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 our two-year Criminal Justice – Policing program, you’ll gain insight into the criminal justice system, including procedural law, and you will build the competencies that public safety agencies are looking for in successful applicants. 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, the crucial skills you will learn to develop include teamwork, ethical accountability and responsibility, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills. In your second year, you will develop key competencies in the areas of interpersonal conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence which are essential qualities required for a career in public safety.

Dual Diploma Option

Students pursuing Criminal Justice – Policing or Correctional Studies diplomas with the School of Justice share a common first year of courses. The common first year design of our justice programming facilitates opportunities for you to start your journey in public safety together with students from the Correctional Studies diploma. Together, you’ll exchange ideas and beliefs, and have an inclusive educational experience that will strengthen relationships and understandings of all branches within the public safety field. Additionally, all students will have the opportunity to learn the ethical framework that should guide the actions of all public safety professionals. The common first year also enables students to take one extra semester to earn a second diploma from the School of Justice Studies at Lethbridge College.

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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, as either a sworn public safety officer or as a civilian employee, with:

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

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

Dates and Deadlines

Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.

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

Admissions

This program is available for International Students.

New applicants are accepted into the Criminal Justice - Policing 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.

Graduation Requirements

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Criminal Justice - Policing diploma.

Note: Employing agencies have additional hiring requirements such as vision standards, hearing standards, a valid driver’s license, Standard First Aid and CPR. Learners are strongly encouraged to know the vision and hearing standards and to obtain and maintain their credentials in First Aid and CPR to ensure employment qualifications are met.

Transfers
Athabasca University

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.

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 – Asynchronous

This program is offered in an online asynchronous format meaning learning does not occur at the same time or same place. Instructors provide materials for online completion, including online readings, recorded lectures or presentations, posted lecture notes, video content, assignments and exams. Students access course materials within a flexible timeframe prescribed by the instructor.

Courses

View all courses
CourseTitleCredits
Year 1
Term I
CJP-1159Ethics and Critical Thought3
CJP-1160Introduction to Criminal Justice System3
COM-1165Public Safety Communications/Interpersonal Relations3
ENG-1150Composition3
LAW-1177Procedural Law in Canada3
PSY-1160Introduction to Psychology3
 Credits18
Term II
CJP-1157Preliminary Response and Investigation3
CJP-1177Applied English & Public Safety Writing3
CJP-1185Diverse Populations in Public Safety3
COR-1180Youth in the Justice System3
LAW-1178Criminal and Correctional Offences3
SOC-1160Introduction to Sociology3
 Credits18
Year 2
Term I
CJP-2281Conflict Management3
CJP-2289Investigative Techniques3
LAW-2254Applied Law3
PED-1190Fitness & Lifestyles in Public Safety I3
SOC-2290Addictions and Mental Health in Justice3
Approved Elective3
 Credits18
Term II
CJP-2278Criminology3
CJP-2287Strategies in Crisis Situations3
CJP-2293Organizational Awareness in Public Safety3
LAW-2264Courtroom Procedures3
Approved Elective3
 Credits15
 Total Credits69

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

CourseTitleCredits
CJP-2280Introduction to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement3
CJP-2294Specialized Policing3
CJP-2295Traffic3
CJP-2296Career Preparation for Public Safety3
COR-2262Drugs in Corrections3
FWK-2280Field Work Practicum3

List B - Breadth Electives

CourseTitleCredits
ANT-1195Cultural Anthropology3
ANT-2295Anthropology of Gender3
ARK-1165Introduction Into Archaeology3
BIO-1160Anatomy and Physiology I3
BIO-1162Microbiology3
BIO-1169Structural Human Anatomy3
BLK-1151Blackfoot Language I3
BLK-2251Blackfoot Language II3
BUS-1166Business Law3
BUS-1170Introduction to Management3
BUS-2278Industrial and Labour Relations3
ENG-1190Introduction to Language and Literature3
HUM-1150Logic3
HUM-1158Creative Problem-Solving3
HUM-1180Introduction to World Religions3
HUM-1190Popular Culture3
INS-1150Exploring Indigenous Perspectives3
INS-1155Introduction to Indigenous Studies3
PSC-1150Local Government3
PSC-1161Introduction to Politics3
PSC-1165Canadian Government3
PSY-1170Human Development Across the Lifespan3
PSY-1177Psychology of Aging3
PSY-1179Adolescent Development3
PSY-2253Child Psychopathology3
PSY-2260Abnormal Psychology3
PSY-2270Introduction to Personality Theory3
PSY-2275Introduction to Forensic Psychology3
PSY-2280Social Psychology3
PSY-2290Brain and Behaviour3
SOC-1167Sociology of Aging3
SOC-2260Social Problems3
SPN-1150Introductory Spanish3
SPN-1151Introductory Spanish II3
VXR-1150Introduction to Immersive Technology3
View course timetables

Tuition and Fees

Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$5,275.00
$1,336.00
$1,300.00
Year 2
$4,913.00
$1,249.00
$700.00
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$16,795.00
$1,336.00
$1,300.00
Year 2
$15,964.00
$1,249.00
$700.00
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