Bachelor of Professional Arts in Criminal Justice

Criminal justice systems are complex and require an understanding of crime as well as the institutions and professionals that operate within these systems. Athabasca University's Bachelor of Professional Arts in Criminal Justice will teach you to think critically about criminal justice policies and practices.

Whether you’ve just earned your diploma or have several years of experience in the criminal justice field, this program is for you. You will get advanced education in areas such as

• community policing
• youth justice
• cross-cultural awareness
• organized crime
• victims of crime
• managing family violence
• law and policing

You will also learn more about

• the adult and youth justice systems
• criminal justice policies, procedures and programs
• the roles of criminal justice professionals (such as law enforcement) and other stakeholders (such as victims and offenders)

Taking this degree-completion program can support career advancement and continued education at the graduate level.

Why take the Bachelor of Professional Arts?

AU’s Bachelor of Professional Arts (BPA) program lets you turn your diploma into a degree while still being able to work and meet personal commitments. You bring your knowledge and professional experience, and we bring you the wider context, including relevant theories and issues.

Graduates from the Bachelor of Professional Arts-Criminal Justice (BPA-CRJS) program should

• Describe the tripartite structure of the criminal justice system (the courts, the police, and corrections).
• Examine the policy, adjudication, and rehabilitation functions of the criminal justice system.
• Analyze the differences in and interactions between the adult and youth justice systems.
• Identify ethical issues in criminal justice research and work.
• Evaluate psychological and sociological theories of crime and social deviance.
• Evaluate the theories and research that underpin correctional treatment programs.
• Analyze research methodologies that inform criminal justice research and practice recognizing the limits of these methodologies and of one’s knowledge and ability to make sound judgements and recommendations.

Program goals

This program is intended to attract not only newly graduated diploma students but also those with several years of experience. The general program goals are to

• provide graduates with the critical-thinking skills, administrative skills, and advanced education in areas such as community policing, cross-cultural awareness, the environment, organized crime, managing family violence, and law and policing that are needed by police, corrections, security and other enforcement officers.
• afford increased areas of employment and advancement in the criminal justice field for police officers, corrections officers, court officers and private security officers.

Possible career options

• Police Officer
• Customs Officer
• Canadian Intelligence Officer
• Military Police Officer
• Correctional Officer
• Parole Officer
• Probation Officer
• Crime Analyst
• Policy Analyst (provincial and federal solicitor general departments)
• Private/Corporate Investigator
• Youth Worker (young offenders)
• Special Constable (solicitor general/justice/municipal departments)

• Completion of high school in an English-speaking country.
• Completion of 15 university credits from a recognized English-speaking university, or 1 year at a non-university post-secondary institution with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).

English is the language of instruction and communication in SCIS graduate programs.

Proficiency in English is an essential requirement for admission to SCIS graduate programs. Although working and studying online requires a different level of English language skills than does the classroom situation, students must nevertheless be able to communicate effectively with faculty, administration, and with other students.

For more information on the English Language Prociency Requirements for Graduate Studies please refer to the AU graduate calendar.

• Minimum score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Minimum score of 60% on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).
• Minimum score of 80 on the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test.
• Minimum score of 59 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• Minimum score of 213 on the computer- or paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), with 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Minimum score of 80 with an essay score of 20 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).
• Successful completion of AU’s English Language Proficiency Program with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).
• See the English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy for further details.

How to apply

You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.

• How to enrol in an undergraduate program

Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.