The Bachelor of Criminal Justice prepares students for a career in the diverse field of public safety as well as for continuing their education at the graduate level.

The curriculum has been shaped through collaboration with industry and focuses on developing skills for success: critical thinking; collaboration; conflict resolution; ethical decision-making; global awareness; inclusivity; communication; leadership; and research. Students will benefit from work-integrated learning and applied research opportunities with industry partners. The program has flexible delivery to accommodate those already working in the field.

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Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program will be prepared to enter career paths including the following:

  • Case Workers in Provincial and Federal Justice Organizations
  • Parole Officers
  • Probation Officers
  • Supervisors/Managers in Justice Organizations
  • Communications Officer
  • Victim Service Worker
  • Crisis Support Worker
  • Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Government Policy Analyst
  • Research Assistant
  • Business Planner
  • Continued Studies in Graduate School

Visit ALIS website for more career information.

300 Hours

spent in work-integrated learning with a justice or human services organization

50+

Number of partner agencies Lethbridge College engages for work-integrated learning, applied research or program advisors.

$135,503

Average annual salary of a commissioned police officer in Alberta (Source: ALIS.Alberta.ca/occinfo)

At-a-Glance

Starts-in

September (on-campus and online), January or May (online only)

Credential / Accreditation

Degree

Duration

2 years

Dates and Deadlines

Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.

Program Availability
Domestic Status
International Status
International Status with Study Permit
Spring 2024
Open
Unavailable
Unavailable
Online
Fall 2024
Open
Unavailable
Unavailable
Online
Fall 2024
Open
Open
Open
On campus
Winter 2025
Open
Unavailable
Unavailable
Online

Admissions

This program is available for International Students.

New third-year applicants or transfer applicants with advance standing through completion of a related diploma are accepted into the program in the Fall (September) term for on-campus and online study. Students can also start in the Winter (January) or Spring (May) terms for online study.

General Admissions Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.

Academic Requirements

Students who have completed a Criminal Justice - Corrections diploma or Criminal Justice - Policing diploma from Lethbridge College or equivalent will be accepted directly into the Bachelor of Criminal Justice.

Applicants with a related diploma/degree in a human service or justice related field such as child and youth care, law enforcement, addictions counselling, social work, criminology or psychiatric nursing will also be admitted, and may be required to complete bridging courses in order to meet degree requirements.

Applicants with a diploma/degree require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be accepted directly into the Bachelor of Criminal Justice

Graduation Requirements

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree.

Note: Employing agencies may have additional requirements for employment, such as a valid driver’s licence, Standard First Aid and CPR. Students are encouraged to maintain their credentials in these areas so that they are current at time of graduation

Transfers

Post-Graduate Pathways

Graduates of the B. CJ program may be eligible for acceptance into a variety of master’s degree programs. See an academic advisor for more information.

Practicums

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements

This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.

Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/ or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g. immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g. police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g. CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student. Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage. In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside
of Alberta). These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.

Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.

In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g. health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.

WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals. WIL’s may include day,evening,and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.

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Delivery Formats

On Campus

This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.

Online

This program is fully delivered online with both synchronous (learning occurs in real-time on a set schedule) and asynchronous (learning does not occur at the same time or same place) components.

Courses

View all courses
CourseTitleCredits
Year 3
Term I
HUM-3350Ethics in Justice3
JUS-3351Introduction to Research Methods in Justice3
JUS-3360Indigenous Peoples and Culture in Justice3
MGT-3375Leadership in Justice Organizations3
Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list)3
 Credits15
Term II
JUS-3362Human Rights, Diversity & Social Incl3
JUS-3363Victims in Criminal Justice3
RSR-3356Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analys3
Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from List)3
Discipline Elective (Choose 1 from list)3
 Credits15
Year 4
Term I
FWK-4450Work Placement I1.5
JUS-4462Gender & Justice3
RSR-4460Criminal Justice Research Project I3
Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list)3
Discipline Elective (Choose 1 from list)3
 Credits13.5
Term II
FWK-4452Work Placement II1.5
JUS-4463Advanced Social Policy3
RSR-4462Criminal Justice Research Project II3
Breadth Elective (Choose 1 from list)3
Discipline Electives (Choose 2 from list)6
 Credits16.5
 Total Credits60

Breadth Electives

CourseTitleCredits
BIO-3362Microbiology and Social Issues3
ENG-3350Advanced Writing3
HUM-3390Contemporary Media3
LAW-3360Indigenous Law3
PSY-3352Human Behavioural Ecology3
PSY-3360History of Psychology3
PSY-4452Human Behaviour and Social Technologies3
SOC-3360Sociology of Crime & Deviance3
SOC-3361Sociology of Surveillance3
SOC-3362Urban Sociology3

Discipline Electives

CourseTitleCredits
JUS-3357Contemporary Youth Justice in Canada3
JUS-3369Program Evaluation3
JUS-3373Community Policing3
JUS-3374Crime Prevention3
JUS-3375Restorative Justice3
JUS-3387Crisis Management3
JUS-4455Comparative Justice Systems3
JUS-4470Addictions and Mental Health3
JUS-4471Forensic Psychology3
JUS-4472Risk Assessment & Management3
JUS-4473Seminar in Black Studies3
JUS-4475Critical Incident Analysis3
JUS-4476Special Topics3
PSY-4450The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour3
View course timetables

Tuition and Fees

Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 3
$7,212.00
$1,206.00
$1,225.00
Year 4
$7,200.00
$1,163.00
$300.00
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 3
$18,013.00
$1,206.00
$1,225.00
Year 4
$17,520.00
$1,163.00
$300.00
Notes

Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.

Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.

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