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Programs

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Professional Arts: Criminal Justice Major

Number of credits required from Athabasca University: 30 credits.

Maximum credit awarded in this program for prior learning through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) processes: 30 credits.

For more information about this degree-completion program, please visit the Criminal Justice area of study.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

  • critically assess recommendations for improvements.
  • distinguish differences between theories.
  • distinguish and/or categorize types of practice.
  • show advanced understanding of policy and pose questions, issues and dilemmas in policy.
  • divide data and ideas into appropriate categories and show relationships among them.
  • demonstrate understanding of components of effective collaboration and co-operation.
  • take advanced responsibility for action and propose solutions to problems and issues related to criminal justice.
  • make constructive suggestions for criteria of assessment and recognize situations needing assessment.
  • take leadership action role in most instances in relation to criminal justice issues.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the process of self-development, and set goals and, when necessary, attempt to alter own behaviour.
  • exhibit understanding of the importance of the field of criminal justice and an awareness of major issues.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the functioning and importance of criminal justice structures and institutions.
  • mobilize organizational resources to fulfil goals and guidelines of self-identified plan and successfully complete most plans.
  • show good organization and consistency in expression of ideas.
  • acknowledge doubts, dilemmas and issues, recognize need for further learning, and pose new propositions.
  • demonstrate an understand of the implications of diversity issues and initiate discussion and/or action around some of these issues.

Program Goals

This program is intended to attract not only newly graduated diploma students but also those with several years of experience. The general program goals are to

  • provide graduates with the critical-thinking skills, administrative skills, and advanced education in areas such as community policing, cross-cultural awareness, the environment, organized crime, managing family violence, and law and policing that are needed by police, corrections, security and other enforcement officers.
  • afford increased areas of employment and advancement in the criminal justice field for police officers, corrections officers, court officers and private security officers.

Possible Career Options

  • Police Officer
  • Customs Officer
  • Canadian Intelligence Officer
  • Military Police Officer
  • Correctional Officer
  • Parole Officer
  • Probation Officer
  • Crime Analyst
  • Policy Analyst (provincial and federal solicitor general departments)
  • Private/Corporate Investigator
  • Youth Worker (young offenders)
  • Special Constable (solicitor general/justice/municipal departments)

Possible Further Education Options

At Athabasca University

At Other Educational Institutions*

  • graduate studies: master in criminology, sociology
  • education
  • law
  • journalism

* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other educational institutions.

Updated March 25, 2009