criminology phd in canada

• Welcome from the Dean
• Download our guide to grad studies
• Applied Bioscience (PhD)
• Computer Science (PhD)
• Criminology and Social Justice (PhD)
• Education (EdD)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
• Forensic Psychology (PhD)
• Materials Science (PhD)
• Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
• Modelling and Computational Science (PhD)
• Nuclear Engineering (PhD)
• Health Sciences (PhD)
• Applied Bioscience (MSc)
• Automotive Engineering (MASc and MEng)
• Business Analytics and AI
• Computer Science (MSc)
• Criminology (MA)
• Education (MA)
• Education (MEd)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering (MASc and MEng)
• Engineering Management (MEngM)
• Forensic Psychology (MSc)
• Health Sciences (MHSc)
• Information Technology Security (MITS)
• Materials Science (MSc)
• Mechanical Engineering (MASc and MEng)
• Modelling and Computational Science (MSc)
• Nuclear Engineering (MASc and MEng)
• UNENE MEng in Nuclear Engineering
• Nursing (MScN)
• Software Engineering (MASc and MEng)
• Education and Digital Technologies
• Engineering Management
• Nuclear Design Engineering
• Nuclear Technology
• UNENE Graduate Diploma
• Work Disability Prevention
• Step 1: Review admission requirements
• Step 2: Check application deadlines
• Letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency
• Transcripts
• Statement of academic intent
• Degree parchments
• Citizenship
• Step 4: Apply online
• Step 5: Send your documents
• Step 6: Check your application status online
• Grad Admission FAQs and Contacts
• Application process and requirements
• Immigration information
• Student finances
• International Tuition and Fees
• Before you arrive
• Tours and events
• Program contacts
• Next steps for new grad students
• IT Services
• Communicating with you
• Course registration
• Graduate Academic Calendar and Course Catalogue
• How to register
• Graduate Academic Calendar
• Registration definitions
• Part-time student course loads
• Campus locations
• FAQs and contacts
• Error messages
• Financial obligations
• Grad student toolkit
• Student forms and publications
• Important dates
• Mitacs Accelerate Program
• Mitacs Globalink Research Award
• Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's Program
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
• Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral Program
• IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme
• IBET Momentum Fellowship
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence
• Hubert Harshman Award
• Kimberley Black Graduate Scholarship
• Nathan and Marvin Goldman/Durham Homes Graduate Award
• Power Workers’ Union Transportation Electrification and Smart Grid Research Graduate Award
• Graduate Student Conference Travel Awards
• Graduate funding
• Tips and Tricks
• Tuition and fees
• Grad Finance FAQs and Contacts
• Doctoral thesis and candidacy
• Master's thesis
• Master's project/major paper
• Understanding roles and responsibilities
• Research progress reports
• Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision
• Thesis Defence Examiner Report
• Thesis Programs Guide
• Domestic tuition fees
• Changing international fee status to the domestic tuition rate
• How to opt out of select ancillary fees
• Payment options
• Paying tuition with funding
• Tax receipts
• Miscellaneous fees
• 2022-2023 Domestic tuition fees
• 2020-2021 domestic tuition fees
• 2019-2020 domestic tuition fees
• 2018-2019 domestic tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2018-2019 domestic tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2017-2018 domestic tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2017-2018 domestic tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2016-2017 domestic tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2016-2017 domestic tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2015-2016 domestic tuition fee per credit programs
• 2015-2016 domestic tuition flat fee programs
• 2014-2015 domestic tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2014-2015 domestic tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2022-2023 International tuition fees
• 2020-2021 International tuition fees
• 2019-2020 International tuition fees
• 2018-2019 International Tuition - Fee-per-Credit Programs
• 2018-2019 International Tuition - Flat-fee Programs
• 2017-2018 International Tuition - Fee-per-Credit Programs
• 2017-2018 International Tuition - Flat Fee Programs
• 2016-2017 international tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2016-2017 international tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2015-2016 international tuition fee per credit programs
• 2015-2016 international tuition flat fee programs
• 2014-2015 international tuition - fee-per-credit programs
• 2014-2015 international tuition - flat-fee programs
• 2022-2023 domestic and international ancillary fees
• 2021-2022 domestic and international ancillary fees
• 2020-2021 domestic and international ancillary fees
• 2019-2020 domestic and international ancillary fees
• 2018-2019 domestic ancillary fees
• 2018-2019 international ancillary fees
• 2017-2018 domestic ancillary fees
• 2017-2018 international ancillary fees
• 2016-2017 domestic ancillary fees
• 2016-2017 international ancillary fees
• 2015-2016 domestic ancillary fees
• 2015-2016 international ancillary fees
• 2014-2015 domestic ancillary fees
• 2014-2015 international ancillary fees
• 2022-2023 payment deadlines and refunds
• 2018-2019 payment deadlines and refunds
• 2017-2018 payment deadlines and refunds
• 2016-2017 payment deadlines and refunds
• 2014-2015 payment deadlines and refunds
• 2015-2016 payment deadlines and refunds
• Visiting student agreements
• How to appoint a postdoctoral fellow
• Collective Agreement
• Funding opportunities
• University resources
• University policies
• Professional development
• External resources
• Job opportunities
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
• Postdocs Profiles
• Graduate Writing Boot Camp
• Upcoming Talks
• Getting Published
• Negotiating Your Salary
• Careers Outside of Academia
• Student Life
• Base Camp – Inspire
• Base Camp – Empower
• Mental Health
• Instructor-directed Workshops
• Register for instructor-directed workshops
• Self-Directed e-Learning
• Professional Communication
• Research and Knowledge Mobilization
• Teaching and Learning
• Entrepreneurship and Leadership
• Career Management
• Other Topics
• Certificates and Micro-credentials
• Campus services
• Registration
• Meet the participants
• Meet the Masters of Ceremonies
• Meet the judges
• 3MT® winners
• 2022 Videos
• 2021 Videos
• 2020 Videos
• 2019 Videos
• 2018 Videos
• 2017 Videos
• 2016 Videos
• 2015 Videos
• 2014 Videos
• 2013 Videos
• Orientation
• Base Camp - Lead
• Base Camp - Support
• Base Camp - Explore
• Base Camp - Inspire
• About Graduate Studies Committee
• Academic Council
• Graduate faculty appointments
• Excellence in Service Award
• Postdoctoral Fellow Excellence Award
• Graduate Student Leadership Award
• Student Supervision
• Graduate Admissions Portal
• Guidelines for faculty on GRAs
• Policies and procedures
• Important forms
• Visiting Scholars
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• Future students
• Doctoral programs

Criminology and Social Justice (Doctoral program)

Program details.

Faculty Social Science and Humanities

Degree Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Delivery method Hybrid online/in-class

Location Ontario Tech University, Downtown Oshawa

Start dates September

Length Approximately 48 months, based on full-time study

Program load Full-time

Program format Courses with a PhD research dissertation

The PhD in Criminology and Social Justice combines disciplinary and specialized study in Criminology, study in qualitative research methods and statistics, and applied learning experiences to prepare students to work in a variety of settings. Specifically, the program will prepare students for careers related to research and/or teaching in college and university settings, research and practice in behavioural science crime units within law enforcement, research in correctional facilities, research in mental health institutions, evaluation of community programs, administration in provincial and federal programs, statistical research in government organizations, and research in justice-related institutes.

• Admission requirements
• Application deadlines
• How to apply
• Hold a four-year honours undergraduate degree in the social sciences from a Canadian university, or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Typically, applicants are expected to have completed the university's Master of Arts (MA) in Criminology or an equivalent research project or thesis-based MA program from a recognized institution.
• Minimum overall academic standing of an A-minus (GPA: 3.7 on a 4.3 scale) during their graduate studies.

Applicants with advanced degrees in other relevant fields, such as Sociology, Social Psychology or Legal Studies, are also welcome to apply. Applicants with unrelated backgrounds may be admitted as special cases. However, all applicants should realize that without a strong background in social science, specifically social theories and methodologies, they may find themselves at a significant, temporary disadvantage.

Required supporting documents:

To apply, applicants should prepare a portfolio consisting of all of the following:

• A completed application form.
• One official or institution-certified copy of each previous undergraduate and graduate transcript.
• A photocopy of the applicant’s degree parchment(s).
• Proof of English proficiency if the applicant’s first language is not English (see language requirement section below).
• A two- to three-page statement of academic intent.
• A curriculum vitae (CV).
• At least three letters of reference. Academic referees are preferred; however, non-academic referees’ letters will be considered as well.
• A substantive writing sample. A sample of the applicant's MA thesis is optimal. However, a sample from any published work (with the applicant as first author), or any other MA assignment would suffice if a thesis was not completed or pursued.

An applicant’s statement of academic intent should describe previous research experience, including the MA thesis project and any other relevant research projects. A short description of general career aspirations, and any relevant industrial or community experience would also be highly appropriate. If an applicant has already contacted a potential dissertation supervisor (which is highly advised), that should be made known within the statement.

Applicants must also submit the required documents outlined in the   checklist of required documents .

• Admission is competitive and occurs once per year. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria, including grades, distribution of courses taken, statements of academic intent, reference letters, research interests, and supervisor and funding availability.
• Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Required test scores for English language proficiency:

See  English language proficiency  for the minimum required test scores for this program.

The application deadline for the PhD in Criminology and Social Justice program has been extended from February 1 to May 1 . Please note, however, that applications will start to be reviewed by the Faculty on February 1. Applications will be reviewed and offers will be released until the program reaches capacity. Once program capacity is reached, applications will no longer be accepted. Applications will not be reviewed after May 1.

It is highly recommended that you start the application process well in advance of the deadline. Applicants are encouraged to complete their application and submit all required documents as soon as possible, to ensure the best chance of securing an offer.

Note: The university reserves the right to amend application deadlines and/or close applications without prior notice.

Please see   application deadlines   for specific dates. Note that the application deadlines listed are for both the online application and all supporting documentation.

Applications for admission to all graduate studies programs are submitted online. There are five steps you must go through to complete the application process. See   application process and requirements   for step-by-step instructions.

Many of our graduate programs are extremely competitive; the number of qualified applicants normally exceeds the number of seats available for each intake. Satisfaction of minimum entry requirements does not ensure admission.

Faculty website

Download viewbook

DOWNLOAD Program Postcard

Ask a question

Research areas

• Abuse against women
• Beliefs about justice
• Corrections/penology
• Crime and ethnicity
• Criminology theory
• Inequality and crime
• Mental health
• Poverty and inner-city crime
• Restorative justice
• Social media
• Stereotyping, stigmatization and discrimination
• Surveillance
• Victimization

Learn more about the research areas within this program and find research experts by visiting the faculty’s website and the university's Expert Centre .

Additional information

Internal awards and funding.

Applicants to research-based graduate programs who are studying full-time are automatically considered for some types of funding at the time of admission.

Types of funding that do not require an application:

• Entrance scholarships
• Minimum funding packages
• Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and graduate research assistantships

For more details on the above funding opportunities, see   graduate student awards and funding .

Please note:   Part-time students are not eligible for the above funding opportunities.

External awards and funding

Graduate program applicants are encouraged to apply for   external awards   to help finance their education. The application process differs for each competition, so review the information carefully to determine where and when you must apply.   Please note:   The majority of these awards are for domestic or permanent residents only.

Tuition fees for graduate programs are charged on a flat-fee or fee-per-credit basis and vary by program and student status.

For current, specific fees and details on flat-fee versus fee-per-credit programs, please see   tuition and fees .

Contact the program:

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities 905.721.3234 [email protected]

Contact the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies:

905.721.8668 ext. 6209 [email protected]

School of Graduate Studies

Criminology and sociolegal studies, program overview.

The primary aim of the graduate program at the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies is to provide students with opportunities for advanced multi‑disciplinary study and supervised research experience in the areas of crime, the administration of criminal justice, and social studies of law and regulation.

The program familiarizes students with existing bodies of criminological and sociolegal research, and develops critical, analytical and methodological skills. It is not a training program in forensic science, nor in professional legal studies. Rather, it is designed to educate students for careers in teaching or research, as well as jobs in which the ability to evaluate criminological or sociolegal research critically is necessary or desirable.

The graduate program is identified with two fields: criminology and sociolegal studies.

• The criminology field includes the study of patterns in crime, criminal behaviour, and the administration of criminal justice. Subject areas include, for example, theories of crime and order, politics and crime, the psychology of criminal behaviour, policing, the criminal process, sentencing, penology, youth crime and justice, and criminal justice history.
• The sociolegal studies field includes the study of how various types of law (e.g., criminal, civil, administrative, regulatory), as well as different mechanisms of social regulation, are used to prevent manage and sanction harmful conduct and effect security. Subject areas include, for example, theoretical perspectives on law and society; regulation, law, crime, and the economy; and, risk, regulation, and security.

Students may also be interested in the combined degree program in  Law, Juris Doctor / Criminology, Master of Arts (JD/MA) .

Quick Facts

Master of arts, program description.

The MA program encompasses two related disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields.

The first is criminology, which can be briefly defined as the study of all aspects of crime, including its definitions, causes, and intellectual genealogy, as well as the policy and institutional responses to it. Although criminology features some aspects of a separate discipline, including its own theoretical schools, journals, and university departments, it also draws heavily on related social science disciplines.

The field of sociolegal studies, also known as the law and society movement, is a related interdisciplinary research tradition that investigates a broad range of legal phenomena using the techniques and approaches of social science. Examples of such phenomena that the faculty have studied include citizenship and immigration policy, urban planning, and the regulation of alcohol and sex work.

The program is distinctive in that these bodies of knowledge are treated as closely related, and both of them are incorporated into the program of study. Broad intellectual exploration of these fields is incorporated by limiting the number of required courses and encouraging students to select courses (both in this and other graduate programs) that reflect their own intellectual and professional priorities. Likewise, students are given the option of meeting their degree requirements by completing eight taught half-courses or by completing six taught half-courses and writing a “master’s research paper” that allows them to develop an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member. While specialized professional or technical training meant to be directly transferable into criminal justice occupations is not provided, we welcome applications by criminal justice professionals who wish to pursue part-time studies.

The MA program enjoys an excellent national and international reputation, and graduates are sought by employers in both the public and private sectors who appreciate the theoretically and academically rigorous interdisciplinary social science training that is provided.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the additional admission requirements of the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies stated below.

Applicants must have an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. An appropriate bachelor's degree normally consists of 20 full-course equivalents (FCEs). Applicants with arts and science degrees will normally be required to have at least a B+ standing. Applicants from law schools who have already completed a JD degree or its equivalent will normally be required to have at least a B standing.

Although many applicants to the MA program have some training in criminology or sociolegal studies, students from a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary backgrounds are welcomed. It would be advantageous for MA students in the program to have some familiarity with the approaches and methodologies associated with the social sciences. However, outstanding students from the humanities and behavioral and natural sciences will also be considered.

The program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. All students will be required to complete the program within the time limits set for the MA degree under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Students with professional experience who meet the academic admission requirements are encouraged to apply to the program.

It is essential that all incoming graduate students have a command of English. Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. This requirement must be satisfied using a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a verbal and a written component. To be considered for admission, applicants must achieve the following minimum scores:

paper-based TOEFL exam: 580 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

Internet-based TOEFL exam: 93/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Official copies of these scores must be submitted to the University of Toronto before a formal offer of admission can be made.

Program Requirements

MA students can complete the program in one of two ways:

by completing 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) within 9 months or

by completing 3.0 FCEs and a research paper (CRI3360Y) within 12 months.

The degree program includes compulsory and elective courses.

The compulsory course (0.5 FCE) is CRI2010H Methodological Issues in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies .

The elective courses allow students to engage in specialized study of different approaches to, and topics within, criminology and sociolegal studies. The elective courses offered may vary from year to year. In certain cases a student may, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator, substitute a maximum of 1.5 FCEs from other graduate units in lieu of elective courses in criminology or sociolegal studies.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S) 6 sessions part-time

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Doctor of Philosophy

Similar to the MA program, the PhD program reflects the same emphasis on interdisciplinarity and flexibility, as well as an integrated, inclusive approach to criminology and sociolegal studies.

The primary mission of the doctoral program is to prepare future professional academics for a career in teaching and research; graduates hold faculty positions throughout Canada, in the United States, and around the world.

Over the years, PhD students have pursued dissertation projects on extremely varied research questions involving aspects of crime, criminal justice institutions, and a range of sociolegal topics. Regardless of their specific focus, they have found the Centre a supportive and interactive environment. The Centre promotes such collegiality by offering students shared office space in the Centre and encouraging them to work on site and participate in the lively intellectual life and shared scholarly activities. Likewise, although PhD students work closely with a primary supervisor, they also benefit from opportunities to learn from other core and cross-appointed faculty members. In short, the goal is to train broadly educated, thoughtful scholars with a research agenda in criminology or sociolegal studies.

Students are normally paired with a prospective supervisor at the time of admission. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to identify one or more possible supervisors, as well as possible dissertation committee members, and should indicate on their application whether they have made contact with particular core or cross-appointed members of the graduate faculty for these purposes.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies' additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants normally hold an MA degree in criminology or a cognate field, with a minimum A– standing or its equivalent from a recognized university. Students with MAs in disciplines unrelated to criminology or sociolegal studies may be required to take additional courses as part of their doctoral program.

It is essential that all incoming graduate students have a command of English. Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. This requirement must be satisfied using a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a verbal and a written component. To be considered for admission, applicants must achieve the following minimum scores:

Course requirements . Students must complete a minimum of 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) beyond those taken at the MA level. With approval of the Graduate Coordinator, a maximum of 1.5 FCEs of these may be from another graduate unit. Students must complete, at either the MA or the PhD level, the required research methods course (CRI2010H Methodological Issues in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies ) and the required theory course (CRI1020H Law and State Power: Theoretical Perspectives ). With the approval of the Graduate Coordinator, students can take a theory course offered through another graduate unit in lieu of CRI1020H. Students will normally complete all course requirements for the PhD in Year 1.

Professional development sequence . Year 1 doctoral students will participate in CRI1010Y (Credit/No Credit; 0.0 FCE), a sequence of eight monthly workshop meetings of approximately two hours in length led by one or more faculty members and dedicated to discussion of a range of important issues in graduate professional development. Meetings will be scheduled at the beginning of the academic year, and attendance will be taken at each meeting. Students must normally attend at least six workshop meetings by the end of the second session of Year 1 to complete this requirement, and those who do not do so must make up the required sessions by the end of the second session of Year 2.

One comprehensive exam . This exam must take the form of a major review paper. Students are required to read widely on a particular topic and identify and evaluate major theoretical debates and methodological issues. Students should provide an original, critical analysis of the literature and discuss possibilities for future work in their topic area. The comprehensive exam should normally be completed by the end of the second session of Year 2.

Language requirements . Students must have an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

Thesis . PhD students must prepare an original thesis that is a significant contribution to knowledge in criminology or sociolegal studies. The thesis is a sustained piece of research written in an integrated series of chapters. The thesis is normally supervised by a member of the graduate faculty, with two other members of the graduate faculty serving on the thesis committee.

Residency . PhD students are required to be on campus full-time for the period of their program, except for approved field research and academic exchanges. Students are expected to participate in the Centre's activities associated with the program.

4 years full-time

6 years full-time

“I have worked with several community partners to improve the outcomes of racialized and marginalized youth in the GTA.”

Department of Criminology

The Department of Criminology is nationally and internationally recognized for its cutting-edge approach to a variety of criminal justice issues, including crime prevention, social justice, violence against women, drug policy, sex work, prisons, youth, media representations of crime, political violence, human rights, policing, victimology and cybercrime.

Our professors  are interested in various research fields, including: abolitionism and alternatives to criminal justice, crimes of the powerful, criminological theory and socio-legal studies, First Nations, racism and (in)justice, gender, sexuality and (in)justice, policing, governance and (in)security, popular culture, media and technology, prevention and intervention, prison, punishment and social control, youth, age and (in)justice

Discover some of the research projects done at the Department of Criminology. Learn more about the Department

Discover our programs

Undergraduate studies

Graduate studies

“The Public Criminology course [...] is not only fascinating, but extremely useful. It explains how to organize ideas in a way that’s concise, interesting and that can attract the attention of media.”

Nevena Aksin

— MA Program Graduate

Chuck Talbot Scholarship Winners 2022-2023

Latest news, congratulations to the new president of the toronto alumni council, julian fran…, ottawa’s marginalized, racialized populations overwhelmingly distrust police: u…, 2021 research support program recipients, quick links.

Student Hub keyboard_arrow_right

Find a professor keyboard_arrow_right

Management and administrative staff keyboard_arrow_right

Assistantship positions keyboard_arrow_right

Faculty of Social Sciences Social Sciences Building   120 University Private, Room 14002 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada ( map )

Tel.: 613-562-5303 [email protected]

Office hours

September 1 to May 31: Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

June 1 to August 31: Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please note our services and our personnel are available by MS Teams and by email.

The Social Sciences (FSS) and Vanier (VNR) buildings are open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Indigenous Affirmation

We pay respect to the Algonquin people, who are the traditional guardians of this land. We acknowledge their longstanding relationship with this territory, which remains unceded. 

We pay respect to all Indigenous people in this region, from all nations across Canada, who call Ottawa home. 

We acknowledge the traditional knowledge keepers, both young and old. And we honour their courageous leaders: past, present, and future. 

Secondary menu

• Law Library

Login to e.legal

Search form

• Focus Areas
• Message from the Dean
• Why U of T?
• A Great University
• A Great City
• Inclusivity and Diversity at the Faculty of Law
• JD Admissions
• Admissions Policies
• Application Procedure
• Admissions Timeline
• Half-Time Program
• Indigenous Applicants
• Black Future Lawyers
• Upper-Year Applicants
• National Committee on Accreditation Applicants
• Financial Aid and Fees
• Admissions FAQ
• Admissions Enquiries
• Admissions Events
• Admissions News Updates
• Campus Tours
• New Admits - JD Program
• Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Program FAQ
• Graduate Program Application Deadlines
• Graduate Program Fees and Financing
• Employment, Accommodation and More
• Executive Education
• National Committee on Accreditation Options
• So, You Want to Become a Lawyer
• Black Future Lawyers Conference
• High School Students FAQ
• Law School Access Program (Free LSAT Prep)
• Program Requirements
• Program Opportunities
• Experiential Education
• Combined Programs
• Financial Support for JD Education
• JD Program Fees
• Prizes and Awards
• International Opportunities
• Leadership Skills Program
• Lawyers Doing Cool Things
• LLM Program (Master of Laws)
• Global Professional LLM
• MSL Program (Master of Studies in Law)
• SJD Program (Doctor of Juridical Science)
• Collaborative Programs
• Graduate Program Team
• See What Our Alumni Are Doing
• Resources for Current Students
• New Admits - Graduate Program
• Course List
• Course Match
• Timetable: Fall 2023-2024
• Timetable: Winter 2023-2024
• Test & Examination Schedules
• Intensive Course Schedule
• First Year Mandatory Dates
• Sessional Dates
• Capital Markets Institute
• Centre for Innovation Law and Policy
• Centre for the Legal Profession
• David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights
• Future of Law Lab
• Downtown Legal Services
• Advocates for Injured Workers
• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
• David Asper Centre: Constitutional Advocacy Clinic
• Health Equity and Law Clinic
• International Human Rights Clinic
• Aboriginal Legal Services Clinic
• Investor Protection Clinic
• International Human Rights Program
• PBSC (Pro Bono Students Canada)
• LAWS (Law in Action Within Schools)
• Indigenous Initiatives Office
• International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program
• Recent Publications
• Featured Faculty Books
• Faculty Honours
• Faculty Blog
• Student scholarship
• The Equity Workshop
• University of Toronto Law Journal
• U of T Faculty of Law Review
• Canadian Business Law Journal
• Critical Analysis of Law: An International & Interdisciplinary Law Review
• Journal of International Law and International Relations
• Middle East Law and Governance journal (MELG)
• U of T Indigenous Law Journal
• U of T Journal of Law and Equality
• Cecil A. Wright Memorial Lecture
• David B. Goodman Lecture
• John LI J Edwards Lecture
• Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture
• Katherine Baker Memorial Lecture
• Other Lectures
• Chaoulli case: resources and commentary
• Khadr Case Resources Page
• Lignes directrices facultatives ...
• SCC Charter Case Materials
• Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines
• Law, Religion and Society
• Animals in the Law and Humanities
• Constitutional Roundtable
• Critical Analysis of Law Workshop
• Faculty Colloquium
• Globalization, Law & Justice Workshop Series
• Health Law, Policy and Ethics Seminar Series
• Innovation Law and Policy Workshop
• Law & Economics Workshop
• Law and Humanities Workshop
• Legal Theory Workshops
• Osgoode Society Legal History Workshop
• Tax Law and Policy Workshop Series
• The Group Ownership Workshop
• University of Toronto Annual Patent Colloquium
• Yale-Toronto Private Law Theory Discussion Group
• Decolonizing Canadian Constitutional Law
• Faculty - List View
• Emeritus Faculty
• Chairholders
• About Distinguished Visitors
• Distinguished Visitor Archives
• About Adjunct and Visiting Faculty
• Postdoctoral Fellows
• By Department
• Research Associates
• Academic Employment Opportunities
• Academic Visitors to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
• Meet your Student Services Team
• Current Students
• Prospective Students
• What We Offer
• Upcoming Events
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Career Explorer: A Map for U of T Law Students
• Academic Support
• Alumni-Student Mentorship Program
• Students with Families
• LGBTQ Students at UofT Law
• Mature Students
• Safety on Campus
• Spiritual Diversity at the Law School
• Other University of Toronto Services
• Accessibility Services / Accommodations
• Counselling & Support Services
• Health & Medical Services
• Mindfulness program at the Faculty of Law
• Other Wellness Resources
• Self-Assessment Tools
• Tips for Staying Well at Law School
• Bookstore (external link)
• Accessibility Services/Accommodations
• Counseling and Support Services
• Health and Medical Services
• Aboriginal Law Society
• Artists' Legal Advice Services
• Asia Law Society
• Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
• Business Law Society
• The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL)
• Canadian Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA), U of T Chapter
• The Cannabis Law Club
• China Law Group
• Christian Legal Fellowship
• Competition Law Group
• Criminal Law Students' Association (CLSA)
• The Disabled Law Students’ Association
• Emerging Practices Law Society
• Environmental Law Club
• Faculty of Law Athletic Association/Intramurals
• Feminist Law Students' Association
• First Generation Network
• French Club
• Health Law Club
• In Vino Veritas
• Indigenous Law Students' Association
• Insurance Law Society
• International Commission of Jurists - U of T Chapter
• International Law Society
• Italian Students Society
• JD/MBA Students' Association
• Jewish Law Students' Association
• Korean Law Students’ Association (KLSA)
• The Labour & Employment Law Society
• Law and Politics Club
• The Law Film Society
• Law Follies
• Law Poets Society
• Legal Hackers
• Legal Innovation and Technology (LIT) Group
• Legal Theory Club
• Litigation Association
• Mock Trial Association
• Muslim Law Students' Association
• Out of Province Students' Association
• Peer Mentorship Program
• The Philosophy in Law Association
• Planning and Development Law Association
• Polar Law Group
• Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Group
• Real Estate Law Society
• Runnymede Society
• South Asian Law Students' Association (SALSA)
• Sports and Entertainment Law Society
• The Student Organised Crime Club (SOCC)
• Tax Law Society
• Technology and Intellectual Property Group
• The Supreme Chords
• Ultra Vires
• University of Toronto Animal Justice
• U of T Law Craft Beer Club
• U of T Law Union
• U of T Tabletop Gaming Club
• Venture Capital Law Society
• Women and the Law (Student Group)
• Students' Law Society (SLS)
• Graduate Law Students' Association
• Student Journals
• Student Participation in University and Faculty of Law Governance
• Building FAQs
• Special Features of the Jackman Law Building
• Class of 1951
• Trailblazers from the 1970s
• Women in Law Through the Decades
• JD First Year Class Profile
• Flavelle Ceiling
• Building Tour
• Construction Blog
• Statement of Acknowledgement of Traditional Land
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Implementation Committee
• Visitor Frequently Asked Questions
• Law School Buildings: Internal Maps

You are here

• JD/PhD (Criminology and Sociolegal Studies)

Director: Assistant Dean Sara Faherty ( sara.faherty@utoronto.ca )

The JD/PhD (Criminology and Sociolegal Studies) Program allows students to complement the internal study of law (jurisprudence, doctrinal analysis, legal theory) with an external study of criminal justice and law that uses social science methodologies and theoretical frameworks.  This program provides rigorous training in both, and yields graduates with enhances skills, perspective, and capacity to produce excellent interdisciplinary scholarship. 

The JD/PhD (Criminology and Sociolegal Studies) Combined Program allows students to meet the requirements for the JD and reach the “all but dissertation” stage of the PhD one year sooner than if the two degrees were taken sequentially. Successful candidates will qualify for the JD degree at the end of the fourth year of study.  They will also have completed their PhD comprehensive exam requirement.  In the summer after year 4 they will complete their dissertation proposal and achieve candidacy for the PhD.  They will qualify for the PhD degree upon completing a doctoral dissertation in the years following the fourth year of study. The program is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Department of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto.

Admission requirements:

Students applying to the JD/PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies program must be admitted to both the Faculty of Law and the PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies program. Candidates must, therefore, satisfy the admission requirements of both units independently, including the Law School Admission Test and all admission requirements of the PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies program. Separate applications to each unit must be submitted.

Requirements:

• In the first year of the program, students will register at the Faculty of Law and complete all first year courses at the Faculty of Law.
• In the second year of the program, students complete Criminology and Sociolegal Studies coursework (4 half courses = 2.0 FCE’s) in accordance with the PhD requirements for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies.  Students will be registered in the Faculty of Arts & Science. 
• In the third year, students complete the requirements for the JD degree by taking 12-32 upper year Law credits, and work toward their PhD comprehensive exam requirement.  Students will be registered in the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Arts & Science. 
• In the fourth year, students complete the requirements for the JD degree by taking 12-32 JD credits, for a total of 48 law credits in years three and four.  Students also complete their PhD comprehensive exam requirement.  Students will be registered in the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Arts & Science. 
• In the summer after year 4, students will have completed their PhD comprehensive exam requirement and their dissertation proposal and achieved candidacy for the PhD.  The JD will not be conferred until the JD requirements are met, the PhD comprehensive exam is completed, and the dissertation proposal has been submitted.
• Subsequent to their fourth year, students will complete the PhD thesis.  Registration will be at the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Course Selection:

Students must meet all of the Faculty of Law’s graduation requirements.  They must meet the Law Faculty’s course selection deadline, notwithstanding the Department of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies course selection process. Students must submit their proposed course selections for years 2 to 4 of the program to the Director of the Combined Program prior to the applicable course selection deadlines in each year in each unit. Any subsequent course changes must be approved by the Director.

Registration and Financial Assistance:

• In the first year of the program, students will be registered in the Faculty of Law and will receive a deferred acceptance into the doctoral program. They will pay Law School tuition and will be eligible for assistance under the Law School's financial aid program.
• In the second year, students will be registered in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. They will pay the fees applicable to the PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. They will be eligible for graduate assistance. They will not be eligible for financial assistance from the Faculty of Law.
• In the third and fourth years, students will be registered again in the Faculty of Law, pay Law School tuition and be eligible for the Law School's financial aid program.
• Following their fourth year , they will once again pay fees applicable to the PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies.
• Grading : Grading for students in the Combined Program will be the applicable grading scheme in force at the time at the Faculty of Law and the Department of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies.

To apply to the JD Program at the Faculty of Law, see Application Procedure for the JD Program  on this Web site.   For more information about this combined program, contact the:   Admissions Office Faculty of Law University of Toronto 84 Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 2C5

Telephone: (416) 978-3716 Fax: (416) 978-7899 E-mail: admissions.law@utoronto.ca   Information about the PhD in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies can be obtained at https://criminology.utoronto.ca/contact-information/ , or from:   Graduate Department of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies University of Toronto Jessica Chlebowski crim.grad@utoronto.ca Inquiries:  416-978-7124 Ext. 225 Fax:  416-978-4195

Academic Programs

• JD/MBA Program
• JD/MA (Criminology)
• JD/MA (Economics)
• JD/PhD (Economics)
• JD/MA (English)
• JD/MA (European and Russian Affairs)
• JD/MGA (Master of Global Affairs)
• JD/MI (Information)
• JD/PhD (Philosophy)
• JD/PhD (Political Science)
• JD/MPP (Public Policy)
• JD/MSW (Social Work)
• JD/Certificate in Aboriginal Legal Studies
• JD/Certificate in Environmental Studies
• JD/Collaborative Program in Jewish Studies
• JD/Certificate in Sexual Diversity and Gender Studies
• Graduate Programs
• Schedules and Timetables
• JD Academic Handbook

Social media

Footer menu.

• Financial Aid
• Special Programs
• Student Life
• Law School Buildings
• Academic Handbook
• Course Calendar
• Career Development Office
• Welcome to the Law School
• Faculty & Staff Directories
• Bora Laskin Law Library
• Legal Clinics
• Centers & Programs
• Special Lectures, Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences
• Events Calendar
• Faculty Directory (Photo)
• Faculty Directory (List)
• Staff Directory
• Staff Directory (Department)
• Aboriginal Law
• Business Law
• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Law
• Environmental Law
• Health Law and Policy
• Innovation Law
• International Law and Policy
• Law and Economics
• Law and History
• Law and Literature
• Law and Philosophy
• Public Interest and Diversity
• Women in Law and Social Change
• Accessibility
• Contact the Faculty
• Comments or Questions?

University of Toronto Faculty of Law

78 Queen's Park ( View Map ) Toronto, ON M5S 2C5 Tel: 416-978-0210 

Copyright 2021 - Hecterra Publishing Inc. - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

46 Best universities for Criminology and Criminal Justice in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 352K citations received by 23.3K academic papers made by 46 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Toronto

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

2. Simon Fraser University

3. University of British Columbia

4. University of Montreal

5. Carleton University

6. University of Ottawa

7. Queen's University

8. York University

9. McGill University

10. University of Alberta

11. Western University

12. University of Calgary

13. McMaster University

14. University of Saskatchewan

15. University of Victoria

16. University of Manitoba

17. Dalhousie University

18. University of New Brunswick

19. Wilfrid Laurier University

20. University of Waterloo

21. Laval University

22. University of Windsor

23. University of Guelph

24. Memorial University of Newfoundland

25. Ontario Tech University

26. Ryerson University

27. University of Quebec in Montreal

28. Brock University

29. Lakehead University

30. University of Winnipeg

31. Concordia University

32. University of Regina

33. University of Lethbridge

34. Saint Mary's University

35. Trent University

36. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

37. MacEwan University

38. University of Sherbrooke

39. Mount Royal University

40. Kings University in Canada

41. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

42. University of the Fraser Valley

43. Thompson Rivers University

44. Laurentian University

45. St. Francis Xavier University

46. Mount Saint Vincent University

The best cities to study Criminology and Criminal Justice in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Burnaby , Vancouver , and Montreal .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Canada

Programs and courses

• Future students
• Support uOttawa
• Brightspace

Master of Arts Criminology

The department of Criminology offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminology.

Criminology is devoted to the scientific analysis of crime, justice and social control. It focuses on four broad questions: the social construction of norms and the notion of crime; the criminalization of specific behaviours, individuals and groups in our society; the analysis of the goals and functioning of the criminal justice system; and the examination of contemporary forms of intervention.

Master's Program

The master's program consists of three distinct 30 unit options: 

• Option with thesis (30 units). In addition to the three mandatory courses, the acquisition of thematic theoretical and methodological competencies is achieved by means of a thesis and three elective courses.
• Option with thesis and field placement (30 units). It can be offered at the first semester to students in the thesis option if field placement places are available. No direct entry in this option. In addition to the mandatory core courses, the acquisition of thematic theoretical and methodological competencies is achieved by means of a thesis (120 pages), a field placement seminar and a field placement of 360 hours in an environment that responds to the learning interests of the student. 
• Option with major research paper (24 units)– and major research paper with field placement if field placement places are available – no direct entry in this program. In addition to the two mandatory courses, the acquisition of thematic theoretical and methodological competencies is achieved by means of a major research project (50 pages) and four elective courses (or the replacement of three of these elective courses by a field placement seminar and a field placement of 360 hours in an environment that responds to the learning interests of the student).
• Option with courses (24 units) comprising two profiles: courses only or courses and field placement. In addition to the two compulsory courses, the acquisition of thematic theoretical skills is done either through 6 optional courses (courses only profile) or through 3 elective courses, field placement and field placement seminar (courses and field placement profile). The field placement is 360 hours in a field environment responding to the student’s learning interests.

These three options are intended to equip students with knowledge of the major theoretical and methodological frameworks in criminology so that they will be able to critically analyze them and apply this knowledge to describe and explain conceptual and empirical problems of crime, justice and social control, both within the framework of optional courses or of an internship seminar with an on-site internship.

The department also offers a collaborative program in Women’s Studies at the MA level. This multidisciplinary program aims to combine graduate studies in a particular discipline with the feminist approach and the problems developed in women's studies. The degree awarded is a master's degree in criminology with a "specialization in women's studies".  

Finally, regarding thesis option, the department offers the possibility of acquiring a double degree in criminology (DDC) combining the first year of studies at Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) in Belgium with a second year of study at the University of Ottawa (U of O). Students graduating from the DDC will thus be awarded a diploma from both universities, a master of arts in criminology from U of O and a master's degree in criminology from UCL.

The programs are offered in English and French and are governed by the general regulations  in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the  specific requirements  webpage.

To be eligible for admission to the MA program:

• Students must hold an Honour's Bachelor's degree with a major in Criminology or equivalent with a minimum average of 75% (B+).
• Their previous studies must have included  CRM 3334  and CRM 3335 or equivalent. If not, they will have to take them as additional courses during their first term in the MA program.
• Students who don’t hold an Honour's Bachelor’s degree with a major in Criminology or equivalent, can demonstrate relevant work experience of 2 years or more by submitting a paper of approximately 300 words detailing the relevance of this professional experience for this program. This document must be added to program application requirements.
• Only the option with Major Research Paper and the option with courses, only courses profile, are open to part-time students.

Students interested in the Thesis with field placement, the Major Research Paper with field placement or in the double degree option with field placement with the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium must make mention of their interest in their intention letter as part of their application. Students interested in the double degree option must also send an email confirming their interest in the double degree option at the following email address:  [email protected] at the time of application.

The Qualifying Program

If the student has an Honours degree in a related field (e.g., sociology, psychology, law, social work, political science, history, philosophy) but is considered to have insufficient training in the theoretical and methodological traditions of the criminological discipline, the student may be offered a qualifying year involving up to 24 units in order to render the student eligible to pursue studies in the Master's program. To successfully complete the qualifying year, the student must pass all courses (passing grade is C+) and have an average of B+. It is necessary to submit a new application, during the qualifying year, for admission to the Master's program to be considered. The student will receive an offer of admission to the Master's program which will be conditional on the successful completion of the qualifying year.

Language Requirements

All applicants must be able to understand speak and write either English or French proficiently. Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the  2023-2024 calendars  for the previous requirements

MA with Thesis Option

Ma with thesis and field placement option.

Option offered only to students admitted to the thesis during the first session of their program if field placement places remain available. No direct admission into this program is accepted.

MA with Thesis Option (University of Ottawa) and Master in Criminology from Université catholique de Louvain

First year at the university of ottawa, second year at université catholique de louvain, ma with research paper option, ma with research paper and field placement option, ma with course option.

Possibility of replacing up to 2 of these courses (6 units) by graduate courses of another discipline with approval of the Graduate committee.

M.A. with Courses and field placement option

Language of instruction.

In accordance with University of Ottawa policy, students have a right to produce their work and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

Duration of Program

Students are expected to complete all requirements of the M.A. with thesis (and thesis with field placement if places are available) within two years – 6 semesters. The thesis must be submitted within four years of the date of initial enrollment in the program.

Students are expected to complete the M.A. with Major Research Paper option and M.A. with Courses (profile: courses only) within one year – 3 semesters. Students are expected to complete the M.A. with Major Research Paper and field placement option and with courses option (profile: courses and field placement) in 4 semesters.

Research Fields & Facilities

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa is among Canada’s top 10 research universities.

uOttawa focuses research strengths and efforts in four Strategic Areas of Development in Research (SADRs):

• Canada and the World
• Molecular and Environmental Sciences

With cutting-edge research, our graduate students, researchers and educators strongly influence national and international priorities.

Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences represents a place of excellence in knowledge creation, research and training. Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth of understanding and breadth of discussions on a variety of issues nationally and internationally.  This research, whether it be fundamental, theoretical, applied or action-oriented, is generated by our renowned expertise, ultimately culminating in applications designed to influence individual communities and the betterment of society.

We have identified five research themes which collectively represent a large proportion of the research undertaken at the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• International Studies
• Francophonie
• Public Policy
• Health, Well-Being
• Justice, Society

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities (CIRCEM) , Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) , Centre for Public Management and Policy , Centre for Research on Educational and Community Service (CRECS) , Centre on Governance (COG) , Human Rights Research and Education Centre (affiliation) , Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies and Institute for Science, Society and Policy .

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb . 

IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

Required courses are offered in English and French every year. Optional courses are offered periodically.

CRM 5301 Field Work in Criminology (3 units)

Restricted to students who have not satisfied the field placement condition or its equivalent for admission to the MCA program. Supervised field work (120 hours) in an agency approved by the Department of Criminology. Written report integrating theory and research with practical experience, to be evaluated by the supervisor and the field placement coordinator. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not Satisfactory).

Course Component: Lecture

CRM 5701 Stage en criminologie (3 crédits)

Réservé aux candidats au M.C.A. qui n'ont pas réussi un stage pratique ou son équivalent avant l'admission. Stage supervisé de 120 heures dans un organisme approuvé par le Département de criminologie. Rapport écrit intégrant la théorie et les recherches à l'expérience pratique, à évaluer par le superviseur et le coordonnateur des stages. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant).

Volet : Cours magistral

CRM 6320 Research Methodology in Criminology I (3 units)

Study of the main epistemological questions regarding research activities in criminology; in-depth analysis of data collection methods with a focus on data treatment and analysis.

CRM 6325 Research Seminar in Criminology (3 units)

Annual seminar (every two weeks) with the following objectives: (a) detailed analysis of the procedures involved in the implementation of a research activity; formulation of a research project (research problem and theoretical framework) at the end of the fall session; presentation of the final research project (research problem, theoretical framework and methodology) at the end of the winter session.

Course Component: Seminar

CRM 63251 Research Seminar in Criminology (Part 1 of 2)

Annual seminar (every two weeks) with the following objectives: (a) detailed analysis of the procedures involved in the implementation of a research activity; formulation of a research project (research problem and theoretical framework) at the end of the fall session; presentation of the final research project (research problem, theoretical framework and methodology) at the end of the winter session. (Part 1 of 2)

CRM 63252 Research Seminar in Criminology (Part 2 of 2) (3 units)

Annual seminar (every two weeks) with the following objectives: (a) detailed analysis of the procedures involved in the implementation of a research activity; formulation of a research project (research problem and theoretical framework) at the end of the fall session; presentation of the final research project (research problem, theoretical framework and methodology) at the end of the winter session. (Part 2 of 2)

Prerequisite: CRM 63251

CRM 6330 Quantitative Methods in Criminology (3 units)

Study of various epistemological, methodological and ethical questions regarding the use of quantitative methods of data collection and analysis.

CRM 6331 Qualitative Methods in Criminology (3 units)

Study of various epistemological, methodological and ethical questions regarding the use of qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.

CRM 6340 Theories of Intervention in Criminology and Alternative Practices (3 units)

Examination of the theories and bases of the treatment of the criminalized in our society. Analysis of alternative forms of practice.

CRM 6341 Counselling in Criminology (3 units)

Nature, analysis and limitations of counselling in criminology.

CRM 6342 Community Intervention in Criminology (3 units)

Community methods of intervention; responsibility and limits. Use of community resources. Participation in correction and social action.

CRM 6345 Field Placement Seminar (3 units)

Restricted to students registered in the field placement ( CRM 6400 ). Critical reflection on the field placement experience. Discussion of issues related to the field placement settings of the students. Oral presentation and written report.

Permission of the Department is required.

CRM 6350 Contemporary Criminological Theories (3 units)

Analysis of current problems in criminological theory.

CRM 6354 Social History of the Criminal Justice System (3 units)

Problems of research on the history of penal institutions; analysis of selected cases or situations.

CRM 6359 Evaluation of Criminal Justice Programs, Policies and Legislation (3 units)

Evaluation principles, approaches, models and methods; analysis of programs, policies and their theoretical underpinnings; selection of evaluation questions, preparation of a proposal and development of evaluation research tools.

CRM 6360 Philosophy of Criminal Law (3 units)

Critical examination of the main theories and ideologies of the role of criminal law; the reform of criminal law.

CRM 6361 Crime Prevention (3 units)

The impact and function of prevention research in criminology; prevention programs; evaluation.

CRM 6362 Criminal Justice and the Victims of Crime (3 units)

The impact of the Victims Movement on the aims and operation of the criminal justice system.

CRM 6363 Police and Society (3 units)

The role and functioning of the police in contemporary society; relation to the state and to civil society.

CRM 6364 Sentencing (3 units)

Analysis of the aims and operation of sentencing.

CRM 6365 The Socio-Politics of Incarceration (3 units)

Analysis of the socio-political aims, functions and consequences of incarceration. The politicization of reform; abolition; prisoners rights movements.

CRM 6367 Women and Criminal Justice (3 units)

Women as criminals and victims; the impact of the operation of the criminal justice system on women.

CRM 6370 Corporate Crime (3 units)

Analysis of the differential responses to various forms of corporate crime.

CRM 6380 Selected Topics I (3 units)

Various topics will be discussed from year to year.

CRM 6391 Justice, Injustice and Resistance: Selected topics (3 units)

Various topics related to justice, injustice and resistance. Selected topics will be announced each year.

CRM 6392 Governance, Security and Institutions: Selected topics (3 units)

Various topics related to governance, security and institutions. Specific topics will be announced each year.

CRM 6393 Culture, Technology and Modernity: Selected topics (3 units)

Various topics related to culture, technology and modernity. Specific topics will be announced each year.

CRM 6394 Crimes, Harms and Regulations: Selected topics (3 units)

Various topics related to crimes, harms and regulations. Specific topics will be announced each year.

CRM 6395 Theoretical Contributions to Criminology (3 units)

Critical review of the main debates in Criminology. It's field of knowledge and objects, its epistemologies and streams of thought (theories, concepts) and the research questions resulting from them.

CRM 6400 Field Work in Criminology II (9 units)

Restricted to students registered in the MA (Thesis and Field Placement option). Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

Course Component: Work Term

CRM 6720 Méthodologie de recherche en criminologie I (3 crédits)

Étude des principaux problèmes épistémologiques concernant les activités de recherche en criminologie; approfondissement de certaines techniques de cueillette, et surtout, de traitement et d'analyse de données.

CRM 6725 Séminaire de recherche en criminologie (3 crédits)

Séminaire annuel (rencontres aux deux semaines) poursuivant les trois objectifs suivants : (a) analyse détaillée des différentes étapes de la mise en oeuvre d'une activité de recherche; (b) formulation de l'ébauche d'un projet de recherche (objet et cadre théorique) à la fin de la session d'automne; (c) présentation d'un projet définitif de recherche (objet, cadre théorique et méthodologie) à la fin de la session d'hiver.

Volet : Séminaire

CRM 67251 Séminaire de recherche en criminologie (Partie 1 de 2)

Séminaire annuel (rencontres aux deux semaines) poursuivant les trois objectifs suivants : (a) analyse détaillée des différentes étapes de la mise en oeuvre d'une activité de recherche; (b) formulation de l'ébauche d'un projet de recherche (objet et cadre théorique) à la fin de la session d'automne; (c) présentation d'un projet définitif de recherche (objet, cadre théorique et méthodologie) à la fin de la session d'hiver. (Partie 1 de 2)

CRM 67252 Séminaire de recherche en criminologie (Partie 2 de 2) (3 crédits)

Séminaire annuel (rencontres aux deux semaines) poursuivant les trois objectifs suivants : (a) analyse détaillée des différentes étapes de la mise en oeuvre d'une activité de recherche; (b) formulation de l'ébauche d'un projet de recherche (objet et cadre théorique) à la fin de la session d'automne; (c) présentation d'un projet définitif de recherche (objet, cadre théorique et méthodologie) à la fin de la session d'hiver. (Partie 2 de 2)

Préalable: CRM 67251

CRM 6730 Méthodologie quantitative en criminologie (3 crédits)

Étude des différentes questions d'ordre épistémologique, méthodologique et éthique concernant l'utilisation des techniques quantitatives d'enquête et d'analyse.

CRM 6731 Méthodologie qualitative en criminologie (3 crédits)

Étude des différentes questions d'ordre épistémologique, méthodologique et éthique concernant l'utilisation des techniques qualitatives d'enquête et d'analyse.

CRM 6740 Théories de l'intervention en criminologie et pratiques alternatives (3 crédits)

Examen des théories et des points d'ancrage du traitement du justiciable dans notre société. Analyse des pratiques alternatives.

CRM 6741 L'entretien clinique en criminologie (3 crédits)

Nature, analyse et portée de l'entretien clinique.

CRM 6742 Intervention communautaire (3 crédits)

La méthode d'intervention communautaire; implications et limites; l'emploi des ressources communautaires; la participation dans le domaine correctionnel et au niveau de l'action sociale.

CRM 6745 Séminaire de stage (3 crédits)

Réservé aux étudiants inscrits au stage ( CRM 6800 ). Évaluation critique des apprentissages liés à l'expérience de stage. Discussion de thèmes en rapport avec les milieux de stage des étudiants. Présentations orales et rapport écrit.

Permission du Département est requise.

CRM 6750 Théories criminologiques contemporaines (3 crédits)

Analyse de certains problèmes d'actualité dans le domaine de la pensée criminologique.

CRM 6754 L'approche historique en criminologie (3 crédits)

Les problèmes de recherche reliés à l'histoire des institutions pénales; analyse de cas ou situations choisies.

CRM 6759 Évaluation des programmes, des politiques et des lois en matière de justice criminelle (3 crédits)

Principes, approches, modèles et méthodes d'évaluation; analyse des interventions et de leurs fondements théoriques, choix des questions évaluatives, préparation d'un projet et élaboration des outils de recherche évaluative.

CRM 6760 Philosophie du droit pénal (3 crédits)

Examen critique des principales conceptions et idéologies concernant les finalités du droit pénal.

CRM 6761 La prévention et la criminologie (3 crédits)

L'impact et les fonctions des études de prévention en criminologie; programmes de prévention; évaluation de ces programmes.

CRM 6762 La question des victimes et la justice pénale (3 crédits)

La place de la victime et la signification du mouvement pro-victime relativement au fonctionnement et au but de la justice pénale.

CRM 6763 Police et société (3 crédits)

La fonction et le fonctionnement des organismes policiers dans la société contemporaine; leurs rapports avec l'état et la société civile.

CRM 6764 La détermination de la peine (3 crédits)

Analyse des objectifs et des enjeux propres à la détermination de la peine.

CRM 6765 Analyse sociopolitique de l'emprisonnement (3 crédits)

Analyse des buts, des fonctions et des conséquences socio-politiques de l'incarcération. La politisation de la réforme; abolition; mouvements en faveur des droits des prisonniers et des prisonnières.

CRM 6767 La femme et la justice pénale (3 crédits)

La femme comme justiciable et victime; l'impact du fonctionnement de la justice pénale sur les femmes.

CRM 6770 Délinquance d'affaires (3 crédits)

Analyse du traitement différentiel de diverses délinquances d'affaires.

CRM 6780 Sujets choisis I (3 crédits)

Divers sujets seront discutés d'une année à l'autre.

CRM 6791 Justice, Injustice et Résistance: Thèmes choisis (3 crédits)

Divers sujets concernant la justice, l'injustice et la résistance. Les thématiques précises seront annoncées chaque année.

CRM 6792 Gouvernance, Sécurité et Institutions: Thèmes choisis (3 crédits)

Divers sujets concernant la gouvernance, la sécurité et les institutions Les thématiques précises seront annoncées chaque année.

CRM 6793 Culture, Technologie et Modernité: Thèmes choisis (3 crédits)

Divers sujets concernant la culture, la technologie et la modernité. Les thématiques précises seront annoncées chaque année.

CRM 6794 Crimes, Torts et Régulations: Thèmes choisis (3 crédits)

Divers sujets concernant les crimes, les torts et les régulations. Les thématiques précises seront annoncées chaque année.

CRM 6795 Contributions théoriques à la criminologie (3 crédits)

Examen critique des principaux débats en criminologie, son champ de connaissance et ses objets, ses épistémologies et courants de pensées (théories, concepts) ainsi que les questions de recherche qui en découlent.

CRM 6800 Stage en criminologie II (9 crédits)

Réservé aux étudiants inscrits au programme de M.A. (option thèse et stage). Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant).

Volet : Stage

CRM 6999 Mémoire de recherche / Major Research Paper (6 crédits / 6 units)

Obligatoire pour les étudiants inscrits au programme de M.A. (option mémoire). / Compulsory for students registered in the MA (Major Research Paper option).

Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

CRM 8100 Doctoral Seminar (3 units)

This seminar provides students with the epistemological and theoretical tools necessary for developing an advanced level of reflection around their research topic. Attendance, active participation, an oral presentation, and a paper are compulsory.

CRM 81001 Doctoral Seminar (Part 1 of 2)

This seminar provides students with the epistemological and theoretical tools necessary for developing an advanced level of reflection around their research topic. Attendance, active participation, an oral presentation, and a paper are compulsory. (Part 1 of 2)

CRM 81002 Doctoral Seminar (Part 2 of 2) (3 units)

This seminar provides students with the epistemological and theoretical tools necessary for developing an advanced level of reflection around their research topic. Attendance, active participation, an oral presentation, and a paper are compulsory. (Part 2 of 2)

CRM 8102 Current Conceptual Issues in Criminology (3 units)

This course focuses on theory and concept construction and/or conceptual issues in knowlede production. Emphasis on engaging students in a broad range of skills such as conceptualisation, analysis, and synthesis.

CRM 81021 Current Conceptual Issues in Criminology (Part 1 of 2)

This course focuses on theory and concept construction and/or conceptual issues in knowlede production.  Emphasis on engaging students in a broad range of skills such as conceptualisation, analysis, and synthesis. (Part 1 of 2)

CRM 81022 Current Conceptual Issues in Criminology(Part 2 of 2) (3 units)

This course focuses on theory and concept construction and/or conceptual issues in knowlede production.  Emphasis on engaging students in a broad range of skills such as conceptualisation, analysis, and synthesis. (Part 2 of 2)

Prerequisite: CRM 81021

CRM 8110 Research Methodology in Criminology II (3 units)

Reflection on issues related to research methodology. In-depth training in a few methods. Methods of enquiry, practical considerations, data analysis, interpretation of results, etc. Acquisition of the knowledge needed to develop, direct, and administer a major research program in criminology.

CRM 8500 Séminaire de doctorat I (3 crédits)

Ce séminaire offrira des outils épistémologiques et théoriques aux étudiants afin qu'ils entament une réflexion poussée sur leur sujet de recherche. La présence, la participation active, une présentation orale et un travail écrit sont obligatoires.

CRM 85001 Séminaire de doctorat I (Partie 1 de 2)

Ce séminaire offrira des outils épistémologiques et théoriques aux étudiants afin qu'ils entament une réflexion poussée sur leur sujet de recherche. La présence, la participation active, une présentation orale et un travail écrit sont obligatoires. (Partie 1 de 2)

CRM 85002 Séminaire de doctorat I (Partie 2 de 2) (3 crédits)

Ce séminaire offrira des outils épistémologiques et théoriques aux étudiants afin qu'ils entament une réflexion poussée sur leur sujet de recherche. La présence, la participation active, une présentation orale et un travail écrit sont obligatoires. (Partie 2 de 2)

Préalable: CRM 85001

CRM 8502 Questions conceptuelles contemporaines en criminologie (3 crédits)

Ce cours porte sur les aspects théoriques et conceptuels de la production de connaissance. L'accent est mis sur l'engagement des étudiants dans un large éventail de compétences, telles que la conceptualisation, l'analyse et la synthèse.

CRM 85021 Questions conceptuelles contemporaines en criminologie (Partie 1 de 2)

Ce cours porte sur les aspects théoriques et conceptuels de la production de connaissance. L'accent est mis sur l'engagement des étudiants dans un large éventail de compétences, telles que la conceptualisation, l'analyse et la synthèse. (Partie 1 de 2)

CRM 85022 Questions conceptuelles contemporaines en criminologie (Partie 2 de 2) (3 crédits)

Ce cours porte sur les aspects théoriques et conceptuels de la production de connaissance. L'accent est mis sur l'engagement des étudiants dans un large éventail de compétences, telles que la conceptualisation, l'analyse et la synthèse. (Partie 2 de 2)

Préalable : CRM 85021

CRM 8510 Méthodologie de recherche en criminologie II (3 crédits)

Réflexion sur la méthode scientifique et sur les problèmes liés à la méthodologie. Apprentissage en profondeur de quelques méthodes. Modes d'investigation, organisation matérielle de la recherche, interprétation des données, appréciation des résultats, etc. Développement des connaissances nécessaires pour concevoir, diriger et administrer un programme de recherche d'envergure en criminologie.

CRM 9997 Projet de thèse / Thesis Project

Rédaction et soutenance orale d'un projet de thèse, à terminer normalement avant la fin de la cinquième session d'inscription au programme. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Writing and oral defence of the thesis proposal to be completed normally before the end of the fifth session of registration in the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

CRM 9998 Examen de synthèse / Comprehensive Examination

Undergraduate Studies

For more information about undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your faculty .

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

For more information about graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your academic unit .

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Simon Fraser University

School of criminology, crimrxiv consortium, founding member.

The School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University is one of the largest in Canada and on the Pacific Rim and is one of the leading criminology and criminal justice teaching and research centres in the world. The School has a complement of over 30 full time faculty members, a large number of adjunct professors and associate members, over 1,000 declared majors, minors and honours students, and more than 100 graduate students at the MA and PhD levels. Follow them on Twitter @sfucriminology .

Earlier or Later? A Survival Analysis of Criminal Career and Contextual Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Homicide in Canada

Does crime in places stay in places evidence for crime radiation from three narrative reviews, revisiting the sexual recidivism drop in canada and the united states: a meta-analysis of 468 empirical studies involving 388,994 individuals, public perceptions of courts and cooperation with police, mental health needs, substance use, and reincarceration: population-level findings from a released prison cohort, information trolls and democracy: a qualitative examination of disinformation campaigns in canada, the effect of missing item data on the relative predictive accuracy of correctional risk assessment tools, awareness and knowledge of drug decriminalization among people who use drugs in british columbia: a multi-method pre-implementation study, police shootings in canada: an empirical analysis and call for data, what risk assessment tools can be used with men convicted of child sexual exploitation material (csem) offenses recommendations from a review of current research, convicting the innocent: an analysis of the effects of wrongful convictions and available remedies in canada, interactions between offender and crime characteristics leading to a lethal outcome in cases of sexually-motivated abductions, situational context and public perceptions of officer appearance: a vignette-based study of police uniforms and accouterments, the cport and risk matrix 2000 for men convicted of child sexual exploitation material (csem) offenses: a predictive accuracy comparison and meta-analysis, a field test of police vehicle presence on speed(ing): parked, unoccupied, and effective, the impact of covid-19 on opioid toxicity deaths for people who experience incarceration compared to the general population in ontario: a whole population data linkage study, do you know what happens to you after you die, twenty years in the making: revisiting laub and sampson's version of life-course criminology, tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of assistant professor, a meta-analysis of trends in general, sexual, and violent recidivism among youth with histories of sex offending, race-based real estate practices and spuriousness in community criminology: was the chicago school part of a self-fulfilling prophecy, adverse childhood experience trajectories and individual high risk-behaviors of sexual offenders: a developmental victimology perspective, in the eye of the powerholder: examining the relationship between uniform and accoutrement combinations and police self-legitimacy, identifying key players in a network of child exploitation websites using principal component analysis, labeling effects of initial juvenile justice system processing decision on youth interpersonal ties, the effect of season and urbanisation on calliphoridae (diptera) diversity in british columbia, canada, using baited traps, the significance of unusual acts in sexual homicide, formal help seeking among men who experienced intimate partner violence., “criminalization causes the stigma”: perspectives from people who use drugs, emotional congruence with children: an empirical examination of different models in men with a history of sexually offending against children, burden of opioid toxicity death in the fentanyl-dominant era for people who experience incarceration in ontario, canada, 2015–2020: a whole population retrospective cohort study, prevalence, correlates, and sequelae of child sexual abuse (csa) among indigenous canadians: intersections of ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status, target selection and crime characteristics: a comparison of sexually motivated abduction cases to nonsexual abduction cases and nonabduction sexual cases, violent assault geographies in northeastern australia, the sexual recidivism drop in canada: a meta-analysis of sex offender recidivism rates over an 80-year period, sociometric network analysis in illicit drugs research: a scoping review, “2.5 g, i could do that before noon”: a qualitative study on people who use drugs’ perspectives on the impacts of british columbia’s decriminalization of illegal drugs threshold limit, unpacking the police patrol shift: observations and complications of “electronically” riding along with police, theorizing globally, but analyzing locally: the importance of geographically weighted regression in crime analysis, developmental sequela for sexual homicide: testing an integrated multi-theoretical model, sexual homicide and the forensic process: the decision-making process of collecting and analyzing traces and its implication for crime solving, an exploration of unsolved missing persons cases suspected of a criminal outcome: a forensic victimology approach, risky business: deadliest predictors of sex-trade worker sexual victimization, manifestations of sexual sadism in child sexual assault and the associated victim, offender, and offense characteristics: a latent class analysis, from school halls to shopping malls: multilevel predictors of police contact in and out of school, guideline development in harm reduction: considerations around the meaningful involvement of people who access services, the intangible benefits of criminal mentorship, cohort profile: the incarcerated serious and violent young offender study, a meta-analysis of the effects of wilderness therapy on delinquent behaviors among youth, “this isn’t justice”: abused women navigate family law in greater vancouver, inside the criminology of carlo morselli, how to decriminalize drugs: the design features of a non-criminal response to the personal possession of drugs, criminal law and digital technologies: an institutional approach to rule creation in a rapidly advancing and complex setting, estimating the probability of sexual recidivism among men charged or convicted of sexual offences: evidence-based guidance for applied evaluators, organizational support for frontline harm reduction and systems navigation work among workers with living and lived experience: qualitative findings from british columbia, canada, can whale-fall studies inform human forensics, advances in place-based methods: editors’ introduction, law and dementia: family context and the experience of dementia in old age, network integration within a prison-based therapeutic community, environmental criminology, design, and victimization: what we know, how we have failed, and where we need to go, r (statistical software), modifiable areal unit problem, triggered by defeat or victory assessing the impact of presidential election results on extreme right-wing mobilization online, making sense of senseless murders: the who, what, when, and where, impact of confinement in vehicle trunks on decomposition and entomological colonization of carcasses, future applications of big data in environmental criminology, policing interactions with persons with mental illness, journey to crime: how far does the criminal travel, place-based data, methods, and analysis: past, present, and future, place-based policing: new directions, new challenges, incarceration as a turning point the impact of custody experiences and identity change on community reentry, the cost of mental health related calls on police service: evidence from british columbia, gis and spatial analyses, the law of crime concentration at places: editors’ introduction, an evaluation of bylaw and policy changes on pharmacy robberies in british columbia, policing and mental health: an investigation into police interactions with emotionally disturbed persons, routine activity theory, mapping crime prevention: what we do and where we need to go, space, place and crime, the geometry of crime and crime pattern theory, substance use profiles among juvenile offenders: a lifestyles theoretical perspective, an experimental test of deviant modeling, the role of symptoms of psychopathy in persistent violence over the criminal career into full adulthood, the development of early onset, chronic, and versatile offending: the role of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and mediating factors, spatial dynamics and crime, the role of psychopathic traits and developmental risk factors on offending trajectories from early adolescence to adulthood: a prospective study of incarcerated youth, can the causal mechanisms underlying chronic, serious, and violent offending trajectories be elucidated using the psychopathy construct, the search for suitable homicide co-offenders among gang members, measuring crime specializations and concentrations, spatial heterogeneity in crime analysis, homicide in lithuania, mobility polygons and the geometry of co-offending, cognitive mapping, the place of environmental criminology within criminological thought, displacement, an evaluation of cctv at the scott road skytrain station, an assessment of increased police patrol in lower lonsdale, geospatial technology and crime analysis.

Universal Navigation

Universal navigation2.

• About Criminological Highlights
• Resources for Alumni & Friends

Search form

• Research & Publications
• Research at CrimSL
• Completed PhD Theses

Our PhD alumni study crime, order and security from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and theoretical approaches. Use the list below to expore the range of areas our doctoral students have explored over the years.

Where available, theses are linked to TSpace , the University of Toronto's research repository, or else to the  UofT Libraries  Catalogue.

Giancarlo Fiorella, 2023 (Supv. Professor Beatrice Jauregui):  Spectralities at the Protest Chronotope: Venezuela’s Colectivos and the Opposition Social Imaginary

Serdar San, 2023 (Supv. Professor Matthew Light):  Policing and Police Reform in Turkey since 1980: Regime Transitions and Policing Transformations

Fernando Ramon Avila, 2023 (Supv. Professor Kelly Hannah-Moffat): "The Scars Remain." Power, Solidarity, and Punishment in an Atypical Latin American Prison

Grant John Valentine, 2023 (Supv. Professor Paula Maurutto):  The Canadian Punitive Paradox: The Evolution of Conservative Political Marketing Practices and the Late Onset of Penal Populism in Canadian Federal Politics

Jihyun Kwon, 2023 (Supv. Professor Audrey Macklin, Professor Kelly Hannah-Moffat):  Misconduct Mismanagement: Independent Oversight, Accountability, and the Rule of Law

Erick Laming, 2022 (Supv. Professor Scot Wortley): Police Use of Force: Understanding its Impact on Indigenous and Black Community Members in Ontario

Dikla Yogev, 2022 (Supv. Professor Matthew Light): Religion and Police Legitimacy: the Case of Israel’s Haredi Community

Luis Valentin Pereda Aguado, 2021 (Supv. Professor Matthew Light):  Processes of Violence in Mexico’s Organized Crime Groups: A Study of Los Zetas

Julius Haag, 2021 (Supv. Professor Scot Wortley):  A Qualitative Examination of the Impacts of Police Practices on Racialized and Marginalized Young People in Toronto

Jacquie Briggs, 2021, (Supv. Professor Emerita Mariana Valverde): Networks of Colonial Governance: Department of Indian Affairs Legal Aid in Canada, 1870 to 1970

Grace Tran, 2021 (Supv. Professor Audrey Macklin, Professor Emerita Mariana Valverde): Laws of Love: Negotiations of Intimacy and Legitimacy At and Beyond State Borders Through Vietnamese “Marriage Fraud” Arrangements

Zachary Levinsky, 2020:  'Don't Under Reach': The Limits of Compassion and Risk Management in Toronto School Safety from 1999-2007

Adam Ellis, 2020: Reconceptualizing Urban Warfare In Canada: Exploring the Relationship Between Trauma, Post-traumatic Stress, and Violence Among Male Combat Soldiers and 'Street Soldiers'

Brenna Keatinge, 2018: Growing Land, Growing Law: Race, Urban Politics, and the Governance of Vacant Land in Boston from 1950

Katharina Maier, 2018: Half Way to Freedom: The Role of Halfway Houses in Canada's Penal Landscape

Lysandra Marshall, 2017: Racial Disparities in Police Stops in Kingston, Ontario: Democratic Racism and Canadian Racial Profiling in Theoretical Perspective

Maria Jung, 2017: The Relationship between Immigration and Crime in Canada: 1976-2011

Meghana Rao, 2017: Troubling Suicide: Law, Medicine and Hijr Suicides in India

Holly Pelvin, 2017: Doing Uncertain Time: Understanding the Experiences of Punishment in Pre-trial Custody

Vanessa Iafolla, 2015: Anti-money Laundering and Counter-terrorist Financing Policy in Canada: Origins, Implementation and Enforcement

Alexandra Lysova, 2015: Dynamics of Violence between Intimate Partners in the Narratives of Incarcerated Women in Canada: A Violent Events Perspective

Natasha Madon, 2015: Intersections of Youths'Perceptions: Youths' Perceptions of Their Treatment by the Criminal Justice System and Other Social Institutions

Tara Marie Watson, 2014: Risks Inside and Beyond Institutional Walls: Organisational Responses to Substance Use in Canadian Federal Prisons

Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, 2014: Black Males' Perceptions of and Experiences with the Police in Toronto

Nicole Myers, 2013: Creating Criminality: The Intensification of Institutional Risk Aversion Strategies and the Decline of the Bail Process

Rashmee Singh, 2012: Grassroots Governance: Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice Partnerships in an Immigrant City

Olena Kobzar, 2012: Networking on the Margins: The Regulation of Payday Lending in Canada

Sarah Turnbull, 2012: Reconfiguring Canadian Penality: Gender, Diversity and Parole

Allyson Lunny, 2011:  Victimhood and Socio-legal Narratives of Hate Crime against Queer Communities in Canada, 1985-2003

Carolyn Greene, 2011: Creating Consensus: An Exploration of Two Pre-charge Diversion Programs in Canada

Anita Lam, 2011: Making Crime TV: Producing Fictional Representations of Crime for Canadian Television

Myles Leslie, 2011: Speaking for the Dead: Coroners, Institutional Structures and Risk Management

Prashan Ranasinghe, 2009: The Refashioning of Vagrancy and the (Re)Ordering of Public Space

Michael Mopas, 2009: Imagining the Internet and Making it Governable: Canadian Law and Regulation

Sara Thompson, 2009: The Social Ecology and Spatial Distribution of Lethal Violence in Toronto, 1988-2003

Randy Seepersad, 2009: Mediators and Moderators in the Relative Deprivation - Crime/Counter-normative Actions Relationship

Annmarie Barnes, 2007: Transnational Dislocations: The Use of Deportation as Crime Control

Dawn Moore, 2005: To Cure the Offender: Drugs, Users and the Canadian Criminal Justice System

Mary Lynn Young, 2005: Crime Content and Media Economics: Gendered Practices and Sensational Stories, 1950-2000

Carla Cesaroni, 2005: The Stress and Adjustment of Youth in Custody

Bryan Hogeveen, 2003: Can't You Be a Man? Rebuilding Wayward Masculinities and Regulating Juvenile Deviance in Ontario 1860-1930

Cheryl Webster, 2003: Working for 'Good Order and Discipline': The Impact of Mandatory Convict Labour on the Maintenance of Orderly Prison Life in Contemporary Portugal

John Deukmedjian, 2002: The Evolution and Alignment of RCMP Conflict Management and Organizational Surveillance

Phil Mun, 2002: Calculated Risk-taking: The Governance of Casino Gambling in Ontario

Renisa Mawani, 2001: The "Savage Indian" and the "Foreign Plague": Mapping Racial Categories and Legal Geographies of Race in British Columbia, 1871-1925

Kimberly-Jo White, 2001: Negotiating Responsibility: Representations of Criminality and Mind-State in Canadian Law, Medicine and Society, 1920-1950

Jennifer Wood, 2000: Reinventing Governance : A Study of Transformations in the Ontario Provincial Police

Kirsten Kramar, 2000: Unwilling Mothers and Unwanted Babies: 'Infanticide' and Medico-Legal Responsibility in 20th Century Canadian Legal Discourse

Kim Varma, 2000: Exploring Age and Maturity in Youth Justice

Stephane Leman-Langlois, 2000: Constructing Post-Conflict Justice: The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission as an Ongoing Invention of Reconciliation and Truth

Anna Pratt, 2000: A Political Anatomy of Detention and Deportation in Canada

Voula Marinos, 2000: The Multiple Dimensions of Punishment: 'Intermediate' Sanctions and Interchangeability with Imprisonment

Jane Sprott 1999: Views of the Punishment of Youth: The Dimensions of Punitiveness

Benedikt Fischer, 1998: "Community policing" : a study of local policing, order and control

Kelly Hannah-Moffat, 1997: From Christian maternalism to risk technologies, penal powers and women's knowledges in the governance of female prisons

Willem De Lint, 1997: Shaping the subject of policing, autonomy, regulation and the police constable

Tammy Landau, 1994: Policing and security in four remote aboriginal communities: a challenge to coercive models of police work

• Our Experts
• Older Publications
• U of T Undergraduate Criminology Review (UTUCR)
• Research Projects
• CrimSL Research Cluster for the Study of Racism and Inequality
• Request new password

School of Criminology

In memory of Robert M. Gordon

• Administration and Staff
• Criminology Faculty
• Applied Legal Studies Faculty
• Adjunct Professors & Associate members
• Emeritus & retired faculty
• In Memoriam
• Visiting Faculty & Term Lecturers
• Director's Welcome
• Why study criminology
• Honours Program
• Post Baccalaureate Diploma Programs
• Second Degree Option
• Directed Readings and Directed Studies
• Application Process
• Placement Opportunities
• Guidelines for Field Placement Descriptions
• Responsibility of the Agency Field Supervisor
• Advising FAQ
• Contact an Advisor
• Sample Course Plan A (3 Term)
• Sample Course Plan B (2 Term)
• Sample Course Plan C (Lighter Option)
• Program Completion Check Sheets
• Alumni Testimonials
• Graduate Director's Welcome
• Faculty & Administration
• Program Overview
• BC Notaries Public
• Research group
• Alumni Profiles
• Graduate Students' Association
• MA Students
• PHD Students
• Upcoming Thesis Defence
• Research Clusters
• Institute & Centres
• Research Connections
• Presentations & Videos
• Student Association (CSA)
• Publications
• The Founding Family
• Annual Forum
• Annual Lecture and Dialogue Series
• The Ting Ocassional Forums

The School of Criminology is deeply saddened to announce the passing of professor emeritus Robert Gordon on April 25, 2024. Rob was a key figure in shaping the School as it is today and his contributions will be felt for years to come.

Known affectionally by some as “the captain”, Rob held several pivotal roles during his time at Simon Fraser University, including a six-year stint as associate dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), and 15 years as the director of the School of Criminology . He was also a founding director of the International Cybercrime Research Centre , co-founder of the Centre for Restorative Justice, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Forensic Research.

As associate dean, Rob was instrumental in the start-up of the FASS One program for first-year students and shepherded the creation of the Department of World Languages and Literatures . He also designed, implemented and directed the University’s highly-renowned Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies program.

Outside SFU, Rob was a consultant to different levels of government in Canada and beyond, serving on advisory boards and panels dealing with a range of legal and criminal issues, such as adult guardianship, adult protection, and mental health law. Rob worked tirelessly for many years in drafting legislation in B.C., Yukon, and other Canadian jurisdictions, as well as working on similar reforms in Eastern Europe on behalf of the Council of Europe. In 2013, the Governor General of Canada awarded him the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work on these issues.

He was also a prolific writer, having authored numerous books, book chapters, journal articles, and official reports on youth crime and youth gangs, adult guardianship law, adult protection law, health law, the abuse and neglect of the elderly, and restorative justice. He was a member of several professional associations including the American Society of Criminology and the Western Society of Criminology .

Well-known as British Columbia’s go-to expert for analysis on crime and policing, Rob became a sought-after voice for all major Canadian and international news outlets over the years. Whether he was out on his tractor or taking a well-deserved vacation, Rob was always quick to pick up the phone or return an email when a reporter contacted him. With more than 1,500 media mentions, he received his first SFU Newsmaker Award in 2007 and a Lifetime Achievement Award later in 2023 .

Although he will be deeply missed, Rob Gordon's contributions to the School of Criminology and Simon Fraser University will keep his spirit alive. We extend our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to professor Gordon's family and friends during this difficult time.

Tribute messages

The memory of Robert Gordon will be cherished by those who knew him, including his colleagues, students, and friends. If you wish to share a message of condolence, please send an email to  [email protected]

It is with deep and heartfelt sadness that I learned of the passing of Dr. Rob Gordon. While Rob was a great scholar, commentator and a person who provided great service to SFU, what I will remember most about Rob was the great down-to-earth human being he was. Rob was a great friend to me and the SFU Surrey campus. In meetings and gatherings, he would make us laugh, he would hold us accountable and he would pat you on the back when he saw a job well done. Rob may be gone but his legacy and influence will forever be with me.

Steve Dooley, Executive Director, SFU Surrey.

Though I only knew Professor Gordon superficially, his kindness, warmth and sincerity were immediately palpable. His vocational and allied accomplishments speak for themselves. Certainly, his rich legacy and proactive ambitions live on in those many students and colleagues whose studies and work he helped shape and enrich.

Gary Brown, former SFU Distance Education student

I had the good fortune of knowing Rob when we were fledgeling graduate students in sociology at the University of British Columbia in the early 1980s. I was amazed that he could fit his frame into a tiny midget MG sports car!  There was more amazement to follow. 

Rob demonstrated his leadership skills throughout the program, whether representing the departmental graduate students’ association, standing on principle for students, staff and students alike, encouraging us by example, and generous sharing of his time and skills.  He and I were office mates, drawing on one another’s humour, problem-solving, and shared commitment to seeing this doctoral program through.

We had a good fortune of securing tenure-track positions at SFU, thereby continuing our close friendship as colleagues from any decades. Once again, Rob stepped up as a leader in many roles, most significantly IMHO as a longtime Director of the School of Criminology. Devoted husband, father, colleague and friend, he has left a formidable legacy for the School and many other sectors. I will miss his friendship and comradeship. 

Brian Burtch, professor emeritus, Criminology, and former associate member, Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies, SFU 

Rob Gordon was a force to be reckoned with in so many ways. In addition to being a dedicated teacher, prolific scholar and omnipresent media commentator, he was a major contributor to the life of SFU in his multiple roles as an academic administrator, member of the Senate and other bodies, and institutional sage. As President, I could always count on Rob for insight and advice which he dispensed with good humour and generosity. And while he took it upon himself to jokingly refer to me as “boss,” I never doubted who in the university truly merited the right to be called “captain.” 

Andrew Petter, CM, OBC, KC, president emeritus, professor emeritus, School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University

I send my condolences to Rob’s family, friends and colleagues. I worked with him for many years when I was dean and vice-president academic, and he contributed so much to SFU. Beyond his research and teaching he gave his time selflessly to collegial governance of the School of Criminology and FASS, as well as his work in Senate. He was very influential in developing and administering policy in areas of student discipline. Rob exemplified SFU’s commitment to the broader community and it sometimes seemed that he was CBC’s resident broadcaster on crime.

Rob was a wonderful person to work with. He was thoughtful and thorough and tried to see all sides of an issue. His kindness shone through his rather gruff exterior. He had a great sense of humour and approached running a university with a twinkle in his eye and a kindly mockery of the foibles of senior administrators.

Jon Driver, professor emeritus, Department of Archaeology

I am so sorry to hear of Rob Gordon’s passing, and my heartful condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched. Over the years I relied on Rob’s wise counsel, and I was fortunate enough to work on the foundation he laid across so many programs and activities in FASS. Rob had a way of cutting to the heart of an issue (there is NO space), but always with humour and never unkindly. Rob was also a leader in my hometown, New Westminster, where his legacy lives on various civic and charitable organizations. Cheers Rob, and thank you.

Peter Hall, vice-provost and associate vice-president, academic, professor of urban studies, SFU

As the director of the then-World Literature Program and the founding Chair of WLL, I benefited from Associate Dean Gordon’s support over several years. Without his ongoing help in merging the Language Training Institute and the World Literature Program, we wouldn’t have the lovely department we have today. His support was invaluable to the department, and to me personally, and I’ll never forget it.

Melek Ortabasi, associate dean, undergraduate programs, teaching and learning, and student experience, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Such a loss. I can only fathom the amount of students and colleagues that feel this. I can still remember his voice so clearly and the accompanying eyebrow lift. He trusted my abilities, my intelligence and my commitment to the school. For that, I am forever grateful. Condolences to family and friends. His light will never dim and his voice echoing wisdom and confidence never waiver.

Jacqueline Faubert, PhD Crim

I was very saddened and shocked to learn of Rob Gordon's death. The notion of a world without Rob in it had never occurred to me, to be honest.

Always larger than life, Rob made a big impression when we first met at one of the annual gatherings of the Western deans' group. We had many memorable conversations over the years, particularly around the never-dull topic of academic integrity.

My condolences to Rob's friends and family. I had not seen him in a while and now I'm really going to miss him.

Julia Denholm, dean, Lifelong Learning, Simon Fraser University 

Rob Gordon was a true character. You sensed his presence when he entered a room. Larger than life, with piercing eyes, Rob was a man of great impression. During meetings and discussions, Rob was candid and pragmatic yet respectful and personable. Some individuals were ruffled by his no-nonsense, honest approach. When placed in command, he was an outstanding "Captain" navigating many stormy seas and troubled waters with ease. The School of Criminology was very fortunate to have him at the helm for so many years.

He gave so much of his time and energy into fostering positive change.  Rob really put his heart into the organization and.....into people. He cared. His influence was great and I know he will missed by many.

Rick Parent, police officer and associate professor (ret.), School of Criminology

I am saddened to hear of Rob Gordon’s passing. I first met him while I was a visiting professor of criminology at SFU in the early 1980s. He asked me to supervise a reading course in the Sociology of Law for his Ph.D. program. I happily did and realized that a student with his intelligence, wit, great social skills and ambition would do very well in his subsequent career.  He hit the ball out of the park in his career as a scholar, leader and someone concerned about connecting academics with real-world change and social justice. Over the decades I have had the good fortune to get together with him and it was always a delight.  He will be sorely missed by many.

Chuck Reasons, professor emeritus, Law and Justice, Central Washington University

Rob and I met when we were 16 years old and joined the Metropolitan Police cadets in London, UK, an educational and apprentice program for policing. We trained together and, at 19 years old, we became constables on the streets of London. He was stationed in North London, and I was in the centre of town.  We met frequently to chat about our lives as young constables dealing with the rigours of London in the 60s.

After a few years, I decided to move to Vancouver and joined the Vancouver Police Department. Robert departed the UK to join the Hong Kong Police. Discretion, and self-preservation, being the better part of valour, he moved on to Australia and joined the Melbourne Police. Our discussions of policing now broadened to an international perspective.

Our lives continued a parallel course. Rob left the police and attended Monash University in Melbourne and I moved on to UBC, Cambridge, and Sheffield Universities.

On one of our international chats, he spoke of the desire to move. I described the many attractions of Vancouver and the then-somewhat-new Simon Fraser University with its Criminology Department. He applied and was accepted. 

Rob and I spent many hours hiking in the North Shore mountains. Our frequent stops were because of laughter rather than the gruelling terrain. They were fun times.

These were the early days of police research and governance of police. Our more cerebral moments were spent on discussion of how policing could be enhanced; how the police could be made part of the weft and weave of the community, to support public safety.   

I would like to think that these early discussions as young constables in London and, decades later, as we hiked, laid the foundation for Rob’s stellar academic career.  His collegial approach and his observations and insights on policing issues will be missed.

Keith Taylor

I was so saddened to hear of Rob’s passing and send condolences to his family and friends. Rob made a huge contribution in the early days of SFU Surrey in developing programs and also organizing community lectures and events. I was glad we awarded him a 2023 Newsmaker of the Year which should have happened earlier given his responsiveness and dedication in responding to media requests and making himself available.  Rob had great presence but didn’t take himself too seriously with a twinkle in his eye and a sense of humour. He will be missed.

Joanne Curry , VP External Relations