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.
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.
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 | |
| Tumbler Ridge | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
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 (includes GST) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 3,581.40 | $ 149.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,731.16 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 3,653.03 | $ 152.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,805.78 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 11,580.00 | $ 149.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 828.00 | $ 12,557.76 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 12,300.00 | $ 152.75 | $ 0.00 | $ 828.00 | $ 13,280.75 |
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
English Requirement
For applicants from countries that practice Standard Written English, one of the following:
- English Studies 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English First Peoples 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 050 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 099 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- Any university-level English course with a grade of C or higher
- NLC Writing Assessment with placement at the college level (100)
For all other applicants, one of the following:
- IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0*
- TOEFL iBT of 78
- Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band
- Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76
- Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC’s Writing Assessment
- A post-secondary level credential with equivalent English language requirements
- Two years of full-time secondary school education in English in Canada and completion of English 12, English Studies 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent with a minimum grade of B.
- Completion of the Citation in English for Academic Purposes Level 060
The General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements outline more details of the academic English requirements.
* Students with a writing band of 6.0 or less are required to complete ENGL 099 with a B grade or higher before or during the first semester of their program.
Math Requirement
One of the following:
- Pre-calculus 11 with a ‘C’ grade (60%) or higher, or equivalent
- Principles of Mathematics 11 with a ‘C’ grade (60%) or higher, or equivalent
- Foundations of Math 11 with a ‘C’ grade (60%) or higher, or equivalent
- MATH 040 with a ‘C’ grade or higher, or equivalent
- Readiness for MATH 050 as determined by the CCP Math appraisal
Note
Elective courses may have specific prerequisites. Meeting entrance requirements for the program 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:
- Block transfer credit into the third year of Justice Institute of British Columbia’s Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies program. Note a minimum grade of C is required in all courses.
- Block transfer credit into the third year of Royal Roads University’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Justice Studies program.
- Course-by-course transfer into Simon Fraser University’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminology program.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses |
Semester One
All of:
- CRIM 101 – Introduction to Criminology (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 131 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits)
- PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology I (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology I (3.0 credits)
Semester Two
All of:
- CRIM 103 – Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behaviour (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 135 – Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 102 – Introduction to Sociology II (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- CRIM 210 – Youth and the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits)
- CRIM 213 – Women and the Criminal Justice System (3.0 credits)
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)
Semester Three
All of:
- CRIM 230 – Criminal Law (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 205 – Deviant Behaviour in Canadian Society (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- CRIM 120 – Research Methods in Criminology (3.0 credits)
- SOSC 220 – Research Methods for the Social Sciences (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- MATH 104 – Introduction to Statistics (3.0 credits)
- SOSC 207 – Introduction to Statistics in The Social Sciences (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- POLI 100 – Politics and Government (3.0 credits)
- POLI 101 – The Government of Canada (3.0 credits)
Semester Four
All of:
- PSYC 102 – Introduction to Psychology II (3.0 credits)
- Three Electives (see below) Minimum credits: 9.0
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