Overview
Criminal Justice 360: The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour is a three-credit undergraduate course designed to introduce you to the psychological variables that are believed to underpin criminal behaviour. Students who work or intend to work in fields such as law enforcement, institutional or community corrections, and public or private security should find this course helpful in their work.
The textbook was chosen for its strong Canadian focus. Canadian researchers have been instrumental in shaping modern risk assessment practices, with many widely used risk metrics originating in Canada. This emphasis on risk assessment and management is woven throughout the text. Each chapter highlights key Canadian researchers and incorporates Canadian statistics, research, and case studies, showcasing Canada's contributions to our understanding of criminal behaviour.
CRJS 360 is organized into four parts. The first provides a contextual foundation for the course by reviewing crime trends in Canada and key theoretical perspectives, exploring both biological and environmental factors that shape offending. The second part is more concrete in focus, examining different types of crime, from economically motivated offences and substance-related crime to various forms of violence, including homicide and intimate partner violence. The third section of the course explores complex forms of offending, focusing on the role of mental disorder in the criminal justice system, as well as psychopathy and sexual offending. Finally, the course concludes with a focus on special populations, including a review of the varied needs of justice-impacted youth, women, and Indigenous persons.
Evaluation
To for CRJS 360, you must complete and submit the Research Proposal, the Research Essay, and write the four section quizzes. You must achieve an average minimum grade of on the four section quizzes and an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course.
You will be evaluated on your understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on your ability to apply those concepts. Your final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activies.
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Part 1 Quiz | 15% | Following completion of Unit 3 |
| Part 2 Quiz | 15% | Following completion of Unit 7 |
| Research Essay Proposal | 4% | Following completion of Unit 8 |
| Part 3 Quiz | 15% | Following completion of Unit 10 |
| Part 4 Quiz | 15% | Following completion of Unit 13 |
| Research Essay | 36% | Following completion of Unit 13 |
| Total | 100% | |
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Brown, S., Olver, M., Babchishin, K., Forth, A. (2023). Psychology of criminal behaviour: A Canadian perspective (3rd ed.). Pearson Canada.
Other Materials
All other materials are provided online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the CRJS 360 challenge registration, you must complete the the four section quizzes and write the research proposal and the research essay. You must achieve an average minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the four quizzes and an overall grade of at least D (50 percent).
Challenge for credit course registration form