Online Criminology Degree
Are you passionate about criminology, public safety, justice, forensics, youth work or social work? Do you aspire to a career in law enforcement? Our Combined Honors BA in Criminology and Policing is an online criminology degree that prepares you for a career in criminology and justice with focused techniques and practical experience.
Honors BA in Criminology and Police Program Summary
- No prior knowledge of law enforcement is required
- Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of Canada
- High School Transfers: A high school diploma from Canada with an average of at least mid-70s, including English at university level of 60% or more
- College Transfers: 70% or more overall average, with at least 1 year degree in an academic college program
- Change of university: 67% or more overall average, with at least six months of completed studies
- For high school, college or university students with an international educational background, all prior education must be assessed by World Education Services (WES).
After you have applied, an admissions coordinator evaluates your certificates in order to make an initial assessment. Your final credit assessment will be completed by the Admissions Committee once your file is submitted for review.
Get your digital program guide for more information on credits
- Knowledge from practice: Learn from experts with experience in this 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, there's no need to wait to advance your education
- Consists of a combination of core and elective courses that complete the 20-credit degree requirement
- Each course lasts 12 weeks and can be taken at any pace up to a maximum of three courses per semester
- By completing two to three courses per semester, individuals can earn their degree in three to four years
- 100% online:Coursework is accessible and convenient
- No law enforcement experience required:an online criminology degree that will prepare or advance your career in law enforcement or public safety
- Real world knowledge:Learn from professionals with experience in the field
- Get a broader viewpublic safety through a combined focus on criminology and policing
- Withthree launches per yearBecause applications are accepted year-round, you don't have to wait to start funding your education
Learn more about Professor Oliver Stoetzer's program:
- Get support from a dedicated advisor every step of the way
Laurier Online students come from all over the country with diverse backgrounds, but they share the same goal: to receive a quality education with an established curriculum taught by faculty who have worked in the field. Hear from some students who have invested in their future.
Below is a sample list of courses that you must complete for the online BA in Policing program:
Next application deadline:
- March, 15, 2023
Next start date:
- May, 2023
Get your program guide
This course introduces students to the discipline of criminology from a historical and contemporary perspective. Students will be introduced to classical and contemporary theorists in the field, as well as to research methodologies and disciplinary debates, with an emphasis on both Canadian and global issues in criminology.
This course introduces students to the techniques used to measure and assess police personnel and deepens their understanding of the workplace experiences that can impact the mental health of police personnel. Students learn about intelligence and personality tests, the effects of trauma and compassion fatigue, the importance of stress management, self-care, and aptitude assessments.
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 process capability, provincial mental health legislation, risk assessment and management techniques, risk of violence and victimization, dangerousness and stigma, and criminal justice policy. Exclusion: PD303 six weeks Prerequisite: CC100 or CC102, Senior Student Status.
This course examines qualitative research methods in criminology. It is designed to introduce students to epistemological issues that distinguish qualitative from quantitative methodologies and to provide an overview of the dimensions of qualitative research methodologies, including research ethics, grounded theorizing, sampling, data collection techniques, and qualitative analysis. The course helps develop the necessary critical thinking skills for the critique and evaluation of existing research on crime and deviance. Topics can be interviews, participant observation, interpretative research, ethnomethodology, historical research, discourse analysis and feminist methods. Prerequisite: CC100 and OL/CC/HS233 or PS295 and fourth year status in Criminology or Policing.
This course examines sources of individual differences in criminal behavior from a psychological perspective. Students are introduced to classic biological, developmental psychological, cognitive and psychiatric explanations of criminal behavior. Course topics focus on links between crime and genetics, brain function, psychophysiology, mental disorders, personality and moral development, and social learning. Requirement: CC100.
Career prospects with a bachelor's degree in criminology
The combined online BA in Criminology and Policing gives you a broader educational base to succeed in crime, justice and criminology related jobs. The program allows you to focus on specific areas of interest through electives.
Average annual base salary:64.267 $
Those: Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:66.508 $
Those: Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:48.595 $
Those: Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:40.322 $
Those: Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:44.500 $
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Average annual base salary:46.537 $
Those:Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:56.000 $
Those: Lohnskal
Average annual base salary:64.341 $
Those:Lohnskal
frequently asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the Wilfrid Laurier University Combined Honors BA in Criminology and Policing online programs. To speak to an enrollment advisor who can help answer questions over the phone, call us at888.368.0345
- No prior knowledge of law enforcement is required
- Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of Canada
- High School Transfers: A high school diploma from Canada with an average of at least mid-70s, including English at university level of 60% or more
- College Transfers: 70% or more overall average, with at least 1 year degree in an academic college program
- Change of university: 67% or more overall average, with at least six months of completed studies
- For high school, college or university students with an international educational background, all prior education must be evaluated by World Education Services
After you have applied, an admissions coordinator evaluates your certificates in order to make an initial assessment. Your final credit assessment will be completed by the Admissions Committee once your file is submitted for review.
More information about the application
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 police work. This means that the online BA in Criminology and Policing has slightly different course requirements.
The online degree and transcript are displayed as “Combined Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Police” with no mention of online delivery mode.
The time required to complete this honors degree depends on whether a student has earned credit from previous post-secondary studies and the chosen workload per semester. The 20-credit degree includes 12 credits of required courses in police and criminology. Enrollment in up to three 0.5-credit courses per semester is possible, including electives. The twelve-week semesters begin in fall, winter, and spring.
FAQs
Can I do a criminology course online? ›
Courses cover everything from the basics of criminology to more specialised topics like criminal justice and forensic science. Whether you're looking to start your criminology career or advance to a higher level, we have online criminology courses for you.
What degree is best for criminology? ›A bachelor of arts in criminology and psychology requires a core set of courses in the liberal arts and sciences, in addition to criminology classes. A bachelor of science in criminology has a strong emphasis on methodology, statistical analysis, and practical applications.
Is a bachelors degree in criminology worth it? ›Absolutely; there are many criminal justice degree benefits that you don't get without a degree. While specific income and career opportunities may vary based on your location, a criminal justice degree is worth the cost when you take measures to work in your field before and after you complete the program.
Can you study criminology at home? ›Whether it's A-level Law, Forensic Science, Crime Scene Investigation or an Advanced Criminology Diploma, we offer a range of online distance learning courses that are perfect for budding criminologists.
How do I start a career in criminology? ›People interested in becoming criminologists usually pursue a minimum of a master's degree in the field. You could start with a baccalaureate degree in criminology, psychology or sociology. Criminologists also need to understand laws and law enforcement procedures, so you may take criminal justice courses, as well.
How many years does it take to study criminology? ›The BS Criminology program is a four-year course that is geared towards careers in police administration, corrections, scientific crime detection, jail management and penology, fire protection and industrial security.