Completing a field practicum provides you with an unparalleled opportunity to gain real-life experience and find out firsthand what it is like to work in the field of Criminal Justice. Your Career Development Coordinator will help you find a placement that meets your interests and career goals. Please read the information below carefully.
Criminal Record Check - UFV requires all students who participate in practicum to complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
For clarification and more details please visit the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's website. Students will be notified when this will be required.
Practicum Regulations
Criminal Record Check - UFV requires all students who participate in practicum to complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. For clarification and more details please visit the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's website. Students will be notified when this will be required.
Acceptance into the Criminal Justice diploma or the BA (Criminal Justice) degree program does not guarantee practicum placement.
The prerequisites for placement in CRIM 281 are:
- Minimum CGPA of 2.67;
- CRIM 100, CRIM 103, CRIM 104, and CRIM 105;
- CRIM 265 with a grade of C+ or better;
- CMNS 125 or ENGL 105;
- The ability to pass a criminal record check; and
- Departmental approval.
The prerequisites for CRIM 479 are:
- Minimum CGPA of 2.67;
- CRIM 310, CRIM 311, CRIM 320, and CRIM 321; and
- Departmental approval.
The prerequisites for placement in CRIM 480 are:
- Minimum CGPA of 2.67;
- CRIM 479 with a grade of B- or better;
- The ability to pass a criminal record check; and
- Departmental approval.
Students must complete 200 hours of practicum work in each of CRIM 281 and CRIM 480. This works out to approximately two 8 hour days per week for the semester.
Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice) students who do not meet the prerequisites for the second-year practicum must take two additional 200-level CRIM electives from the list noted on the MyGRADplan audit in place of CRIM 281. Students who do not meet the prerequisites for the fourth-year practicum must take three upper-level CRIM electives from the list noted on the MyGRADplan audit in place of CRIM 479 and CRIM 480.
Students who did not qualify for CRIM 281 but subsequently qualify for CRIM 480 must complete CRIM 480.
Please see the calendar for more details.
Goals of field practicum
- To provide the means by which you can utilize concepts, skills and theories learned in the classroom.
- To ensure that you gain a correct perspective of how individual sectors of the criminal justice system work on a day‑to‑day basis.
- To ensure that you acquire an understanding of how the overall goals of the system are actualized through policies, procedures, and the deployment of resources.
- To provide you with an opportunity to assess your abilities and interests as a potential criminal justice practitioner.
- To provide you with an opportunity to gain practical experience in a potential employment situation.
- To evaluate your abilities to perform various skills in which you have been trained, as indicated on the practicum's evaluation form.
Criminal record check
UFV is in accordance with the B.C. Government's Criminal Record Review Act and requires all School of Criminology and Criminal Justice students participating in a practicum to complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Saftey and Solicitor General. When planning your practicum you will be required to complete the criminal record check. The Career Developement Coordinator will share instructions on how to do this at your planning meeting.
Practicum planning
The first step to planning a practicum is to prepare the necessary documents and connect with the Career Development Coordinator. An email will be sent out with dates that practicum planning will begin. Please check your UFV student email account for details.
You must bring:
- A copy of your résumé
- A cover letter detailing your career goals
- An unofficial transcript - this is found on your myUFV account
- A copy of your program audit (myGRADPlan) - this is found on your myUFV account
Questions?
Please email crimpracticum@ufv.ca
The mechanics of a field practicum
The experiential courses, in the form of field practice assignments, are an integral part of the Criminal Justice programs. You must successfully complete one field practicum in your second year in the program if you are enrolled in the Criminal Justice diploma program; or one in your second year and another in your fourth year if you are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
While in the field, you will create goals and activities with your supervisor. At the end of your practicum, you and your supervisor will fill out a final evaluation form.
Challenging a practicum
During your time of study in a Criminal Justice program, you may only challenge one practicum. Keep in mind that credit can only be given where there is sufficient evidence to show that you have had a previous experience that is equivalent to (or better than) successful participation in the UFV course. In order to challenge a practicum, you must meet the requirements for a practicum. In other words, to challenge the second-year practicum, you must meet the requirements for CRIM 281 and to challenge the fourth-year practicum, you must meet the requirements for CRIM 479. Please see the Practicum Regulations above and ensure you meet all pre-requisites before contacting the Career Development Coordinator.
Consideration for applications to challenge will be given in cases where you have completed at minimum the equivalent of eighteen months of full-time employment (i.e., approximately 2700 hours) in a criminal justice setting with a government agency or with a recognized private social agency. Discuss the details of your previous or current work experience with the Career Development Coordinator to determine if it meets requirements to challenge a practicum.
After the initial discussion with the Career Development Coordinator, if you still wish to challenge the practicum, you will be provided with the application to challenge form and a final evaluation form. The final evaluation form must be completed by an immediate supervisor (or another similar evaluation form which must be approved by the Career Development Coordinator).
Please submit your practicum challenge application, final evaluation form, and supporting documents to the Career Development Coordinator, Program Advisor, and Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice for a final decision. If approved, the challenge will require an assignment component to be successfully completed for credit to be granted.
