Coursework

In the first year of the program, you will complete your coursework, which is comprised of four required courses and two electives.

Required Courses

Two methods courses:

• CC601: Qualitative Fieldwork into the Study of Deviance
• CC602: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods

One theory course:

• CC603: From Theory to Practice: Deviance and Social Control

A professionalization seminar:

• CC606: Research and Professionalization Seminar

Electives

In addition to required coursework, you must also complete two electives. Course descriptions can be found on the Criminology course offerings page.

With the approval of the graduate coordinator, you may take one course offered by another master’s program at Laurier and one course may be taken from a criminology graduate program of another recognized university under the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Plan. In addition, you may also arrange, in exceptional circumstances, to take one of their courses as a directed studies course under the supervision of an individual professor with the approval of the graduate coordinator. You may also take an option or options in the second year of your studies if approved by the graduate coordinator.

Master's Thesis

As part of the program, you will complete a thesis in which you engage in original research on an approved topic. You will register in the thesis course (CC699) in the spring term of your first year and continue to register in the CC699 thesis course until the defence of the thesis has been completed. You must be registered for CC699 for the term in which the defence takes place.

Typically, the thesis will be between 90 and 110 pages in length. An advisory committee consisting of a faculty supervisor and a faculty committee member will oversee the completion of the thesis. The supervisor will work closely with you in supervising the research and writing of the paper. You will normally begin working on the early stages of your thesis proposal in CC606: Research and Professionalization Seminar. You will complete your MA thesis proposal in the spring term of your first year and may commence data collection if the proposal is approved by the thesis advisory committee.

Example Thesis Titles

• “‘Emotional Landscapes’ and the Value of Sex: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Sex Workers’ Clients,” Zoey Jones (2013).
• “Policing Diversity with Diversity:Exploring Organizational Rhetoric, Myth, and Minority Police Officers’ Perceptions and Experiences,” Justin Szeto (2014).
• “Investigating Perceptions of Crime and Safety on the University Campus,” Derek Weeden (2014).
• “Juror Perceptions of Eyewitness Identification Evidence,” Timothy Wykes (2014).
• “Exploring Interactions Between Police and People with Mental Illness,” Krystle Shore (2015).
• “Critical Champions or Careless Condemners? Exploring News Media Constructions in Cases of Wrongful Conviction,” Katherine Rozad (2015).