General Information

The Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice (Honours) is a four-year baccalaureate degree program. The curriculum for the degree educates students in six program areas including, Foundations in Justice Studies, Human Relations, Human Justice, Criminological Literacy, Experiential Learning and General Education. This program provides professional preparation for students wishing to pursue careers such as Law Enforcement, Canadian Border Services, Immigration Canada, Provincial and Federal Corrections Officer, as well as a range of justice-related careers outside of law enforcement and corrections. The Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice (Honours) degree is unique in Alberta. Students in the Honours program will develop enhanced knowledge and skills that are particularly suited for preparation to apply for graduate study in criminology/criminal justice and law school.

Opportunities for Further Study

The Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice (Honours) degree does not guarantee either eligibility for, or admission into, graduate studies or law school. Graduates must meet the individual universities’ admission requirements in a competitive process. However, past graduates of Mount Royal’s justice-related undergraduate degree have earned admission into several justice-related Master of Arts degrees and law schools across Canada. Students considering graduate school or law school are encouraged to investigate their postgraduate educational plans with an academic advisor at the institution in which they are seeking to enrol.

Acceptance Requirements - Honours Stream

Students who are interested in pursuing graduate or law school after graduating from Mount Royal should consider applying for admission into the Honours stream in the Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice. Students must complete a Department application for acceptance into the Honours stream as part of acceptance requirements. The application process generally occurs once the student has successfully completed 25 courses in the Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice degree. 

Students must also meet the following requirements:

• The entry requirement includes a 3.3 cumulative GPA with a GPA of 3.5 in Justice courses.
• Written sponsorship of a full-time tenured or tenure-track instructor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies indicating a willingness to act as the student’s Honours project advisor.

The Honours stream involves a different set of fourth-year courses than those found in the 4th year of study in the Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice. In place of completing a 6-credit practicum and one Criminal Justice Option course, students complete an Honours seminar and a 6-credit Honours research project (spread over two semesters).

Continuance in the Program

Students accepted into the Bachelor of Art - Criminal Justice (Honours) degree program must comply with all University policies and regulations relating to Bachelor of Arts degree and continuance. In addition, students in Criminal Justice (Honours) must maintain a GPA of 3.30 for continuance in each semester in the Honours Program.  Students accepted into the Bachelor of Art - Criminal Justice (Honours) degree program must comply with all University policies and regulations relating to Bachelor of Arts degree and continuance. In addition, students in Criminal Justice (Honours) must maintain a GPA of 3.30 for continuance in each semester in the Honours Program.

Graduation Requirements 

Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice (Honours) students must obtain a minimum grade of B (3.30) in three 5000-level courses (CRJS 5001, CRJS 5010 and CRJS 5020) for graduation with an Honours degree. While enrolled in these courses, students must complete an honours project and in consolation with the faculty supervisor, should disseminate the findings.