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Department of Psychology, School of Criminology | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Criminology and Psychology Joint Major

Bachelor of Arts

This program explores relationships between the study of criminology and psychology. Joint major students (or prospective students) are encouraged to see advisors in both departments.

Program Declaration and Continuation Requirements

Students must satisfy the program declaration requirements for both criminology and psychology programs. Interested students should contact advisors in both programs. Students with a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average (CGPA)* apply for program declaration after completing the following requirements:

Criminology declaration: students must complete the psychology declaration requirements and the following courses with minimum C- grades:

All of

CRIM 101 - Introduction to Criminology (3)
CRIM 103 - Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behavior (3)
CRIM 131 - Introduction to the Criminal Justice System - A Total System Approach (3)
CRIM 135 - Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective (3)
CRIM 220 - Research Methods in Criminology (3)

Psychology declaration: students must complete

PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology I (3)
PSYC 102 - Introduction to Psychology II (3)
PSYC 210 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Psychology (4) or STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)

and must obtain a final course grade of C (2.0) or better in

PSYC 201W - Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology (4)

To continue in the joint major, students must maintain a 2.25 CGPA. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.25 cannot enroll in any upper division CRIM courses. However, a student whose CGPA is between 2.00 and 2.25 may be eligible for a major in psychology.

*transfer students who meet the criminology program declaration requirements upon admission to SFU may use their admission CGPA for declaration purposes

Course Selection

Students should complete PSYC 100, 102 and 201 as soon as possible to gain better access to upper division PSYC courses. Students who plan a major in psychology should also complete PSYC 210 as soon as possible.

The psychology department strongly recommends that students do not leave any of these required courses to the end of their degree. If a student is unable to obtain the required grade in PSYC 201, he or she will not be able to graduate with a major in psychology.

To enroll in psychology courses, students are required to meet the prerequisites or special instructions that may be stipulated for each. The listed prerequisites indicate the minimal background expected by instructors. See PSYC courses for details.

The psychology department reserves one hundred per cent of all 300 and 400 division PSYC courses for approved psychology major, minor or honours students. Those who are not approved cannot enroll in these upper division courses until the open enrollment date.

Program Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 120 units, including a minimum of 45 upper division units, as specified below.

Criminology Requirements

Group A Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

CRIM 101 - Introduction to Criminology (3)
CRIM 103 - Psychological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behavior (3)

and all of

CRIM 104 - Sociological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behavior (3)
CRIM 131 - Introduction to the Criminal Justice System - A Total System Approach (3)
CRIM 135 - Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective (3)
CRIM 220 - Research Methods in Criminology (3)
CRIM 230 - Criminal Law (3)

and one 200 level CRIM course

Group B Lower Division Requirements

SA 150 - Introduction to Sociology (S) (4)

and one of

POL 100 - Introduction to Politics and Government (3)
POL 151 - Justice and Law (3)

and

any 100 or 200 division PHIL course

Upper Division Course Access and Requirements

Students with a minimum 2.25 CGPA are eligible to enroll in upper division criminology courses upon successful completion of 60 units including all lower division requirements and criminology joint major program declaration.

Students complete a minimum of 45 upper division units. Of these 45 units, students complete a minimum of 21 upper division criminology units*, including all of

CRIM 300W - Current Theories and Perspectives in Criminology (3)
CRIM 320 - Quantitative Research Methods in Criminology (3)
CRIM 321 - Qualitative Research Methods in Criminology (3)
CRIM 330 - Criminal Procedure and Evidence (3)

*Declared criminology students may not take CRIM 301 for credit. CRIM 369 or 462 may not be used for credit towards this joint major.

Psychology Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology I (3)
PSYC 102 - Introduction to Psychology II (3)
PSYC 201W - Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology (4) *
PSYC 210 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Psychology (4) or STAT 270 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)

and one group A course

PSYC 221 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 280 - Introduction to Biological Psychology (3)

and one group B course

PSYC 241 - Introduction to Psychological Disorders and Neurodiversity (3)
PSYC 250 - Introduction to Developmental Psychology (3)
PSYC 260 - Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
PSYC 268 - Introduction to Law and Psychology (3)

*PSYC 201W must be completed with a final course grade of C (2.0) or better.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete 21 units in upper division psychology courses.

No more than three Research Engagement or Directed Studies units may be applied to this program. No more than three PSYC Field School units may be applied to this program. At least 11 upper division psychology units must be completed at Simon Fraser University.

Research Engagement Course

PSYC 393 - Research Engagement (0)

Enrollment enables an individual to work with psychological research in consultation with the supervising instructor.

The minimum requirement is completion of the Tri-council ethics certificate, PSYC 201, 60 units, an upper division GPA of at least 2.5, and departmental permission. Research Engagement students complete an application form from the SFU Psychology website with the intended instructor. This course can be repeated for additional credit with the same or different instructor.

Directed Studies Courses

PSYC 493 - Directed Studies (3)

Enrollment enables an individual or small group to work with a faculty member on a reading or research project of mutual interest.

The minimum requirement is an upper division GPA of at least 3.00, at least 60 units and department permission. Directed studies students complete an application form from the SFU Psychology website with the intended instructor.

Letters of Permission

See Courses at Other Institutions/Letters of Permission for information. The department does not normally approve letters of permission for enrolled Simon Fraser University students to complete PSYC 201, 210 and 301 at a different institution. Such permission may be granted for other courses. Enquire of the psychology undergraduate advisor.

Graduation Requirements

Students must obtain a minimum grade of C- in all required courses. In addition to normal university grade point average requirements, the School of Criminology requires the following: for graduation, students must obtain a minimum 2.25 CGPA, 2.25 UDGPA, 2.25 criminology course CGPA (calculated on all CRIM courses completed at SFU), and 2.25 criminology course UDGPA (calculated on all upper division CRIM courses completed at SFU).

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.