Diploma in Criminal Justice at Camosun College

Fascinating, complicated and complex

The criminal justice system is an integral part of all of our lives; everyone is touched by crime and the criminal justice system in some way. In the Criminal Justice program, you'll gain a critical understanding of how the criminal justice system works to protect society. With this diploma, you'll be ready for further post-secondary studies or for work as a front-line practitioner within the criminal justice field.

Understanding justice

The Criminal Justice program is founded on the pillars of human rights, social justice, protection of society, harm reduction, and fairness, equity and the rule of law. Five themes run through the program: critical thinking and effective problem solving, legal and ethical practice, diversity, application of knowledge to the real world, and intellectual curiosity/critical practice. Courses in the program focus on the application of  theory or applied integrated practice

What to expect

The Criminal Justice program prepares you for further post-secondary studies or for work as front-line practitioners within the criminal justice field. A core curricula forms the foundation for the first year of studies in the program. At the completion of Year 1, you can choose which stream of courses best meets your professional and academic goals.

Located at our Lansdowne campus, the Criminal Justice program is two years long, with an optional internship that is usually taken at the end of either Year 1 or Year 2.

Year 1

In your first two academic terms, you'll learn the basics of the criminal justice system, with courses that develop your knowledge of criminology, psychology, logic and the law. At the end of your first year, you can choose to take an optional internship.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will choose courses that match your career or academic path.  Deviance, psychological explanations of criminal behaviour, law enforcement, forensic anthropology, restorative justice and case management are a sample of the content available for you to study. After your second year, you have a second opportunity to complete an optional internship.