Bachelor of Professional Arts, Criminal Justice Major - Learning outcomes

Graduates from the Bachelor of Professional Arts-Criminal Justice (BPA-CRJS) program should

• Describe the tripartite structure of the criminal justice system (the courts, the police, and corrections).
• Examine the policy, adjudication, and rehabilitation functions of the criminal justice system.
• Analyze the differences in and interactions between the adult and youth justice systems.
• Identify ethical issues in criminal justice research and work.
• Evaluate psychological and sociological theories of crime and social deviance.
• Evaluate the theories and research that underpin correctional treatment programs.
• Analyze research methodologies that inform criminal justice research and practice recognizing the limits of these methodologies and of one’s knowledge and ability to make sound judgements and recommendations.

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)