliance
  • Facilitator
Immigration Officer

Average base annual salary: $64,892

Source: Payscale

In demand skills:

  • Case Management
  • Ability to complete background checks
  • In-depth knowledge of current immigration policies

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Wilfrid Laurier University Combined Honours BA in Criminology and Policing online programs. To speak with an enrolment advisor who can help answer questions by email, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca.

What are the admissions requirements for the Combined Honours BA in Criminology/Policing?
  • No prior experience in law enforcement is needed
  • Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of Canada
  • High school transfers: a secondary school diploma from within Canada with at least a mid-70s average, including university-level English at 60% or higher
  • College transfers: 70% or higher overall average, with a minimum of 1 year completed in an academic college program
  • University transfers: 67% or higher overall average, with a minimum of six months of study completed
  • For high school, college, or university students with an international education background, all previous education must be assessed by World Education Services

After you apply, an admissions coordinator will evaluate your transcripts to provide an initial assessment. Your final assessment of transfer credits will be completed by the Admissions Committee once your file has been submitted for review.

More information on applying

Is the degree in criminology earned online the same as a criminology degree earned on campus?

Yes, our degrees earned on campus or online are identical

While the on-campus and online criminology programs share courses and instructors, the online criminology program is combined with Policing. This means the online BA in Criminology and Policing has slightly different course requirements.

What will appear on the degree or transcript?

The online degree and transcript will appear as “Combined Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing”, with no mention of the online delivery mode.

How long does it take to complete the Combined Honours BA in Criminology and Policing degree?

The length of time required for completion of this Honours degree is dependent on whether a student is granted any transfer credits from previous post-secondary studies, and the chosen workload each semester. The 20 credit degree includes 12 credits of required Policing and Criminology courses. Enrolment in up to three 0.5 credit courses per term is possible, including electives. Twelve-week terms begin in Fall, Winter and Spring.