Athabasca University

What you'll study

The curriculum develops understanding of criminal justice systems, policies and the roles of professionals and stakeholders. Key topical areas listed by the program include:

• community policing
• youth justice
• cross-cultural awareness
• organized crime
• victims of crime
• managing family violence
• the adult and youth justice systems
• criminal justice policies, procedures and programs

The degree is designed to combine students' prior diploma-level knowledge and professional experience with broader theoretical and issue-based perspectives suitable for career advancement or further graduate study.

Entry requirements

Admission is intended for applicants who have completed an approved two-year diploma or equivalent from an accredited college or institute of technology. Applicants may also be admitted on the basis of combined post-secondary education and related work experience. Applicants remain pre-program students until their admission requirements are confirmed; they may begin taking courses before final admission. All applicants must complete Athabasca University's English Language Assessment (ELA) before enrolment.

Career prospects

The program targets students who want to move into higher-level roles within criminal justice fields or pursue graduate education. Course topics map to roles in policing, youth justice services, victim support, family-violence intervention, and other criminal justice agencies and stakeholder organizations. The university's reported graduate outcomes suggest strong employment and income indicators for alumni (see programme overview for AU-reported figures).

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Tuition is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis per course after payment of an initial application fee; course fees vary by location and other factors and estimated program costs are available in the university Calendar. Athabasca University indicates it provides a range of financial aid and awards to help students manage costs; prospective students are encouraged to review the university's financial aid and awards pages for available options.