FAQs
Before you book an appointment or e-mail the Criminology Program Advisor and Field Placement Coordinator, please check out the following Frequently Asked Questions.
Admission Requirements
Q. What are the admission requirements for Criminology?
A. See the detailed admission requirements for high school and post-secondary transfer students.
Q. How much does the program cost?
A. To determine the tuition fees for the program visit: https://costcalculator.registrar.ualberta.ca/costcalculator/
Q. How do I apply?
A. You can start applying October 1st by completing an online Application
Q. What is the application deadline?
A. The deadline is March 1st annually
Q. What is the current competitive GPA?
A. The competitive GPA depends on the number of applications we receive and the quality of the applicant pool.
Q. Can I apply directly from High School?
A. Yes, the program accepts direct entry from high school although you must be eligible for admission to the Faculty of Arts (English and four other courses) and have a competitive average.
Q. Can I apply from the Transition Year Program or as a Indigenous Applicant?
A. Yes! We strongly encourage Indigenous students to apply and reserve spots for Indigenous applicants. See Admission for Indigenous Applicants and Transition Year Program for Indigenous Applicants.
Q. Is there Winter admission for the Criminology Program?
A. No, the Faculty of Arts does not admit students for the Winter Term into the Criminology Program.
Q. Can I apply if I have an undergraduate degree in another discipline?
A. No. The BA Criminology Program is not available as an after degree program.
Q. If I am not admitted into the program can I reapply?
A. Yes!
Q. I am a matriculated applicant can I apply to the Criminology Program?
A. Yes, you must present English 30-1 (equivalent) and one other admissible course to calculate the average. You must meet the competitive average on less courses.
Subject Requirements
English Language Arts 30-1 or ★3 in transferable English at the 100-level
Another 30-level subject from Group A, B, or C (or equivalent)
Presentation of Faculty minimum average on (1) and (2), and a competitive AGPA if any postsecondary-level coursework is presented.
Presentation of no more than ★21 of postsecondary-level coursework. Any applicant who has successfully completed ★24 or more at the postsecondary level will be considered a transfer applicant.(See Transfer from a Postsecondary Institutions and Postsecondary Applicants.) See general nonmatriculated applicant requirements Nonmatriculated Applicants.
Q. Can I transfer into the Criminology program from another university/program?
A. Yes, courses and credits would be assessed at the time of admission.
Q. Do I need to complete two years at the University as a Transfer Student?
A. Yes!
Q. If I have questions about the application process who should I direct them to?
A. It depends! The Student Service Centre, provides services from the Office of the Registrar and can help answer questions about transcripts, course registration, financial support and more. The registrar's office deals with the high school applications for direct entry and the Faculty of Arts processes the transfer student applications.
General Program Information
Q. How long is the Criminology program?
A. The degree program is four years of full time study.
Q. Does the Criminology program include a minor?
A. No, students take a number of courses from the secondary mix subjects. Students cannot declare Criminology as an official Major or Minor in the BA Degree.
Q. How many faculty members teach in the field of Criminology at the UofA?
A. Currently, we have 8 who have Ph.D.s in the field of Criminology.
Q. What Careers can I pursue after a Criminology degree?
A. A wide range of careers are offered through the Criminology program and it is excellent that you are considering where the degree can take you. Your field placement or experiential learning opportunities will increase your prospects for various types of employment after graduation. If you are unsure of your career path, the Career Centre has resources to assist in career planning. You can visit the Career Centre office in 2-100 Students' Union Building for more information.
Q. What makes the BA Criminology Program at the UofA different from other programs offered in Canada?
A. Our program offers students Criminology courses through the Department of Sociology. Students can also apply to the field placement stream to receive practical experience in the criminal justice system through two dynamic field placements with a variety of criminal justice organizations. The program gives students hands-on experience and is interdisciplinary as students are required to take courses in other areas such as Psychology, Native Studies, Human Ecology, and Political Science.
Q. What is the course based stream?
A. The course based stream provides students with opportunities to develop critical thinking and research based skills through coursework and opportunities to apply them.
Q. What is the field placement stream?
A. The field placement stream provides students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in a variety of criminal justice settings. Often, these field placements lead to employment in the criminal justice system upon graduation.
Q. How do I apply to the field placement stream?
A. You must first apply to the Criminology program, once accepted; you would then apply to the competitive field placement stream. Students interested in the field placement stream apply to the Department of Sociology. The application deadline is October 30th annually. To apply, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the most recently completed *15 transferable university credits as of the end of the Fall term. You must also submit electronic copies of your resume and cover letter/statement of career objectives (1-2 pages).
Q. If I decide to do the Field Placement Stream in what year of the program will my practicum start?
A. Students take the first field placement SOC 399 in the third year of their program and the second field placement SOC 499 in the fourth year of their program. If you are accepted in your fourth year of studies you will need to plan to take SOC 399 in the Fall term and SOC 499 in the Winter term.
Courses and Degree Requirements
Q. How do I get a transcript assessed?
A. Contact the Registars office
Q. Will my courses from another University transfer over into the program?
A. See the Transfer Alberta website and guide to learn about what courses might transfer over. Note that your courses will be assessed at the time of admission.
Q. Do I need to meet a course load requirement if I am accepted in the program?
A. No, you no longer need to have a course load academic standing. You do not need to apply to reduce your course load.
Q. Do I need to complete the basic BA requirements for the Criminology program prior to applying?
A. No you can take the basic BA required courses while pursuing the Criminology program. Please note the basic requirements for the BA Criminology program are the same as those for the BA (see academic calendar for current year).
Q. What if I have a 30-level language course from high school will this satisfy the BA requirement?
A. Your language other than English (LOE) requirements is waived. This allows you to take option courses during your program.
Q. Do I need to complete a certain number of credits or residency at the UofA?
A. Yes, students can only receive *60 credits when transferring to the University. Two years of course work must be completed at the UofA under the residence requirement. Certain requirements must also be met while in the Faculty of Arts at the UofA. No more than *78 units of course weight will be granted in transfer credit toward the BA (Criminology) program
Q. Is there a limit to how many junior courses I can take in the program?
A. Students in the Faculty of Arts may not take more than *48 units of course weight at the junior level (100-level). Any junior credits in excess of *48 units of course weight will be declared extra to your Criminology degree. Junior courses can be taken in any year of the program.
Q. Do I need to maintain a minimum GPA to remain in the program?
A. Yes, a minimum grade point average of 2.7 and a minimum grade of B- in each of SOC 399 and 399 (Field Placement Stream courses). If your academic standing falls beneath a satisfactory level you may be required to withdraw from the program.
Q. How do I know what degree requirements to follow?
A. You must meet the requirements of the year you were admitted into the program. You must meet the calendar requirements.
Q. How can I see the courses I have completed and requirements I still have left to satisfy?
A. Access your academic report on beartracks
Course Registration
Q. How many courses should I register in for each semester?
A. Normally, students take a full-course load or at least 5 courses each semester. This is not mandatory.
Q. How does a field placement student register for the placement courses?
A. You must speak to the BA Criminology Program Advisorand Field Placement Coordinator in March (annually) to be enrolled in the field placement course (SOC 399 or SOC 499) for the following academic year.
Q. When taking the field placement course (SOC 399 or SOC 499) how many other courses do you need to register in?
A. In the term you are planning to take a field placement course, only register in 3 other courses, which have class times on the same day. For example, MW or TR. This allows you to have two days set aside for the field placement experience.
Q. When can I see which classes will be offered in upcoming terms?
A. Updated timetables and course offerings usually appear in Bear Tracks in early March for the coming Fall and Winter terms, and in mid-December for upcoming Spring and Summer terms.
Q. When can I start registering for Fall and Winter classes?
A. Your enrollment dates will appear in your Bear Tracks account in advance of registration beginning. Registration for Fall and Winter term classes begins in late March, and is staggered based on your Year of Program. So students in their last year get to go first.
Q. When can I start registering for Spring and Summer classes?
A. Your enrollment dates will appear in your Bear Tracks account in advance of registration beginning. Registration for Spring and Summer term classes generally opens in February before Reading Week.
Additional Questions?
Please refer to the FAQs section on the Faculty of Arts website or the Criminology Handbook, as this is a helpful resource for not only the current students, but prospective students as well.
If you can't find the answers to the questions there, please feel free to contact the BA Criminology Program Advisor and Field Placement Coordinator!
Additionally, if you have questions about the application process Student Service Centre provides services from the Office of the Registrar to current and prospective undergraduate students.