Graduate Studies - Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, allows you to assemble a list of Universities and Colleges that offer programs that meet specific search criteria.

Carleton University does not have a Master’s degree in Criminology. However, there are Master’s degrees in Legal Studies, and Sociology. You may also be eligible for other degrees.

Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in Psychology at Carleton upon successful completion of the B.A. Honours in Criminology and Criminal Justice (with concentration in Psychology) must meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible to apply:

Completion of a psychology research thesis in CRCJ 4908.
Completion of Advanced Design and Analysis (PSYC 3000).

Note: Acceptance for admission into the M.A. program in Psychology is not guaranteed. Please contact an advisor in the Psychology department for more information.

Students wishing to pursue graduate studies in Psychology outside Carleton University may be required to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Consult the graduate programs at individual universities to determine any other requirements.

Scholarships:

There are a variety of scholarships available for Graduate programs, but you have to search for them and find out how to apply. A good place to start is our Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs site.

The deadline for applying for funding varies depending on the Scholarship. The two most common Scholarships are Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Canada Graduate Scholarships (SSHRC). OGS are due November 15th and SSHRC are due December 1st.

OGS Scholarship applications are to be submitted online. Students will be able to choose the department who they wish to have review their application – the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice or the department where they are planning to do their graduate studies. Note that students must have an A- average in each of the last two years of study.

Canada Graduate Scholarship applications are completed and submitted online.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What do I need for admission to an MA Program?: Admission criteria vary from program to program and school to school. In general, students should contact the administrator or the program where they might want to go and inquire what is necessary for admission.

What questions should I ask the MA Program Administrator?: Check the Program website first, but if you can’t find your answers there, ask the Administrator things like: Is an Undergraduate thesis required? Do I need practical experience? What is the average GPA of previous successful candidates? What are the Faculty’s research areas? Are TA positions or Scholarships available?

How much does graduate degree cost?: Fees for an MA seem to vary from $6,000 to $10,000 (Domestic students) per year. Master’s degrees can take 2 – 3 years to complete. International Fees are typically twice as expensive.

Will it help me get a better job?: It depends on what kind of job you want. Don’t assume that a Master’s degree is the “ticket” to a better job. Sometimes practical experience is better; especially for “front-line” positions where your people-skills and personality are as important as what you know. However, if you are interested in research-oriented positions, upper management, or university teaching, you will likely need at least a Master’s degree. Look at job descriptions for positions you are interested in and see what minimum/average education and experience is required. Check out Alberta Occupational Profiles for a database of job descriptions. Keep in mind that this may be just the minimum required for the job. You also want to make sure that the job you want will provide a high enough salary to pay off your student loans in a reasonable amount of time. You don’t want to take on the debt of an MA program if it’s going to be a burden for the next 10 years.