Careers by Major - Criminology, Law and Society

 

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This program is offered through the Department of Sociology

Each Careers by Major page provides lots of ideas on various career areas, as well as how to gain related skills and experience. Useful resources and job samples are also provided.

Table of Contents 

1. Sample Occupations and Jobs
         1a. Sample Occupations
         1b. Sample Job Listings
         1c. Sample Areas of Employment
2. Program-Related Skills
3. Explore Careers & Build Networks
4. Get Experience
         4a. On-Campus
         4b. Off-Campus
5. Useful Resources & Next Steps 

 

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1. Sample Occupations and Jobs
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Below is a sample of the many types of occupations and jobs pursued by graduates of this program.

1a. Sample Occupations

 
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Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Detailed career profiles are available in the Career Centre. Some occupations require further education and 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*

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*

Forensic Science

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

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

Other

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

View these titles at Career Cruising, available on CLN under the Resources tab.

1b. Sample Job Listings

 
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Below is a sample of delisted positions that have been posted on UofT's Career Learning Network (CLN). To access current listings, login to CLN and click on Jobs

  • Investigative Consultant, Sun Life Financial
  • Correctional Officer and Parole Officer, Correctional Service Canada
  • Victims Services Coordinator, Public Safety Canada
  • Client Service Representative, Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Summer Assistant, Adoption Council of Ontario
  • Records Management Clerk, Elections Ontario
  • Student Municipal Advisor, Ministry of Housing
  • Resource Development Officer, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
  • Legal Assistant, Speigel Nichols Fox LLP
  • Report Editor/Application Processor, Andrew Shaul Psychology
  • WalkSafer, Campus Police, UTM
  • Qualitative Data Analyst, Department of Sociology, UTM
  • Team Leader – Drugs and Alcohol, Health & Counselling Centre, UTM
  • Research Assistant, Economic Development & Culture, City of Toronto
  • Support Group Facilitator, Centre for Inquiry Canada

1c. Sample Areas of Employment

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  • The Court System
  • 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

 

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2. Program-Related Skills
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Academic courses in this program provide opportunities to develop the following types of skills. Make a career counselling or an employment strategy appointment to discuss how you can demonstrate these skills to employers.

  • Communication: develop and write research papers; articulate concepts and ideas; present data using graphs, tables and diagrams; summarize findings; public  speaking; actively listen and engage in discussions.
  • Research and technical: plan and conduct research using appropriate methodologies; collect data ethically; analyze quantitative and qualitative data; use statistical software packages.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving: analyze crime, societal concerns and legal structures; evaluate criminological and socio-legal concepts, theories and debates; reflect on historical and contemporary issues; synthesize information; identify problems and develop solutions.
  • Organizational: identify goals; manage time; multitask; and work independently and collaboratively with others.

 

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3. Explore Careers & Build Networks
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Career Exploration 101

Take our 15 minute online module. Gain access to UTM's career exploration programs:

Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are a great way to connect with professionals in a career area of interest and gain valuable insights about a particular career, company, or industry that would otherwise be difficult to find in books or online. Check out our tip sheet to learn more.

Alumni Profiles

Check out our Alumni Profiles page with submissions from UTM grads to find out how their experiences have affected their career direction.

Events

Attending career panels, networking events, employer info sessions, and career fairs is a great way to meet professionals and learn more about careers, companies, and industries. Login to CLN and click on Events & Workshops to see what's coming up.

Talk to Professors

Connecting with your professors can be a great way to explore the different paths a major can lead you to, as well as learn about possible opportunities for research, volunteering, or becoming a TA. Drop by during their office hours or request an appointment.

Student Organizations

Join a student club or an academic society at UTM to meet like-minded people, explore your interests, and make valuable connections. To view a list of current clubs and societies, visit the Centre for Student Engagement's website. Some organizations you may consider are:

  • Sociology & Criminology Society
  • Forensics Society
  • Political Science & Pre-Law Association
  • University of Toronto-Mississauga Mooting and Law Association
  • UTM Students' Union

LinkedIn

Create a LinkedIn profile to connect with professionals in various fields, explore the career paths of UTM alumni, research employers, apply for specific positions, and more. Need help? Come to the Career Centre to book a LinkedIn profile critique.

Professional Associations

There are many benefits of becoming a member of association(s), such as developing a network of contacts, learning about industry trends, accessing industry-related job postings, and stating your affiliation on your resume. Some associations related to this major are:

 

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4. Get Experience
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Get some experience and exposure to the industry while being a student. This will increase your chances of finding a job after graduation, while helping you decide what area might be most suitable for you.

4a. On-Campus

 
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On-Campus Opportunities Booklet

Check out the On-Campus Opportunities booklet to view a list of some of the ways you can get valuable experience on campus.

Work Study Positions

The work study program provides eligible students with an opportunity to work on campus during the academic year and gain experience. Many departments use this program to hire UTM students during the Fall/Winter and Summer terms.

Research Opportunity Program (ROP)

UTM's Research Opportunity Program (ROP) allows undergraduate students to gain valuable research experience and earn a course credit by participating in a faculty member's research project. Courses are held during Summer and Fall/Winter terms.

Part Time and Volunteer Positions

  • Attend the annual Get Experience Fair 
  • Check out our binder with detailed information on volunteer opportunities; available in the Career Centre
  • Learn about the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), which can help you find opportunities beyond the classroom and have your skills and experiences captured on an official document

Student Organizations

Joining any student club or academic society at UTM is a great way to gain valuable skills and expand your resume. To view a list of current clubs and societies, visit the Centre for Student Engagement's website.

4b. Off-Campus

 
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Internships, Summer, Part-Time and Volunteer Positions 

Full-Time Positions

  • Networking is an essential element of job search today, as most jobs are not advertised. While you should still apply for positions you find online, building relationships with professionals is a proven way to access the 'hidden job market' with some of the most desirable opportunities. Attend the 'Learn to Network' workshop to discover proven techniques to effectively introduce yourself and make contacts.
  • Login to CLN and click on Jobs to access current postings advertised to graduating students and recent U of T grads. Note: You must attend the "Now That I'm Graduating, What's Next?" workshop to gain access to these postings.
  • Attend the annual Get Hired: Summer and Full-Time Jobs Fair
  • Check out our list of industry-specific job boards

 

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5. Useful Resources & Next Steps
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Career Resource Library

The Career Resource Library contains information about a wide range of occupations in all industries, resume and cover letter resources, effective work search methods, graduate/professional school preparation guides and more.

Appointments

Career Planning by Year

Visit our Career Planning by Year page for ideas of important career related activities for each year. You can visit us in the Career Centre to find out more about career areas that interest you.

Additional Web Resources


Updated February 2021