Criminology

Diploma of Social Sciences

The Diploma of Social Sciences in Criminology prepares students to work in exciting and demanding corrections, human services, criminal justice, and policing fields. This challenging and rewarding field is especially attractive to students who have an interest in human behaviour, studying Canadian Criminal Codes, and the judicial process and systems.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary program that focuses on criminology, sociology, psychology, political science, human relations, along with basic counselling skills.

As a program component, students will participate in workshops such as Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Self-Defense, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skill training. These workshops are typically not offered as a part of similar three or four year programs at other post-secondary institutions.

This program combines theoretical and practical training, as students gain valuable industry experience on an eight-week work term. It allows students to explore a variety of criminal justice related careers. This may range from qualifying for Police Officer training program to working with victims or institutional corrections to community corrections and aftercare.

Graduates may work with youth or adults, male or female, victims or offenders, with clients, or in research. Students are trained to become Correctional Workers depending on the hiring practices at some institutions, and support staff in various correctional and penal facilities.

Occupations and organizations where graduates have found employment:

• Program Director & Case Manager, Child Find Newfoundland & Labrador**
• Shift Supervisor, Howard House (a division of John Howard Society)**
• Resident Worker, Emmanuel House
• Youth Worker, Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Centre
• Police Constable, Calgary Police Department**
• Screening Officer – Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
• Campus Enforcement Officer, Memorial University of Newfoundland**
• Police Constable, RCMP, Eskasoni Detachment (Nova Scotia)**
• *Deputy Sheriff Officer, Sheriff’s Office
• *Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary**
• *Military Police Officer, Canadian Forces Military Police
• Recovering Addicts Fellowship Team**

* Graduates must go through specific application and training processes for these positions. Depending on specific hiring practices, there may be application fees.

** Graduates are currently employed at these facilities.

Note: Academy Canada cannot guarantee employment to any student or graduate and can have no affect on salaries, which are determined by individual private and/or public organizations.

Because Criminology is an interdisciplinary field, students have the option to work within any criminal justice or law enforcement related agency such as Victim Services, Youth and Adult Corrections, Probation, Parole, and various community resource agencies after graduation.

Furthermore, Academy Canada’s Criminology program is designed to provide students with all the required training needed for entry level positions within Corrections.

Graduate Testimonials

I am very excited about where I am today. With regards to the Diploma of Social Science: Criminology Program; I enjoyed it immensely.

There were many things I learned through the Criminology Program that helped me with my RCMP training.

The instructors at Academy Canada are awesome. They have so much knowledge of what they teach their students and I feel this is reflective of where I am today in my career.

I would recommend the Diploma of Social Science: Criminology Program to anyone who was interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

As a 2003 graduate of the Diploma of Social Sciences: Criminology Program at Academy Canada and a recent graduated of the RCMP training program, April Janes has been posted to the First Nations Reserve, Eskasoni on Cape Breton Island.

April Janes - Graduate

“I know what I want to do, but I just don’t know how to get there”. Those were my exact words when I began my two-year journey at Academy Canada. Thanks to the instructors and the administrative staff, I soon had the means to support my goal.

By the time I graduated (with Honors), I had the tools, confidence and professionalism I needed to begin my career. Thanks to the techniques and knowledge I obtained through my Diploma, I was hired by an organization that was not actively hiring at the time. I am now employed as the Program Director & Case Manager for Child Find Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter.

So if you are searching for an invaluable education, top-notch instructors and flexible hours, Academy Canada should be your first choice. Thanks to Academy Canada for helping me achieve my goals.

Lisa Brown – Graduate

In 1998 Terry Follett graduated from Academy Canada with a Diploma of Social Sciences: Criminology Program. Since that time Terry has worked as a Prison Guard in Alberta.

Recently, while employed with the Calgary Police Department, Terry completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts: Justice Studies Degree at Mt. Royal College in Calgary, Alberta.

Terry Follett - Graduate

Letters of Support and Supporting Documents

Please visit one of the links below to view support letters and supporting documents.

• Canadian Airport Transportation Security Authority (CATSA)
• Careers for Criminology Majors
• Canadian Forces Criminology and Law Enforcement Administration Support Letter
• National Defence Support Letter

For more information

Click here for more information about our Criminology program.