A Diploma in Criminology will be awarded to students who complete the equivalent of two years of required first and second-year courses at Northern Lights College. The diploma is intended to prepare students for entry-level employment positions and for continued studies in academic and professional programs. Relevant areas of work and additional education include Corrections, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Studies, and Law Enforcement.
The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Information and Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council, effective September 2025.
Career Prospects
By taking a planned combination of Northern Lights College courses, students may gain entry-level employment in or prepare for continued study in the following fields: lawyer, sheriff, police officer, correctional services, parole officer, probation officer, border services, aboriginal liaison officer, or detachment clerk.
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chetwynd* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Dawson Creek | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort St John | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort Nelson* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Fort Nelson and Chetwynd offerings are available, but students at these locations must consult with the Program Chair before enrolling in the program to ensure course availability.
Length
60 credits (900 hours), minimum.
This is a two year program taken over four semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester. Part-time studies will take longer. Students in this program select course loads and course schedules that fit their needs and course availability. Registration is completed semester-by-semester.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Academic
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 3,726.30 | $ 152.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,879.06 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 3,800.83 | $ 155.83 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,956.66 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 12,915.00 | $ 162.42 | $ 51.36 | $ 289.80* | $ 13,418.58 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 13,560.75 | $ 170.54 | $ 51.36 | $ 13,782.65 |
*Per four months
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
*A. Domestic students and students from countries that practice Standard Written English (see Appendix A) must have official transcripts demonstrating that they have met the English Requirements: One of the following with a “C” grade or higher: English 12 or English Literature 12 or English First Peoples 12, ENGL 050, or ENGL 099. Alternatively, any university-level English course with a “C” grade or higher. Students who do not meet one of the above English requirements must complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement.
B. International students who do not meet the requirement A. above, and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language, must show that they have met the NLC English requirement: see Appendix A (General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements)
C. Math Requirement: One of the following with a ‘C’ grade (60%) or higher: Pre-calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, Foundations of Math 11, MATH 040, or equivalent. Alternatively, readiness for MATH 050 as determined by the CCP Math appraisal.
*Note that some course options have specific prerequisites. Meeting the program entrance requirements does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses
Important Notes
- This program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit Student Aid BC to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide.
- Transfer agreements allow graduates to receive:
- Under the terms of an amended block-transfer agreement with Royal Roads University (RRU), Northern Lights College students who complete the Diploma will be eligible for block transfer into the third year of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Justice Studies at RRU, provided all other entrance criteria are met and space remains available. NLC students should understand that entrance to all programs at RRU is on a competitive basis.
- Northern Lights College does not have a block transfer agreement with Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) School of Criminology. However, the NLC diploma has been designed to meet lower-division requirements for SFU’s BA in Criminology. In this case, transfer credit is awarded on a course-by-course basis. Accordingly, NLC students who complete the diploma may also be eligible for admission into upper division course work in SFU’s School of Criminology. Students planning to transfer to SFU should choose elective courses that articulate to SFU.
- NLC students are responsible for confirming admission requirements, application procedures, transfer credit, and graduation requirements at all receiving institutions.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College; note that a minimum 60% or ‘C’ grade is required for courses to be considered for transfer into this program. The age of the course will also be considered in course transfer. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses |
*Please note the following semester break down is based on a student beginning their program in the Fall semester. Students starting in other semesters should consult with the course catalogue in Borealis and with a Program Advisor when selecting courses.
The Criminology Diploma is comprised of the following 20 courses, ten of which will have been completed as part of the Criminology Certificate:
- CRIM 101 – Introduction to Criminology (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 103 – Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behaviour (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 120 – Research Methods in Criminology (3.0 credits)
OR SOSC 220 – Research Methods for the Social Sciences (3.0 credits) - CRIM 131 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 135 – Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 210 – Youth and the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits)
OR CRIM 213 – Women and the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits) - CRIM 230 – Criminal Law (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits)
- MATH 104 – Introduction to Statistics (3.0 credits)
OR SOSC 207 – Introduction to Statistics in The Social Sciences (3.0 credits) - POLI 100 – Politics and Government (3.0 credits)
OR POLI 101 – The Government of Canada (3.0 credits) - PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology I (3.0 credits)
- PSYC 102 – Introduction to Psychology II (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology I (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 102 – Introduction to Sociology II (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 205 – Deviant Behaviour in Canadian Society (3.0 credits)
- Three electives* at the 100- or 200-level, chosen from a variety of disciplines
And one of:
- ENGL 105 – Nonfictional Prose (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 110 – Introduction to Workplace Communications (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 111 – Poetry and Drama (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 112 – Prose Fiction (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- PHIL 101 – Introduction to Philosophy I (3.0 credits)
- PHIL 110 – Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking (3.0 credits)
- PHIL 111 – Contemporary Moral Issues (3.0 credits)
*Electives
Choose three electives at the 100- or 200-level, chosen from a variety of disciplines.
- Students are encouraged to choose a Gender Studies course (e.g. WGST 100 – Women and Gender Studies)
- Students are encouraged to choose a course that deals with Aboriginal peoples of Canada (e.g. ANTH 203 – Contemporary Canadian Native Peoples or FNST 102 – Treaties and Aboriginal Rights)
- Note that CHEM 170 – Introduction to Forensic Chemistry is relevant to the field of Criminology. CHEM 170 articulates to SFU as unassigned 100-level Chemistry credits
Credential
Diploma in Criminology