Careers by Major - Criminology and Socio-legal Studies

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Careers for graduates

There are many different career options available for Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies graduates. Below is a sample of types of positions that are available to Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies graduates (italicized positions are ones our graduates are known to have attained).

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

Correctional Services:

  • Criminal Investigator
  • Criminology Assistant
  • Corrections Officer*
  • Counsellor*
  • Child Welfare Care Worker
  • Juvenile Justice Counsellor
  • Child and Youth Worker*
  • Case Workers
  • Group Home Workers
  • Environmental Conservation Officer
  • Inmates Records Coordinator
  • Probation and Parole Officer*
  • Penologist
  • Prisoner Classification Interviewer
  • Security Agent; Social Worker*
  • Rehabilitation Counselor*
  • Warden.

Law Enforcement:

  • Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire Arms
  • Armed Forces (see “Infantry” and “Military Engineer” in Career Cruising)*
  • Border Services Officer
  • Coast Guard*
  • Detective*
  • Drug Enforcement Agent
  • Explosives Specialist*
  • RCMP Constable; Immigration Officer*
  • Import Specialist
  • Juvenile Court Worker
  • Park Warden/Ranger*
  • Parking Enforcement Officer*
  • Police Officer*
  • Postal Service Investigator
  • Private Investigator*
  • Probation Officer*
  • Security Guard*
  • Special Constable
  • Transportation Inspector*.

Courts:

  • Bailiff*
  • Court Administrator
  • Court Liaison Counselor
  • Court Clerk*
  • Court Reporter
  • Judge*
  • Civil Litigator*
  • Corporate/Commercial Lawyer*
  • Criminal Lawyer*
  • Law Librarian
  • Legal Researcher
  • Legal Secretary*
  • Paralegal*
  • Pre-trial Services Officer
  • Victims Advocate.

Forensic Science:

  • Arson Specialist
  • Ballistics Specialist
  • Controlled Substance Specialist
  • Coroner*
  • Crime Scene Investigator*
  • Criminologist*
  • Document Specialist
  • Fingerprint Specialist
  • Forensics Specialist*
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Polygraph Specialist
  • Serology Specialist
  • Victim Services Personnel.

Other:

  • Activist*
  • Archivist*
  • Crossing Guard*
  • Lobbyist*
  • Research Assistant
  • Political Aide*
  • Speech Writer
  • Foreign Service Officer*
  • Public Policy Analyst*
  • Paralegal Assistant*
  • Underwriter*
  • Journalist*
  • Technical Writer
  • Editor*
  • Professor; Human Resources Specialist*
  • Humanitarian Aid Worker*
  • Financial Advisor
  • Marketing Specialist*
  • Mediator*
  • Sociologist*.

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre

Who employs Criminology and Socio-legal Studies graduates?

  • Court Systems
  • Juvenile Court
  • Royal Canadian mounted Police (RCMP)
  • Police Services
  • Prisons, Jails, Court houses
  • Educational Institutions
  • Social Service Agencies
  • Market-research organizations
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Government
  • Private Sector

Examples of government departments and agencies include:

  • Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
  • Correctional Service Canada (CSC)
  • Courts Administration Service
  • Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs
  • Department of Justice Canada
  • Department of National Defence
  • Health Canada
  • Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
  • Law Commission of Canada
  • Ministry of Public Safety and Emergence Preparedness Canada (RCMP)
  • Office of the Correctional Investigator
  • Supreme Court of Canada
  • The National Parole Board (NPB/Board)

Opportunities with the Federal Government.

Opportunities with the Ontario Government.

Skills developed by Criminology and Socio-legal Studies majors

  • Developing project designs
  • Knowledge of legal structures
  • Broad understanding of criminal justice system
  • Awareness of societal concerns and population dynamics
  • Understanding societal development
  • Surveying and sampling
  • Planning long-term projects
  • Identifying problems and developing solutions
  • Writing clearly
  • Presenting/defending a position
  • Communicating across cultures/languages
  • Analyzing data
  • Gathering and organizing data
  • Research mythology

Sample job listings for graduating students/recent graduates

Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates. To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend the 'Now That I'm Graduating' Workshop. Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information. Some of these job opportunities are taken out from Employer Directories which can also be found at the Career Centre.

  • Investigative Consultant, Sun Life Financial
  • Criminal Law Research Assistant, Lao Law, Legal Aid Ontario
  • Correctional Officer and Parole Officer, Correctional Services of Canada.
  • Corrections Officer and Youth Officer, Ministry of Public Safety Ontario
  • Victims Services Coordinator, Department of Public Safety
  • Security Officer and Parole Officer, Intercon Security
  • First Line Worker and Child and Youth Worker, Hastings Children's Aid
  • Police Constable, Halton Regional Police Services
  • Client Service Representative, Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Integrated Client Services Coordinator (ICSC), Connexus Family and Children
  • Protective Services Officer, CN Tower (Summer Employment)
  • Life Underwriter Trainee, State Farm Insurance and Financial Services
  • Market Research Analyst, IFOP, Canada Market Research
  • Curator, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corp.
  • Law Clerk, Wright & Associates
  • Junior Legal Services Representative, Bellissimo Law Group
  • Intern, BC Civil Liberties Association

Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!

Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.

How to get experience

Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want. Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online.

Summer positions

  • Emergency Management Assistant, Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional
  • Student Border Services Officer, Canada Border Services Agency
  • Summer Student  - Legal / Marketing, TransUnion of Canada
  • Summer Student, Adoption Council of Ontario
  • Development Coordinator, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust
  • Records Management Clerk, Elections Ontario
  • Student Municipal Advisor, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing
  • Resource Development Officer, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres

Part-time positions

  • Legal Assistant, Speigel Nichols Fox LLP
  • Security Guard, Federal Security Agency Corporation (FEDSEC)
  • Call Dispatcher, CCSI Technology Solutions Corp
  • Youth Focused Food Security Assistant, Agincourt Community Services Association
  • Report Editor / Application Processor, Andrew Shaul Psychology
  • Regional Political Communications Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
  • Survey Interviewer, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
  • WalkSafer, UTM Campus Police

Work-Study positions - previous postings have included:

  • Qualitative Data Analyst, UTM Department of Sociology
  • Programs and Initiatives Coordinator, UTM Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre
  • Research Assistant, UTM Career Centre
  • Marketing and Recruitment Assistant, UTM AccessAbility Resource Centre
  • Team Leader – Drugs and Alcohol, UTM Health and Counselling Centre
  • Program Assistant, UTM Department of Physical Education, Athletics & Recreation
  • Registrarial Assistant, UTM Office of the Registrar

Volunteer positions

  • Big Brother or Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel
  • Market Research Analyst, Empire Club of Canada
  • Research Assistant, City of Toronto – Economic Development
  • Newcomer Youth Mentors, Catholic Crosscultural Services
  • Support Group Facilitator, Centre for Inquiry
  • Assistant for Community Research & Advocacy, Alternatives Mental Health Agency
  • Toronto Youth Job Corps Assistant, St. Christopher House

Extern Job Shadowing Program - previous placements:

Extern is a career exploration program that offers you the opportunity to meet with people working in your preferred career area for placements of 1-5 days.

Samples of previous Extern placements include:

  • Forensic Identification Officer, Metro Toronto Police
  • Toxicology Scientist, Ministry of Public Safety & Security
  • Lawyer, Specializing in Impaired Driving
  • Probation and Parole Officer, Ministry of Public Safety and Security
  • Detective Constable, Crime Scene Forensic Unit, Toronto Metro Police
  • Private Investigator, Advocate Investigation Services
  • Crown Counsel, Federal Prosecution Services

Research Opportunity Program (ROP) at U of T Mississauga

UTM's Research Opportunity Program (ROP) allows students in their second and third year to earn one full course credit by participating in a faculty member's research project. Check the ROP website for information about the program including application deadlines.  Past projects included:  “Factors Affecting Recidivism among Young Offenders”; “Employment Prospects for Ex-Prisoners in the GTA”; “Specialized Courts in Canada” among others.

Professional Associations:

Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume. In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one way to get an edge in the job market. It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.

Resources

Career Centre Library Resources:

  • Career Cruising
  • Great Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
  • Great Jobs for Sociology majors
  • What Can I Do With My Degree in Sociology
  • Careers for Mystery Buffs
  • Careers in Social Rehabilitation Services
  • Careers in Community Development
  • Careers for Good Samaritans & Other Humanitarian Types
  • Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors

Web Links:


UTM Career Centre Panel Packages:

  • Sociology & Criminology Career Panel (2008)
  • Alternatives to Law (2008)
  • Careers in Crime, Law & Deviance (2007)
  • Careers with a Conscience (2006)
  • Careers in Counselling (2005)

The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca

What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).