Students studying in Social Sciences Building

What can I do with my studies?

Criminology

Program overview

Program requirements 

Acquired skills

University education stimulates the development of many valuable skills transferable to the workplace. Employers increasingly demand a set of skills from their employees; communication, research, data use, analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organizational, responsibility, adaptability and autonomy, and teamwork skills are sought after. While they can seem limited to each program of study, skills are adaptable and extendable to a variety of situations and they can also be used to acquire other aptitudes and abilities hence ensuring the development and advancement of ones career (to further develop your skill set, see Experience section). The list of skills below can then help in the process of choosing occupations that best fit your education and aptitudes and it can also be used to communicate your employability.

General  Skills 

  • Profound understanding of public policy
  • Ability to analyze and identify social problems and develop solutions
  • Skills in both quantitative and qualitative social sciences research
  • Ability to effectively analyze and interpret information and discuss, support or reject theories and proposals

Specific Skills

  • Ability to understand how economic, cultural and societal changes impact the course-line of individuals
  • Ability to understand the function of the criminal justice system and penal institutions
  • Skills to assess the effectiveness of various methods of crime prevention and enforcement
  • Ability to understand the implications related to criminal and deviant behaviours

Further studies

Many graduate programs are available for people with an undergraduate degree interested in expanding their knowledge, specializing or conducting research. The graduate programs below are examples selected from the list of graduate programs offered by the University of Ottawa. While they are related to this program of study, it is important to consult the admission requirements of the programs as not all types of degrees qualify one for admission. Moreover, additional programs and other universities could be considered depending on your career plan.

Graduate programs

Potential occupations

Universities studies lead to multiple occupations. Furthermore, certain professions require talent, special aptitudes, additional skills and experience beyond degrees themselves. By targeting a profession, it can make decisions easier during your schooling, throughout your job search and, finally, when choosing among job offers. The choices can change over time based on academic, personal, and professional paths and on the knowledge of occupations and of the labour market.

 In order to list your choices, visit the Job Bank Canada website and, using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, view job postings, wages, employment prospects and other important information that can help you make a decision. If need be, additional and complementary information can be found via two online career exploration tools (Careercruising and Choices Planner)* also designed to facilitate your career advancement. The occupations found below are examples derived from the National Occupational Classification. They are presented by their occupational group title, in bold, followed by bulleted occupational titles specific to the program of study. Immediately after the occupational titles, the hyperlinked NOC code for the occupational group is provided. Overall, the occupations are presented side by side with their employment requirements and the establishments where to find a job.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 is the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada providing a standard taxonomy and framework for dialogue on Labour Market Information. It gathers more than 30,000 occupational titles into 500 Unit Groups, organized according to skill levels and skill types.

Occupations related to this program

Police officers (except commissioned)

  • Community police officer
  • Crime prevention constable
  • Detective police
  • Investigator police
  • Peace officer
  • Police officer
  • School liaison officer - police
  • Security officer

Completion of a college program or university degree in law and security or in the social sciences is usually required; a three- to six-month police training program is provided; physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests may also be required; experience as a constable and the completion of specialized courses are required for detectives and sergeants

Correctional service officers

  • Correctional facility guard
  • Correctional officer
  • Detention attendant
  • Penitentiary guard
  • Reformatory warden
  • Supervisor, correctional officers

Post-secondary education in correctional services, police studies or criminology may be required; correctional officer recruits must successfully complete the Correctional Service of Canada training course to be employed by federal institutions; correctional officer recruits are usually required to complete a basic training course to be employed by provincial/territorial institutions; physical agility, strength and fitness requirements must be met; correctional service supervisors require experience as a correctional service officer; first aid certification and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training are usually required

Commissioned police officer

  • Chief of police
  • Police captain
  • Police superintendent
  • Staff inspector

Completion of secondary school is required, a university degree in the social sciences or in business administration may be required; several years of experience as a police officer are required

Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety

  • Enforcement officer environmental health
  • Environmental officer
  • Environmental health inspector supervisor

A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a discipline such as food science, social sciences, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required; in some establishments, several years of related work experience and the completion of in-house training courses may substitute for formal education

Probation and parole officers and related occupations

  • Classification counsellor corrections
  • Clemency officer - corrections
  • Clinical counsellor
  • Community reintergration worker
  • Correctional case officer
  • Correctional program officer
  • Probation and parole officer
  • Youth worker - corrections

A bachelor's degree in social work, criminology, psychology, sociology or other related social science discipline is required; a master's degree in criminology, social work, psychology or other related social science discipline may be required

Social and community service workers

  • Caseworker in restorative justice
  • Child and youth worker
  • Community development worker
  • Crime prevention worker
  • Crisis intervention worker
  • Front line worker
  • Human relations officer
  • Victim service worker

A university program in criminology, social work, child and youth care, psychology or other social science or health-related discipline is usually required; previous work experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements for some occupations in this unit group; social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces

Immigration and border services officers

  • Border services officer
  • Customs investigator
  • Immigration officer
  • Intelligence analyst

A bachelor's degree or college diploma is usually required; several years of related administrative or regulatory experience may be required; completion of specialized government training is required

Managers and clinical supervisors of probation and parole officers and related occupations

  • Classification counsellor – corrections
  • Clemency officer - corrections
  • Correctional case officer
  • Probation and parole officer
  • Restorative justice coordinator
  • Social assistance program officer – corrections
  • Youth worker - corrections

A bachelor's degree in criminology, social work, psychology, sociology or other related social science discipline is required; a master's degree in criminology, social work, psychology or other related social science discipline may be required

Manager in social, community and correctional services

  • Community residential center and correctional facility director
  • Counselling services manager
  • Correctional center warden
  • Correctional treatment and training director
  • Crime prevention program manager
  • Family resources director
  • Victim services director
  • Women’s center manager
  • Young offender services director

Managers in social, community and correctional services usually require a master's degree in a social science or administrative discipline; several years of experience in a related occupation, such as a community and social service worker, social or health policy researcher, consultant or program officer, probation or parole officer, or social worker

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers

  • Child welfare policy analyst
  • Community policing program consultant
  • Correctional policy consultant
  • Correction rehabilitation program co-ordinator
  • Family violence prevention program adviser
  • Human rights officer
  • Social policy advisor

A bachelor’s degree in a social science or related discipline, or in business administration is usually required; a master’s degree in a social science discipline or business administration may be required

College and other vocational instructors

  • College lecturer
  • CEGEP teacher
  • Law enforcement teacher
  • Police instructor

A bachelor's degree, a college diploma or demonstrated expertise in the field of instruction is required; a master's degree in the field of instruction may be required; a certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required

Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

  • Discussion group leader – post-secondary teaching assistance
  • Post-secondary research assistant
  • Post-secondary teaching assistant
  • Tutor – post-secondary teaching assistant

Enrolment in a university or college program is required

Government managers in health and social policy development and program administration

  • Administrator, social programs –government services
  • Director, protection services – government services
  • Social programs development chief – government services

A bachelor's degree or a college diploma in a social science discipline, such as sociology or economics, or an administrative discipline, such as public administration, is required; a graduate degree in a social science or an administrative discipline may be required; several years of experience as a social policy researcher, consultant or program officer are usually required

Senior government managers and officials

  • Chair person, Human Rights Commission
  • Director general – government services
  • Executive director – government services

A university degree or college diploma is usually required; a graduate degree in a related field may be required; several years of managerial experience in the public or private sector are required

Administrators post-secondary education and vocational training

  • Assistant dean
  • Dean
  • Faculty administrator

Faculty administrators require a graduate degree in a field related to the academic faculty and several years of experience as a university professor or college teacher

Related field

Although many students believe that they will pursue a career path directly connected to their university studies, quite often, graduates tend to work in related fields. Below is a list of possible related fields of work based on a given program of study. These fields present opportunities that are not typically considered as first choices when choosing a career path based on a program of study. Hopefully, this list will allow students to further consider the various fields that are loosely connected to their program of study. These results were compiled through a research of the University of Ottawa's alumni profiles which were found on the business-oriented social networking service, LinkedIn. 

Related Fields

  • Education
  • Operations
  • Administrative 
  • Research
  • Support 

Acquiring experience

Experience is acquired by participating and trying new personal, educational and professional activities, where it is possible to discover preferences, increase confidence and improve skills. As for professional experience, it is acquired through volunteering, internships, self-employment and full-time or part-time jobs. And certainly, experience working on campus or in other settings adds to the set of skills acquired in your degree (see Acquired Skills section). The Employability Skills 2000+ presenting the skills employers look for in their employees as well as its complementary checklist can help target experience opportunities that will improve your skill set necessary for employment. In addition to developing these skills, performing work related to your program of study can strengthen your expertise and increase your employability.

All examples of volunteer experience and potential employers were selected specifically for this area of study and according to occupational groups in which it is possible to acquire experience. Examples of volunteer organizations in Canada and abroad are preceded by a list of directories that can help to find more volunteer opportunities. Examples of potential employers in Canada and abroad have been compiled in light of events held in partnership with employers, searches in company directories and well-established rankings.

Volunteer opportunities

In addition to providing an opportunity to apply theories and knowledge learned during your university studies outside the classroom, in real world situations, volunteering is a way to help the community and its many organizations. The Community Service Learning also allows students to contribute to their community by participating in projects that are related to their program of study.

Directories

Canada Abroad

Potential employers

The following examples of employers can offer internships or employment opportunities related to students program of studies. The examples are presented according to geographic location: Ottawa and Gatineau, Ontario, Quebec and other provinces. 

In Canada

Ottawa/Gatineau Region Ontario

Quebec Other provinces and territories

Abroad

The requirements for working abroad consider factors like administrative laws, professional standards and work permits in some countries. To learn about requirements in various countries, visit Skill Clear or MyWorldAbroad (registration with a @uOttawa.ca email is required to use MyWorldAbroad).

Established globally

North America (excluding Canada)

South America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Others

Job search resources

The job search resources are designed to stimulate networking activities, develop marketing strategies and facilitate access to job postings. Networking events offer employers the opportunity to learn about the available workforce, and they give students a chance to be considered in the recruitment process. Career Development Centre offers helpful tips on networking, interview preparation techniques and different tools that can also be used to help with the preparation of resumés and cover letters.

Professional organizations

Examples of professional organizations, presented by location, provide essential information on professional development opportunities and networking activities, the examples can also provide access to publications and job opportunities.

Canadian Provincial and territorial

American International

Job search sites

Here are a few websites posting jobs available in Canada and abroad related to this field of study.

Canadian International

General Job Search Websites

Date modified: 2016-06-27