Criminology and Politics and Governance Double Major

Applicants interested in the double major program in Criminology and Politics and Governance must apply for admission to one of the ten major programs (Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology or Sociology), or to Undeclared Arts. Students are not admitted directly to a double major.

The Faculty of Arts accepts applications for transfer to a double major program in the second semester of studies. Approved transfer students commence studies in the double major program in second year.  Further details on the process will be provided by the Faculty of Arts during the first semester.

Students in the Criminology and Politics and Governance double major will learn how key players and institutions affect, and are affected by, the justice system and other social and political institutions of regulation. Students will learn about the operation of these systems, the professionals who work within them, and the various stakeholders that are involved. This will also include an analysis of the influence of race, class, gender, and other forms of social inequality. The program emphasizes students’ ability to think critically about political and criminological issues, and provides valuable tools for developing substantive knowledge for work in criminal justice and political fields, as well as postgraduate education.

The core goals of the double major are to graduate students who will be able to:

● demonstrate in-depth knowledge of how decisions are made by governments, non-governmental organizations, and both criminal justice and political institutions;
● critically evaluate and analyze administrative practices and policies related to law and society;
● understand justice and equity within and outside of political and criminal justice systems, as well as the important role of communities, not-for-profit, and private-sector agencies in developing policy and delivering justice;
● identify how structural inequalities (e.g., gender, race, class, legal status) impact individuals, communities, civic engagement, and socio-political outcomes;
● recognize how global, national, and sub-national political institutions may create barriers or facilitate access to justice.
 

Students in the Criminology and Politics and Governance Double Major develop proficiency in critical thinking, especially on topics related to law, policy, government, and the administration of the criminal justice system. Graduate career paths may include working in the public service, Canadian or international non-governmental organizations, social and victim support services, community-based diversion or restorative justice programs, and support services for women. Specific jobs could include policy analyst for public, private, or third sectors, case worker with marginalized communities, youth or refugee rights advocate, conflict mediator, lawyer, legal assistant, or court worker. Graduates may also continue their studies at the Masters or Doctoral level in disciplines such as Political Science, Public Administration, Policy Studies, Criminology, Law, or Socio-Legal Studies.  

Semesters One and Two: The first year is a Common Arts Platform, which is shared with the BA programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, and Sociology. They develop foundational understandings of the discipline through two introductory courses in each of Criminology and Politics & Governance. In addition to these four courses, students must complete two courses teaching key skills in Critical Thinking and Academic Writing and Research. For breadth, students select two courses from humanities disciplines on Table I. The final two courses are selected from the Open Electives table.

Semesters Three and Four: In second year, students are provided with foundational tools in theory and research methods through a Common Arts Platform course, Research Design and Qualitative Methods. They also choose two of five introductory courses to the sub-fields in Politics and Governance (exploring the actors and institutions of Canadian government, the emerging institutions and practices of global governance, controversial policy topics, western political thought, and comparative politics), as well as acquire foundational knowledge related to the disciplines through courses on criminal law in Canada and Indigenous governance in Canada.

Semesters Five and Six: In the third year, students develop a sharper focus on theoretical and methodological ideas that are useful to describe and analyze society and the criminal justice system, taking advanced courses in research methods and ethics. Students will further choose one course from a group of three, focussing on either police, courts, or corrections in depth as well as four Politics & Governance electives. Finally, students choose two upper-level Liberal Studies in disciplines besides Politics & Governance and Criminology.

Semesters Seven and Eight: In the final year, students study criminal justice and political issues in greater depth, exploring such topics as youth justice, Indigenous justice, strategies of crime control and prevention, the politics of race and ethnicity, social policy, foreign policy, and more. Students take four electives from the Politics & Governance offerings, three of which should be from the most advanced level. Students will also take an advanced level special topics seminar in criminal justice.
 

In order to transfer to the Criminology and Politics & Governance Double Major from any of Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, or Sociology, students are encouraged to present a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) in their first semester studies at Toronto Met to maximize their chances for consideration, subject to competition and available second-year spaces. Possession of the minimum cumulative grade point average does not guarantee program transfer.

Students must:

1. have a CLEAR Academic Standing at the end of the Winter term of their second semester of studies; and

2. must have successfully completed CRM 100 and POG 100 or POG 110. It is strongly recommended that students complete, in first year, both CRM 100 and CRM 102 and POG 100 and POG 110.
 

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and four upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website.

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions
Criminology courses and Politics and Governance courses and PHL 214 are not available for credit.

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions
Criminology courses and Politics and Governance courses are not available for credit.

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).