Course Based Stream

Students in the Course Based Stream take two additional criminology based courses and two additional courses from the second subject mix, compared to field placement students (see program requirements).

 Students in this stream will have opportunities to develop research based skills and potentially apply them in the community setting (e.g., Certificate in Applied Social Science Research). Research projects through courses and faculty mentorship can provide hands-on learning. Students in the course based stream will also have the opportunity for experiential learning through Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses and certificates in Arts (e.g., Certificate in Community Engagement and Service-Learning). Additionally, paid work experience through Arts Work Experience (AWE) is available to students in the course based stream. Students are encouraged to attend information sessions offered by CSL and AWE to learn more about these unique opportunities, qualifications, application process, deadlines, and how to fulfill the requirements while completing their undergraduate studies in the course based stream of the Criminology program.

Admission Requirements for the Course Based Stream:

There are two categories of applicants for admission:

• High School Applicant
• Post-Secondary Transfer Applicant

Admission to the program is for the upcoming academic year. Admission is based solely on a competitive average for high school applicants and grade point average (GPA) for post-secondary transfer students. The competitive average and GPA will depend on the number of applications we receive and the quality of the applicant pool.

Note: Admission directly from high school is permitted in the Course Based Stream

Students who meet the following eligibility requirements are invited to apply before the annual March 1 deadline:

High School Applicant:

• Must be eligible for admission to the Faculty of Arts and have a competitive average, based on applicant pool, for direct entry into the Course Based stream of the Criminology program
• Apply starting October 1
• Complete by March 1

Post-Secondary Applicant*:

• Must be eligible for admission to the Faculty of Arts and have a competitive grade point average GPA, based on applicant pool, for direct entry into the Course Based stream of the Criminology program
• Apply starting October 1
• Complete by March 1

Transfer applicants must follow the Faculty of Arts requirements for admission (e.g., with less than *24 transferable credits, your high school grades would be assessed for admission, if you have more than *24 transfer credits, then your high school grades will NOT be used for admission). To check transferable credits and programs, please consult the Alberta Transfer Guide on the Transfer Alberta website. Decision on transfer credits is made by the Faculty of Arts - Undergraduate Student Services and not the Department of Sociology.

*If you are a post-secondary student you may wish to apply to the Criminology Program and the Field Placement Stream at the same time, but should consult with the Criminology Program Advisor and Field Placement Coordinator.

Requirements for the Course Based Stream:

Information on requirements for the Course Based Stream can be found in the University of Alberta Academic Calendar where you can find detailed information about your program structure and course requirements.

Course Requirements:

The principal subject is Sociology in which a minimum of 30 units at the senior level is required; a maximum of 48 units at the senior level is permitted.

The following courses must be included in the program:

• SOC 100 - Introductory Sociology
• SOC 210 - Introduction to Social Statistics
• SOC 225 - Criminology
• SOC 315 - Introduction to Social Methodology
• SOC 327 - Criminal Justice Administration in Canada

Any one of the following

• SOC 224 - Sociology of Deviance and Conformity
• SOC 226 - Surveillance Studies
• SOC 260 - Inequality and Social Stratification

Any three of the following

• SOC 321 - Youth, Crime and Society
• SOC 323 - Sociology of Policing
• SOC 325 - Topics in Criminology
• SOC 370 - Racism and Decolonization
• SOC 377 - Sociology of Youth

Any two of the following

• SOC 402 - Topics in Sociology (with prior department approval) 
• SOC 403 - Individual Study (with prior department approval) 
• SOC 418 - Qualitative Methods in Social Research
• SOC 420 - Topics in Criminal Justice
• SOC 421 - Sociology of Punishment
• SOC 423 - Crime and Public Policy
• SOC 424 - Gangs and Violence
• SOC 425 - Sociology of Terrorism
• SOC 429 - Sociology of Law
• SOC 430 - Women and Crime
• SOC 456 - Data Analysis and Research

It is recommended that Criminology students:

• Check ahead to see what 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses most interest you to build in appropriate prerequisite courses into your program.
• Refer to your Academic Advisement report on Bear Tracks to track the progress of degree completion.

It is recommended that Criminology students considering graduate studies take the following courses:

• SOC 212 - Classical Social Theory
• SOC 335 - Themes in Contemporary Social Theory

Note: The BA Criminology Program is not available as an after degree program. Current criminology students in the program will follow the course requirements for the year they were admitted into the Criminology program. If you require further information, please speak with the Criminology Program Advisor and Field Placement Coordinator or consult the academic calendar.