University of Manitoba - Faculty of Arts - Sociology

Criminology Program

Undergraduate Students

The Criminology Major

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Criminology Major) is one of the programs offered in the Department of Sociology. First year students who wish to pursue the Criminology Major must take Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1200). This six credit-hour course introduces the student to the discipline, its perspective, its basic concepts and principles, its methods of analysis, and its major sub-fields. This course is a prerequisite for all other Sociology and Criminology courses, and students must complete it with a minimum grade of C.

Criminology majors take 24 credit-hours beyond Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1200).

Required courses: Criminology (SOC 2510) with a minimum grade of C is a prerequisite to all other criminology courses (with the exception of SOC3860). Additionally, Criminal Justice and Corrections (SOC 2610) and Research Methods (SOC 2290) are required courses in this program.

Additional Courses: Another twelve credit-hours are to be selected from among a variety of third year courses (listed below). While these courses have been organized into clusters or themes, students are free to choose the ones that interest them.

Law and Society Cluster

Sociologists interested in exploring the law-society relation focus on questions pertaining to the extent to which law reproduces social inequalities that prevail in the wider society and whether law holds the potential to alleviate those inequalities. Addressing such questions requires attention to the rich history of theoretical work in the discipline, as well as the broad reach of law that extends beyond the criminal justice system.

Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in furthering their studies at the graduate level or law school in order to pursue a career in academia or the legal profession. Those going on to complete a Master’s degree also improve their chances of gaining employment in the private and public sectors as researchers and policy analysts.

Recommended courses:

SOC 3310 Theorizing Law, Crime and Social Justice

SOC 3700 Sociology of Law

SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)

SOC 3790 Women, Crime and Social Justice

SOC 3850 Restorative Justice

SOC 3860 Genocide, Crime & Society

The Criminal Justice System Cluster

What groups in society are most likely to come under the scrutiny of the criminal justice system? How do the police, courts, and prisons manage and process offenders? What alternative strategies would work to reduce the incidence of crime in our society?

Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in a career in the criminal justice system (as police, probation, correctional or parole officers) or working with community-based agencies. Many go on to pursue a graduate degree to improve their chances of gaining employment in these sectors.

Recommended courses:

SOC 3710 Criminal Careers

SOC 3720 Criminal Law & Its Procedure

SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)

SOC 3790 Women, Crime and Social Justice

SOC 3830 Youth, Crime and Society

SOC 3850 Restorative Justice

SOC 3880 Global Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Research and Policy Cluster

How successful are the strategies adopted to respond to issues of crime and safety in our communities? What can we learn from the experience of other cultures and societies? How do we go about conducting meaningful research and formulating effective policies?

Students choosing this area of specialization are typically interested in pursuing a career in government or the private sector as a researcher or policy analyst. Many go on to pursue a graduate degree to improve their chances of gaining employment in these sectors.

Recommended courses:

SOC 3100 Practicum in Criminological/Sociological Research (6 cr hrs)

SOC 3740 Selected Topics in Criminology (subject matter varies by instructor)

SOC 3750 Institutional Responses to Violence

SOC 3830 Youth, Crime and Society

SOC 3880 Global Criminology and Criminal Justice

Preparation for Graduate Studies

Criminology students wishing to pursue graduate studies (an M.A. and perhaps a Ph.D.) in the area of Criminology and Social Justice have two options. One option is to transfer to the Sociology Honours Program. The other is to undertake a Pre-Master’s year of coursework once the B.A. degree is completed

Option A: Sociology Honours Program

In addition to SOC 1200 and SOC 2290 (which are required courses for the Criminology Major), Sociology Honours students must complete SOC 2010 and SOC 2220 as well as 9 credit hours of Sociological theory courses (one of these can be SOC 3310, Theorizing Law, Crime and Social Justice).

Required fourth year courses include 6 credit hours of Sociological theory (SOC 4460 and SOC 4560), 6 credit hours of Sociological methods (SOC 4470 and SOC 4480) and the Honours Thesis Seminar (SOC 4450).

For more information about the Sociology Honours Program see: [link to Sociology Honours program]

Option B: Sociology Pre-Master’s Program

Designed for students who have completed a 3 year B.A. degree, this one year program is designed to bring the student’s standing to approximately the level of a Sociology Honours graduate. Admission is competitive and follows the admission requirements for the Sociology Master’s Program.

Students admitted to the Pre-Master's Program are required to complete 24 credit hours (8 courses) of Sociology. Of these, students must take:

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours

SOC 4450 Honours Seminar 6

SOC 4460 Advanced Sociological Theory 3

SOC 4560 Advanced Sociological Theory 3

SOC 4570 Quantitative Social Analysis 3

SOC 4580 Social Research Methods 3

6 credit hours of Sociology electives above 1000-level* 6

*Students who have not already taken 6 credit hours of undergraduate sociological theory and 6 credit hours of undergraduate sociological research methods during their 3 year B.A. degree must complete these requirements (which may be counted as part of their electives).

Recent Honours and Pre-Masters Theses in the Criminology and Social Justice Area

Both Sociology Honours and Pre-Masters students have the opportunity to work with an advisor in the completion of a thesis project, which is a main component of the SOC 4450 course. In recent years, our students have undertaken studies on a number of topics and issues related to Criminology and Social Justice:

2009

Wendy Aujla, “Content Analysis of Domestic Violence among Immigrant Women in Canada” (L. Wilkinson, advisor)

Rana Bokhari, “The Effect of the Youth Criminal Justice Act on Incarceration Rates” (F. Cormier, advisor)

Suzanne Latchmin, “Immigrant Civil Liberty Offences: Examining the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act and the USA Patriot Act” (L. Wilkinson, advisor)

Konstantin Petoukhov, “Justice Self-Determination of the Navajo and the Mohawk Nations: A Comparative Case Study” (A. Woolford, advisor)

2008

Rachel Heinrichs. “Look Who’s Talking: The News Media and Gangs in Winnipeg” (E. Comack, advisor).

Jocelyn Lalonde. “If It Bleeds It Leads” (F. Cormier, advisor).

Ian K. McLeod. “The Potential of Restorative Justice for Addressing Youth Auto Theft in Winnipeg” (A. Woolford, advisor).

Ashleigh Pearson. “Lost in the Streets: Aboriginal Females and the Sex Trade” (E. Comack, advisor)

2007

Gregory Tachnak. “Incarceration Rates and the Welfare State: A Comparative Analysis of Finland, Britain and the United States” (S. Brickey, advisor).

2006

Michelle Albl. “Prostitution in the Welfare Model: ‘A Good Fit?’: A Comparison of Sweden, Germany and the United States” (S. Prentice, advisor).

Mark Hanly. “Transnational Policing as a Form of Nodal Governance in the European Context” (R. Smandych, advisor)

Jodi Koffman. “Juvenile Justice Legislation in Canada and the United States: A Comparative Analysis through the Eyes of Seymour Martin Lipset” (R. Smandych, advisor)

Gosia Parada. “Orientalism, Globalization and the Sex Trade in Asia and Eastern Europe: A Comparative Study” (R. Smandych, advisor)

Jeremy Patzer. “Aboriginal Rights to Traditional Livelihoods in Canada and Sweden: The Coercion of Modernity and the Nation-State” (G. Olsen, advisor)

2005

Jayda Wiebe. “When ‘No’ is Not an Option: The Marital Rape Epidemic” (M. Kandrack, advisor)

Shauna Wortman. “Welfare Regimes and Gender: Comparing Canada and Sweden on Gender Equality and Violence Against Women” (E. Comack, advisor)

2004

Janelle McLeod. "Will Canada Say 'I do'?: A Comparative Study of Egalitarianism and the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands" (G. Olsen, advisor)

Jillian Woloshyn. “Approaches to Incarceration: A Comparative Study of Canada, New Zealand and The United States” (G. Olsen, advisor)

PRACTICUM IN CRIMINOLOGICAL/SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH (SOC 3100)

(formerly Criminology Field Experience (SOC 3760))

The practicum is a 6 credit hour course that offers students an opportunity to gain valuable experience and training in field research through a placement in a criminal justice or other social service agency having a mandate relevant to the study of sociology. The course is taught and the placements arranged and supervised by the Criminology/Sociology Research Practicum Coordinator. This is a limited enrollment course and the admission process is competitive. The course is particularly recommended for students contemplating further study or a career in criminal justice or other social service sectors.

The Placement

The field component of the course provides students with an opportunity to become acquainted with the workings of a selected criminal justice or other sociologically-related agency as well as gain some practical research experience. The Practicum Coordinator consults with the agency to identify an area of research interest, and to develop a research plan for the student's project. An agency representative is designated as the student's supervisor while in the placement, and the Practicum Coordinator provides ongoing supervision and support to the student for the duration of the project.

Students are required to spend a minimum of 105 hours in their placement, normally averaging 5 hours per week over the academic year.

In recent years, Field Research students have worked with a wide range of agencies, including:

· Manitoba Justice (Corrections, Probation)

· John Howard Society

· RCMP (Criminal Intelligence Section)

· Restorative Resolutions

· Elizabeth Fry Society

· U of M Security Services

· RCMP (Commercial Crime Section)

· Macdonald Youth Services

· Winnipeg Police Service

· U of M Faculty of Social Work

· Choices Youth Program

· Circles of Support and Accountability

· Forensic Psychological Services

· Manitoba Public Insurance

· Manitoba Criminal Justice Association

· Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre

Classroom Instruction

In addition to the field placements, SOC 3100 provides classroom instruction in applied field research methods. The classroom component is designed to teach the skills that students will apply in the field component of the course, as well as in their future careers. It is intended to build upon previous research methods courses by focusing on criminal justice and other sociological research as it is actually conducted in the field. Topics covered include:

· Designing a field project

· Literature reviews

· Constructing and fielding surveys

· Qualitative methods (e.g. in-depth interviews, participant observation)

· Program evaluation

· Data analysis (qualitative and quantitative)

· Writing research reports

· Presenting research findings

Examples of Student Research Projects

The following projects were completed as part of the 2008-09 Criminology Field Experience course:

Paul Catteeuw and Rachel Fields, “Incarcerated Women and Motherhood Perceptions” (T. Markestyn and D. Coopsammy, Manitoba Justice)

Evan Bowness, “Perceived Effectiveness of the WATSS Electronic Monitoring Project” (Judge H. Pullan, Provincial Court)

Rob Allison and Tyler Krasowski, “The Impact of Technology on White Collar Crime” (Sgt. L. Levasseur, Winnipeg Police Service)

Konan Michaelis, “Lighthouses in Manitoba: A Qualitative Approach to What Works” (R. Kennett, Manitoba Justice).

Kirsty Gibb and Candace Skinner, “Adult Auto Theft Team: Evaluation and Offender Profile” (K. Biggar and B. Apter, Manitoba Justice)

Tammy Routley and Stefania Whidden, “Youth Gang Prevention: Deterrence and Awareness” (Sgt. R. Cook, RCMP)

Dean Kostakos and Tanner McDonald, “Psychological Components Involved in Fraud” (S.Sgt. D. Scott, RCMP).

Applying for the Course

The Practicum is a limited enrollment course and advanced permission is required to register. The course is normally restricted to third-year Criminology and Sociology majors; however, exceptions may be made for particularly strong applicants.

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate research methods course (SOC 2290 or equivalent). Applicants should also have completed courses relevant to the area in which they are seeking a placement. For example, an applicant seeking a placement in a criminal justice agency should have completed Criminology (SOC 2510 ) and Criminal Justice & Corrections (SOC 2610 ).

International students must obtain a valid Work Permit (in addition to maintaining a Study Permit) in order to register for the course.

Applicants are evaluated on academic background and performance, employment and/or volunteer history, area(s) of interest, and on a writing sample dealing with a criminal justice/sociological issue of the applicant's choice.

[link to practicum application form]

Course applications should be completed by the last business day in the month of May preceding the Regular Session in which students intend to take the course. Late applications may be considered; however, preference will be given to applicants who meet the deadline.

For further information on the Practicum course, please contact:

Frank Cormier
Crim/Soc Research Practicum Coordinator
313 Isbister Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg , MB R3T 2N2
(204) 474-6445
Manitoba toll free 1-800-432-1960 ext.6445

Frank_Cormier@umanitoba.ca

CRIMINOLOGY COURSES OFFERED IN 2010-11

Fall 2010 Courses

SOC 2510 Criminology M/W/F 9:30-10:20 Peikoff

SOC 2510 Criminology Tues/Th 1:00-2:15 Smandych

SOC 2610 Criminal Justice and Corrections M/W/F 8:30-9:20 Smandych

SOC 3710 Sociology of Criminal Careers M/W/F 11:30-12:20 Peikoff

SOC 3790 Women, Crime and Social Justice Tues/Th 1:00-2:15 Kandrack

SOC 3850 Restorative Justice Tues/Thurs 2:30-3:45 Woolford

Winter 2011 Courses

SOC 2510 Criminology Tues/Th 2:30-3:45 Cormier

SOC 2610 Criminal Justice and Corrections M/W/F 8:30-9:20 Smandych