Please note:
To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.
Correctional Studies
This certificate is primarily for individuals who are interested in working within the correctional system, and also for students who wish to focus their criminology undergraduate studies on courses that relate to correctional practice and theory.
Units applied toward a certificate may not be applied toward any other Simon Fraser University certificate or diploma, but may be applied toward major program or minor program requirements, or toward a bachelor’s degree under the normal regulations governing those programs.
Program Declaration
Students are eligible to apply for entry to the correctional studies certificate program if
- they have been admitted to Simon Fraser University (or are in the process of being admitted); and
- they have completed and received grades for the following course, with a final grade of C- or better
An examination of the organization, structure and operation of contemporary Canadian corrections. A consideration of the history and development of provincial and federal correctional systems. The role of sentencing in the correctional process and alternatives to confinement. Discussion of the social organization of correctional institutions, including the inmates, correctional officers, correctional treatment staff and administrators. Parole board decision making and the issues surrounding the re-entry of offenders into the community. Community-based corrections programs and outcomes. Prerequisite: CRIM 131.
Admission, Program Declaration, and Continuation
Applicants must meet university undergraduate admission deadlines as shown in this Calendar. Application forms and official documents must be submitted to Student Services. In addition to applying for University admission, students apply in writing to the School of Criminology's advisor for certificate program declaration.
To continue in the program, students must maintain a 2.25 cumulative grade point average (CGPA)*. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.25 cannot enroll in any upper division CRIM courses.
*transfer students who meet the criminology program declaration requirements upon admission to SFU may use their admission CGPA for declaration purposes
Program Requirements
Students complete a total of six courses (18 units), including
An examination of the organization, structure and operation of contemporary Canadian corrections. A consideration of the history and development of provincial and federal correctional systems. The role of sentencing in the correctional process and alternatives to confinement. Discussion of the social organization of correctional institutions, including the inmates, correctional officers, correctional treatment staff and administrators. Parole board decision making and the issues surrounding the re-entry of offenders into the community. Community-based corrections programs and outcomes. Prerequisite: CRIM 131.
and five course chosen from
The course will contrast restorative justice with the dominant adversarial/retributive/punitive model of justice through a critical analysis of these two paradigms of justice. Several key principles, assumptions, and concepts necessary for understanding the foundation and practice of restorative justice will be introduced and explored. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A critical analysis of specific areas of criminology or criminal justice. The subjects covered will change from term to term depending on the specific interests of faculty, or students and current issues in criminology. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
A critical analysis of specific areas of criminology or criminal justice. The subjects covered will change from term to term depending on the specific interests of faculty, or students and current issues in criminology. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
An in-depth consideration of a range of factors influencing contemporary correctional practice. The fundamental tension between the interests of offenders and the requirements of those managing correctional programs; the context provided by underlying theoretical assumptions about correctional practice and by influences such as public perceptions, politics and the economy. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Recommended: CRIM 241.
Explores sentencing theory, the law applicable to sentencing, the practice of sentencing, and public perceptions. Looks at reforms of sentencing practice. The legal framework governing sentencing practices will be closely analyzed. However, a multidisciplinary approach will be taken, incorporating legal and social science perspectives. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and CRIM 135. Students who have taken CRIM 416 in Spring 2019 and CRIM 414 (Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2015), under the title "Sentencing: Theory, Law and Practice" may not take this course for further credit.
In-depth critical assessment of contemporary issues faced by criminologists in relation to correctional operations and programming. Discusses current practices in corrections, including offenders' classification, criminological assessment, management of exceptional offenders and evidence-based programs offered to offenders. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Recommended: CRIM 241.
A critical analysis of certain 'hot' issues in criminology and criminal justice. The topics covered change from term to term. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
A critical analysis of certain 'hot' issues in criminology and criminal justice. The topics covered change from term to term. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
An in-depth examination of Aboriginal/indigenous conceptions of justice in dealing with crime and other trouble in indigenous communities, and in relations among peoples. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 or FNST 101 or 201 or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for this course as CRIM 416 or 418, or FNST 419, may not take this course for further credit.
An in-depth examination of the various community-based and institutional practices in promoting restorative processes, based on an examination and comparison of the values, philosophical approaches and outcomes of selected western and non-western models. Practices examined will include a range of restorative justice initiatives, including victim-offender mediation, family-group conferencing, multi-party mediation, and various circle remedies. This examination will include the application of restorative justice in the community, in schools and at all levels of the legal process (pre-arrest to post-incarceration and reintegration). Prerequisite: CRIM 315. Recommended: CRIM 343.
Additional relevant courses may be added to the list of optional courses as they become available.
Students are responsible for satisfying the prerequisites for all required courses.
Courses must be completed at Simon Fraser University unless permission of the undergraduate chair is granted upon admission to this program. See the school's academic advisor for further information.
* when offered as a correctional studies topic
Upper Division Course Access
Students with a minimum 2.25 CGPA are eligible to enroll in upper division criminology courses upon successful completion of 60 units and certificate declaration. Students pursuing the certificate independent of a degree program will be eligible to access these courses without completion of 60 units; in these cases, completion of lower division prerequisite courses may be required.
Graduation Requirements
Students must obtain a minimum grade of C- in all required courses. In addition to normal university grade point average requirements, the School of Criminology requires the following: for graduation, students must obtain a minimum 2.25 CGPA, 2.25 UDGPA, 2.25 criminology course CGPA (calculated on all CRIM courses completed at SFU), and 2.25 criminology course UDGPA (calculated on all upper division CRIM courses completed at SFU).