Criminology (CRIM)

CRIM 1303  Introduction to Criminology    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to contemporary issues, problems and themes pertinent to the field of Criminology in Canada.

CRIM 1800 – 1825 Special Topics in Criminology
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

CRIM 1826 – 1849 Special Topics in Criminology
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

CRIM 2110  Exploring Criminology    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Completion of 24 credit hours including CRIM 1303
Students are introduced to tools and concepts underpinning criminological research. Students explore case studies to connect criminological theory and research.
CRIM 2304  Canadian Criminal Justice System    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Completion of 24 credit hours including CRIM 1303
Students examine the process of the criminal justice system in Canada. The roles, powers, and discretion of the police, the courts, and the correctional system are explored.

CRIM 2800 – 2825 Special Topics in Criminology
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

CRIM 2826 – 2849 Special Topics in Criminology
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

CRIM 3000  An Introduction to the International Criminal Court    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Major or Minor in Criminology
This course provides a comprehensive study of the International Criminal Court (ICC), tracing its roots from the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials to the founding of the Rome Statute. Students in the course investigate the ICC's jurisdictional framework and landmark cases. Attention is paid to critiques of the court and the challenges it faces in prosecuting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
CRIM 3011  Criminological Theory    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students are introduced to the major themes of contemporary criminological theory including the influence of class, gender, race, media and politics in the definition, explanation, and regulation of crime and criminal behaviour.
Note: Students may not receive credit for CRIM 3011 if they have already received credit for CRIM 2301.
CRIM 3100  Qualitative Research Methods    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students are introduced to criminological research that uses qualitative methods. Students examine qualitative methodology, research strategies, designs and methods of qualitative data collection and analysis, including the contributions of feminist scholarship. Students explore different ways of interpreting qualitative data. Approaches covered in this class may include grounded theory, participatory action research, historical and textual methods, and participant-observation/ethnography, among others.
Note: Students may not receive credit for CRIM 3100 if they have already received credit for SOCI 3100.
CRIM 3102  Quantitative Research Methods    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students are introduced to quantitative methodology, research strategies, designs, methods of quantitative data collection and statistical analysis in criminology. Students interpret and critique statistical data, which is a major source of information for criminologists.
Note: Students may not receive credit for CRIM 3102 if they have already received credit for CRIM 2302 or SOCI 2365 or SOCI 3102.
CRIM 3205  Restorative Justice Theory    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Restorative justice defines crime as a violation of social or interpersonal relationships, rather than a violation of an official rule or regulation. Students examine how restorative justice offers a wholesale shift in thinking about wrongdoing challenging the common belief that justice is best achieved through punishment and retribution.
CRIM 3450  Sexual Offenders and Sexual Offences    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor.
Students explore the topics of sexual offenders and sexual offences from a criminological perspective. Students are provided with a comprehensive overview of the current criminological study of sexual offending. A variety of topics will be discussed, including: the epidemiology of sexual offences; sexual offences against children; sexual offences against adults; atypical sexual offences; both individual and group explanations of sexual offending.
CRIM 3505  Prisons & Punishment    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students analyze efforts to respond to individuals who have been convicted of criminal offences. Topics covered include: the objectives of punishment, alternatives to confinement, correctional institutions and administrations, the inmate prison experience, release and re-entry, and the effectiveness of prisons and punishment.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3505 if they have already taken SOCI 3505.
CRIM 3507  Policing in Society    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
In this course students will explore issues related to the policing of modern societies. Topics will include the exercise of police powers and discretion, police misconduct, and policing in a multicultural society.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3507 if they have already taken SOCI 3507.
CRIM 3509  Victims and Criminal Justice    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
In criminal justice systems, the role of the victim has expanded considerably. It is not clear if these developments have resulted in better treatment of victims or more justice in broader ways. To explore these issues students will learn about the historic roots of “victimology”, and critical theoretical perspectives on the social construction of victims and their needs and rights.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3509 if they have already taken SOCI 3509.
CRIM 3510  Criminal Law    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
This course is designed to familiarize students with Canadian criminal law. The course will focus on topics such as the history, nature and functions of criminal law, its elements and role in a democratic society, exemptions from criminal responsibility, its principles and procedures, and its administration and enforcement.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3510 if they have already taken SOCI 3510.
CRIM 3519  Critical Terrorism Studies    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
This course is a comprehensive examination of how terrorism movements have comparatively developed. This includes an analysis of methods, typical motivations, and outcomes. Academic studies on terrorism and counter-terrorism are contrasted with responses to terrorism.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3519 if they have already taken SOCI 3519.
CRIM 3526  Organized Crime    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
This course provides an introduction to the subject of organized crime and its control in North America. The course applies sociological, criminological, and economic theory to understand the rise and proliferation of criminal organizations and organized crime activities. It also explores dominant organized crime genres, activities, and recent trends. The course also explores strategies and laws to combat organized crime.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3526 if they have already taken SOCI 3526.
CRIM 3546  Crime and the Media    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
This course focuses on the depiction of crime in various media of mass communication. Areas of study include corporate crime, violent crime, gangs, organized crime and terrorism. This course also examines how gender, race and class are related to the way crime is depicted in the
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3546 if they have already taken SOCI 3546.
CRIM 3551  Sexual Violence Legal Issues    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students will learn about the law of sexual assault in Canada and explore how criminal law deals with a variety of sexual offences. There will be particular focus on the law of consent, rules of evidence, and specific legal cases where relevant.
CRIM 3552  Specialized Courts in Canada    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students will learn about the move towards specialized courts in Canada including domestic violence courts, wellness courts and drug courts. Various specialized court models will be considered alongside research on their efficacy and legal implications.
CRIM 3610  Practicum in Social Development    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
Students explore factors that put children and youth at risk of future criminal and anti-social behavior. Students gain practical experience by tutoring youths from a high risk environment. In- class and online lectures provide a theoretical framework and training.
Note: Student may not receive credit for CRIM 3610 if they have already taken SOCI 3610.

CRIM 3800 – 3825 Special Topics in Criminology
6 credit hours
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
These courses are designed to enable a student to examine particular criminological issues in detail. They will be offered according to faculty availability and expertise.

CRIM 3826 – 3849 Special Topics in Criminology
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major or Minor
These courses are designed to enable a student to examine particular criminological issues in detail. They will be offered according to faculty availability and expertise.

CRIM 4303  Canadian Criminal Justice Seminar    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100),CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students examine contemporary issues in the criminal justice system, and critically analyze the policy responses that are designed address these issues. Students investigate the principles and techniques of public policy development, implementation, and evaluation in the criminal justice system.
CRIM 4327  Seminar in Crime and Media    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students examine the way that crime, criminality, justice, and resistance are constituted in and through mediated discourses in mediums such as film and television.
CRIM 4328  Crime and Culture in Global Cinema    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students explore the connection between culture and meaning in representations of ‘crime’ and the ‘criminal’. Students study six films, in languages different from English, to learn about how power structures in diverse social and historical contexts impact the understanding of crime, transgression and deviancy, within and beyond criminal justice systems.
CRIM 4404  Critical Criminology    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Critical criminology challenges the dominant paradigms of crime-control, adopting instead a social justice approach to crime. Students will explore central themes of critical criminology including power; the social construction of crime; governance and regulation; the politicization of crime control; and, the significance of gender, race and class.
CRIM 4420  Genocide    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Genocide as a sociological and criminological phenomenon prevalent through history is examined. Different types of genocide are identified, as well as the many challenges in responding to it.
CRIM 4425  Hate Crimes    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students examine definitions of prejudice, hate, violence, and crime to explore the context and conditions in which prejudice becomes hate, hate turns into violence, and violence makes hate a crime. Students explore who the protagonists are, what the social contexts of hate are, what the role of the Criminal Justice System is, and what the potential remedies for hate crimes look like.
CRIM 4429  Criminalization of Mental Illness    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students examine how social structures and processes shape the understanding and management of mental illnesses, thereby contributing to an overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Students explore the overlap between mental illness and crime, and the intersecting functions of mental health and criminal justice institutions.
CRIM 4501  Advanced Theory    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020), and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100)
This course provides an in-depth and critical explanation of selected criminological theories and how they create the epistemological status of the discipline. Students explore the ethical and political dimension of criminological theories and read original works in the field.
CRIM 4502  Advanced Research Methods    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020), and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100)
Students examine qualitative and quantitative research methods used in criminological research. Students explore the characteristics of credible and rigorous research and the applicability of various methods to the field of Criminology.
CRIM 4525  Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students are introduced to the field of crime prevention. Students plan and implement a crime prevention project, and develop a crime prevention plan.
CRIM 4600  Honours Thesis Research Preparation    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: enrolment in honours program
This course is restricted to students who have been accepted into the honours program. Its purpose is to aid students in the preparation of their honours thesis in individual work with a supervisor. Students will present their thesis orally to faculty and classmates at end of term.
CRIM 4601  Honours Thesis Writing    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Successful completion of CRIM 4600
Students will work closely with their supervisor to complete their thesis. Students present their thesis orally to faculty and classmates at end of term.
CRIM 4610  Community Practicum Development    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
Students will tutor youth from a socially disadvantaged neighborhood and research and prepare a development plan for that community. A theoretical framework and training for this field work is provided.
CRIM 4612  Digital Criminology    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2350 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3011)
The emerging field of digital criminology provides the necessary tools to address the broad effects of digital technology on crime, law, victimization, and policing. While theories of cybercrime look at a specific subsection of criminality and deviance involving the use of online and computer technology, digital criminology opens up a broader criminological theorization of crime, deviance, and justice in our digital society. This course takes an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for the multiplicity of digital technology’s impacts and the increasingly false binary between “online” and “offline” crimes.

CRIM 4800- 4825 Special Topics in Criminology
6 credit hours
Prerequisites: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
These seminar courses are designed to provide seminars pertaining to particular interests of faculty and students in Criminology.

CRIM 4826- 4849 Special Topics in Criminology
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Declaration of Criminology Major and CRIM 3100 (or SOCI 3100), CRIM 3102 (or SOCI 3102 or PSYC 2020) and CRIM 3011 (or SOCI 3012)
These seminar courses are designed to provide seminars pertaining to particular interests of faculty and students in Criminology.

CRIM 4880- 4899 Directed Readings
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of Criminology Chair
These courses provide opportunities to study a particular subject in detail.  They will normally require a considerable amount of independent, thorough, supervised study.