Photo Credit: David Denofreo

When Eric Osmond enrolled in the Criminology Diploma program at Douglas College, he was eyeing a career in law enforcement.

But after a few semesters, he discovered his true passion was teaching.

“I realized how passionate I had become about what I was studying,” he said. “Seeing how my instructors were able to engage students so effectively, I wanted to do the same.”

Knowing he would require more than a diploma to pursue a career in academia, Osmond made the switch to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Criminology, a new degree program that kicked off in September.

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Criminology provides the academic training plus hands-on experience grads need to embark on a career in criminal justice. In the final two years in the program, students complete an applied specialization in one of three areas: Community and Institutional Practice, Crime Analysis and Prevention, or Legal Studies.

For grads looking for pursue graduate studies, there’s an Honours option, though both the regular and Honours degrees are recognized by Simon Fraser University for graduate school and by the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria law schools.

As for Osmond, he plans to do his graduate studies at SFU.

“My goal is to  eventually obtain a PhD in Criminology. From there, I plan to become an instructor at a post-secondary institution,” he said.