Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies
Colwood, Canada
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
CAD 52,618 **
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
* Blended/years 3 and 4
** for international students | $18,655 CAD for domestic students
Key Summary
About: Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies gives practical knowledge of Canadian public policy on criminal justice, Indigenous perspectives, restorative justice, rights, advocacy, gender and alternative dispute resolution. It suits current or aspiring professionals in law enforcement, victim services or legal departments. You can finish in 12 months on campus or in 24 months via blended study.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue public-sector and non-profit roles, criminal justice agencies, or further study. Typical roles include paralegal, probation officer, policy analyst, law enforcement officer and alternative dispute resolution practitioner. Employers include corrections, youth centers, victim services and legal departments.
Gain practical knowledge of Canadian public policy on criminal justice, Indigenous perspectives of justice and restorative justice. Examine rights, advocacy, gender and alternative dispute resolution.
You're a current or aspiring professional in a justice institute like law enforcement, victim services, or a legal department.
Complete your undergraduate degree on campus in 12 months, or through a blend of online courses and on-campus residencies in 24 months.
Learn to apply integrity, initiative, perseverance and compassion to your work to drive social change.
Courses
Year 1
- ECOL110 Ecology (3)
- ENGL110-A Academic Writing: Part A (1.5)
- ENGL110-B Academic Writing: Part B (1.5)
- GEOG110 Human Geography (3)
- HIST160 History of Human Rights (3)
- ICBL (P/F) Introduction to Challenge-based Learning
- INDS110-A Theories of Interdisciplinarity: Part A (1.5)
- INDS110-B Theories of Interdisciplinarity: Part B (1.5)
- ITAI: Introduction to Academic Integrity (P/F)
- LEAD110-A Leading self and others: Part A (1.5)
- LEAD110-B Leading self and others: Part B (1.5)
- MATH160 Statistics for Social Science (3)
- SOSC160A Applied Research I (A) – Literature review (1.5)
- SOSC160B Applied Research I (B) Empathic and Ethnographic Research (1.5)
Year 2
- ECON260 Ecological Economics (3)
- ECON265Welfare Economics and Development (3)
- ENGL210-A Communication and Persuasion: Part A (1.5)
- ENGL210-B Communication and Persuasion: Part B (1.5)
- ENGL260Literature of the Anthropocene (3)
- ENGL265 Women and Literature (3)
- HLSC260 Determinants of Health (3)
- INDS210-A Systems Thinking: Part A (1.5)
- INDS210-B Systems Thinking: Part B (1.5)
- LEAD210-A Leading for change: Part A (1.5)
- LEAD210-B Leading for change: Part B (1.5)
- POLI260 Development and Political Change (3)
- PSYC260 Psychology of Well-being (3)
- SOCI260 Human Interaction (3)
- SOSC260A Applied Research II (A) Advanced Qualitative Methods (1.5)
- SOSC260B Applied Research II (B) Advanced Quantitative Methods (1.5)
BA Justice Studies Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates will develop the theoretical and practical foundations to critically assess issues related to justice studies. Additionally, they will have in-depth knowledge of the justice system including criminal justice, human rights, advocacy, conflict resolution, and mediation.
Critical thinking
- Apply a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to the field of study and practice.
- Examine and situate one’s own personal beliefs.
- Demonstrate openness to ideas and actions.
- Evaluate evidence, its sources, meanings and intentions.
- Identify, select, and sort relevant information in order to be able to describe, draw inferences, synthesize and validate that information.
- Identify and explain the ethical dimensions of professional conduct and practice.
- Critically reflect on the impacts and consequences of decisions and resulting actions.
Communication
- Articulate ideas and arguments effectively in oral and written formats.
- Demonstrate competence in interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
- Select and employ different communication media based on assessment of situation and context.
Research
- Identify and explain the core concepts and constructs of research.
- Contribute to knowledge in the field of study or practice using systematic and recognized research design and methods.
Knowledge
- Analyze and explain the Canadian legal system, its structures, processes, operational environment and its major regiments such as constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, administrative law and international law.
- Differentiate the attributes of comparative legal systems from a Canadian perspective, and in a global context.
- Critique Canadian identity emerging from sources such as federalism, multiculturalism and aboriginal self-government in reference to developed/established conceptions of justice.
- Analyze and explain public policy analysis and participate in the public policy-making process in the justice context.
- Explain the breadth and scope of complexities in the Canadian legal environment and emerging alternatives to traditional approaches to dispute resolution such as the use of technology or alternative dispute resolution.
- Identify conflict resolution perspectives based on theories of culture, identity and communication.
- Apply legal philosophy to the historical development of Canadian law, legal system and public policy.
Professional skills and practices
- Produce and facilitate third party conflict intervention processes including mediation, facilitation and negotiation.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn in a team environment.
- Demonstrate leadership in a team context.
- Generate a research objective and produce an outcomes-based research project related to the justice, legal or public administration contexts.
- Demonstrate professional conduct in the research and/or professional work environment based on sound legal and ethical reasoning.
Financial Aid & Awards
Your education is an investment in your career and life.
Explore financial resources available to you as a student at Royal Roads University:
- loans
- bursaries, scholarships and other awards
- student research scholarships
- other funding
- emergency funding
Find an up-to-date list of financial aid and awards.
Graduates may pursue careers in many areas of the public sector as well as non-profit agencies and other non-government organizations. Additionally, a variety of opportunities exist in criminal justice agencies and other organizations dealing with justice-related issues. Graduates have gone on to work in alternative dispute resolution, community development, probation, policy analysis, advocacy, and the like. Some graduates are continuing their education at law school, while others are pursuing graduate degrees.
Related Career Titles
- Paralegal
- Legal Research
- Diversion Counsellor
- Court Reporter
- Probation Officer
- Forensics/Crime Lab Officer
- Private Investigator
- Internet Security Manager
- Loss and Prevention Consultant
- Immigration Officer
- Insurance Investigator
- Policy Analyst
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Corrections Officer
Potential Employers
- Provincial and Federal Corrections
- Youth Correction Centres
- Government
- Victim Services
- Non-profit Organizations
- Pre-release and Half-way Houses
- Group Homes
- Legal Firms
- Women and Family Shelters
- Corporate/Government Legal Departments
- Law Enforcement
- Insurance Companies
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres
Occupational Information
- BC Work Futures
- Career Directions
- Career Pro News
- Job Futures 2000
- National Occupational Classification
- Work Destinations
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Canadian Criminal Justice Association
- Canadian Council on International Law
- International Police Association (Canada)
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- Canadian Professional Police Association
- Police Sector Council
Related Web Sites (Canadian Sources)
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- RCMP Recruiting
- Conflict Resolution Network Canada
- The John Howard Society of Canada
- Canadian Associations of Elizabeth Fry Societies
- Access to Justice Network
- Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
- YOUCAN Youth Canada Association