Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Prepare for a career serving others and working collaboratively to ensure our communities are safe, healthy and vibrant in our Criminal Justice – Policing program. In this two-year program, you’ll gain insight into the criminal justice system and criminal and procedural law while developing communication skills. Through many experiential learning opportunities, you’ll have the opportunity to apply theory and your knowledge in our specialized learning spaces.

Sharing a common first year with students in the Correctional Studies diploma, you’ll learn to develop core competencies that industry is seeking in successful candidates, such as teamwork, ethical accountability and responsibility, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills. In your second year, you’ll develop key competencies in the areas of interpersonal conflict resolution, emotional intelligence and self-confidence as essential qualities required for a career in public safety.

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Career Opportunities

You'll leave our program with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and a valuable range of practical skills and abilities. You'll be ready to do justice with:

  • Emergency Services
  • Federal Enforcement Agencies such as Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services, Correctional Service Canada, CSIS
  • Municipal Police Services
  • Regional Police Services
  • Provincial Enforcement and Protection Services                                                       
  • Provincial Police Services
  • Private Security and Investigation Agencies

Visit ALIS website for more career information.

50+ years

of delivering quality public safety education

4 state-of-the-art learning spaces:

courtroom, crisis apartment, conflict resolution simulators and interviewing rooms

2 diplomas

can be earned in just over two years with our common first year for Criminal Justice – Policing and Correctional Studies programs

At-a-Glance

Starts-in

Fall(September) term for on-campus and online study. Winter (January) or Spring (May) term for online study.

Credential / Accreditation

Diploma

Duration

2 years

Application Deadlines

Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.

Program Availability

View the program availability for the upcoming intakes.

Admissions

New students are accepted into the Correctional Studies program in the Fall (September) term for on-campus and online study. Students can also start in the Winter (January) or Spring (May) term 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.

Non-Academic Requirements

Applicants are required to review and acknowledge completion of an online information package relating to the entry/suitability requirements for a career in Public Safety.  

Medical Requirements

Although no physical requirements are placed on applicants for entry to the program, applicants should ensure through a medical examination that their cardio-vascular system is suitable to undertake strenuous fitness related exercise. In addition, applicants are advised to undergo eyesight/colour vision testing for compatibility with the requirements of potential future employers.

Transfers
Athabasca University (pending review)

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Criminal Justice - Policing diploma are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards Athabasca University's Bachelor of Professional Arts (BPA) in Human Services or Bachelor of Professional Arts (BPA) in Criminal Justice.

Griffith University, Australia (pending review)

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Criminal Justice - Policing diploma are eligible to receive transfer credit towards the completion of a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, Australia. For more information, visit https://www.griffith.edu.au/apply/credit-transfer

Lethbridge College

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Criminal Justice - Policing diploma may choose to enter the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies program at Lethbridge College. Courses are provided on campus or through Online Learning. 

Royal Roads University

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Criminal Justice - Policing diploma with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible for full block transfer into the third year of the Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies at Royal Roads University. For more information, please visit https://www.royalroads.ca

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

The Criminal Justice – Policing program is available through on-campus delivery, which may include some blended delivery components, as well as a fully online delivery.

Blended

This program includes both face-to-face/on-campus and online delivery in both synchronous (learning occurs in real-time on a set schedule) and asynchronous (learning does not occur at the same time or same place) 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
Course Title Credits
Year 1
Term I
CJP-1159 Ethics and Critical Thought 3
CJP-1160 Introduction to Criminal Justice System 3
COM-1165 Public Safety Communications/Interpersonal Relations 3
ENG-1150 Composition 3
LAW-1177 Procedural Law in Canada 3
PSY-1160 Introduction to Psychology 3
  Credits 18
Term II
CJP-1157 Preliminary Response and Investigation 3
CJP-1177 Applied English & Public Safety Writing 3
CJP-1185 Diverse Populations in Public Safety 3
COR-1180 Youth in the Justice System 3
LAW-1178 Criminal and Correctional Offences 3
SOC-1160 Introduction to Sociology 3
  Credits 18
Year 2
Term I
CJP-2281 Conflict Management 3
CJP-2289 Investigative Techniques 3
LAW-2254 Applied Law 3
PED-1190 Fitness & Lifestyles in Public Safety I 3
SOC-2290 Addictions and Mental Health in Justice 3
Approved Elective 3
  Credits 18
Term II
CJP-2278 Criminology 3
CJP-2287 Strategies in Crisis Situations 3
CJP-2293 Organizational Awareness in Public Safety 3
LAW-2264 Courtroom Procedures 3
Approved Elective 3
  Credits 15
  Total Credits 69
Approved Electives

To fulfill elective requirements, choose one elective from List A and one elective from List B or two electives from List B.

List A - Specialized Electives
Course Title Credits
CJP-2280 Introduction to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 3
CJP-2294 Specialized Policing 3
CJP-2295 Traffic 3
CJP-2296 Career Preparation for Public Safety 3
COR-2262 Drugs in Corrections 3
FWK-2280 Field Work Practicum 3
List B - Breadth Electives
Course Title Credits
ANT-1195 Cultural Anthropology 3
ANT-2295 Anthropology of Gender 3
ARK-1165 Introduction Into Archaeology 3
BIO-1160 Anatomy and Physiology I 3
BIO-1162 Microbiology 3
BIO-1169 Structural Human Anatomy 3
BLK-1151 Blackfoot Language I 3
BLK-2251 Blackfoot Language II 3
BUS-1166 Business Law 3
BUS-1170 Introduction to Management 3
BUS-2278 Industrial and Labour Relations 3
ENG-1190 Introduction to Language and Literature 3
HUM-1150 Logic 3
HUM-1158 Creative Problem-Solving 3
HUM-1180 Introduction to World Religions 3
HUM-1190 Popular Culture 3
INS-1150 Exploring Indigenous Perspectives 3
INS-1155 Introduction to Indigenous Studies 3
PSC-1150 Local Government 3
PSC-1161 Introduction to Politics 3
PSC-1165 Canadian Government 3
PSY-1170 Human Development Across the Lifespan 3
PSY-1177 Psychology of Aging 3
PSY-1179 Adolescent Development 3
PSY-2253 Child Psychopathology 3
PSY-2260 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSY-2270 Introduction to Personality Theory 3
PSY-2275 Introduction to Forensic Psychology 3
PSY-2280 Social Psychology 3
PSY-2290 Brain and Behaviour 3
SOC-1167 Sociology of Aging 3
SOC-2260 Social Problems 3
SPN-1150 Introductory Spanish 3
SPN-1151 Introductory Spanish II 3
VXR-1150 Introduction to Immersive Technology 3
View course timetables

Tuition and Fees

Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$4,849.00
$1,336.00
$1,405.00
Year 2
$4,514.00
$1,249.00
$665.00
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$15,649.00
$1,336.00
$1,405.00
Year 2
$14,865.00
$1,249.00
$665.00
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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Scholarships

With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge College awards and scholarships for which you qualify, including these featured scholarships:

CJP.POL.DIP