BC's Indigenous Public Post-Secondary Institute

Aboriginal Leadership in the Justice System Certificate

Program Overview
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Current Course Offerings

Department: CAREER TRAINING (JUSTICE STUDIES)
Program Delivery Location: Merritt, Vancouver
Credential: Certificate
Format: Part-Time
Start Dates: TBD

Aboriginal Leadership in the Justice System Certificate

The Aboriginal Leadership in the Justice System (ALJS) Certificate and Diploma were developed for students who are interested in a career within law enforcement, justice and Public Safety and Corrections Canada. ALJS program is a 2 year 60 credit program that is delivered through the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT). The program emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of justice for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and drawing of the strengths and resources within community based initiatives. These NVIT courses are university transfer credit courses, which may parallel for an individual's training in a related field. This program will assist individuals who are highly motivated, self-disciplined and hold an interest in the Justice system. The program is also directed towards individuals who are in a full or part-time supervisory position and are working in the public health safety or justice fields.

Admission Requirements

Grade 12 graduation with a C+ minimum in the following:

English 12/English First Peoples (ENGL 060)

Pre-Calculus 11 (or Math 059)

Criminal Record Check

An overall minimum GPA of 2.33 is required

Certificate Completion Plan

ADCT-102 - Psychology, Understanding Human Behaviour

CRIM-101 - Introduction to Criminology

CRIM-103 - Psychological Explanations Of Criminal And Deviant Behavior

CRIM-131 - Introduction to Criminal Justice System

CRIM-135 - Introduction to Canadian Law

ENGL-110 - English Composition

ENGL-204 - Business Writing

HLTH-201 - Physical Health and Fitness

SOCI-200 - The Nature of Racism

STSC-101 - Strategies for Success

Course Listing for this program

ADCT-102 - Credits: 3.000
Psychology, Understanding Human Behaviour
This course is an introduction to native psychology. It introduces the psychological understanding of human nature developed in tribal thought. These understandings include; 1) the development of the individual through the stages of life; 2) an introduction to ceremonial practices which promote healthy individuals, families systems, and communities; and 3) an introduction to the dynamics of native psychology as it relates to the client in recovery. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program Admission

CRIM-101 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Criminology
This course provides a general overview of criminology. It explores the history and evolution of criminological theories and reviews criminological concepts: crime, delinquency, deviance, victim, offender, rehabilitation, and treatment. The course also addresses the relationship between theory and practice, the interdisciplinary nature of criminology, and the application of criminology with a focus on Aboriginal peoples of Canada. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12

CRIM-103 - Credits: 3.000
Psychological Explanations Of Criminal And Deviant Behavior
This course introduces and critically examines biogenetic, psychiatric, and psychological explanations of criminal and deviant behaviour. Special attention will be given to the theoretical links between criminality and genetics, physiology, mental disorders, the endocrine system, personality, moral development and the impact of residential schools, poverty, and mental illness. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12, Recommended: PSYC 111 & 121

CRIM-131 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Criminal Justice System
The course will examine the various components of the criminal justice system, and patterns of crime and victimization in Canada, with particular attention paid to Aboriginal issues. Police operations, decision-making options, courts, sentencing and corrections will be reviewed in the context of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. In addition, this course will explore Aboriginal traditional and contemporary justice philosophies and initiatives and the youth justice system, including culturally relevant and community-based models. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12

CRIM-135 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Canadian Law
This course is a general introduction to the fundamental and competing principles of jurisprudence and to the basic legal institutions of Canada. It focuses on the history of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relations and interactions with the Canadian legal system. It also reviews the development of Canadian law, and the roles and responsibilities of community members, elders and legal professionals. It explores legal reasoning and application, the doctrine of precedent, principles of statutory interpretation, the fields of contract, torts, and administrative and family law. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12, Recommended: CRIM 131.

ENGL-110 - Credits: 3.000
English Composition
English 110 prepares students to write successful college essays. This course focuses on the writing process. Students will learn how to develop, organize, write, revise, document, and edit essays. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12 or permission of instructor.

ENGL-204 - Credits: 3.000
Business Writing
This course will prepare students to communicate in both oral and written discourses across a variety of organizational contexts. Through a series of practical exercises and theoretical discussions, students will learn to assess the communicational requirements of an organizational context, to select the type of discourse most appropriate to that context, and to respond to the context in a perspicuous, concrete, organized, and persuasive style of speaking or writing. In simulated experiences, students will write various forms of business letters, memos, reports, project proposals, cover letters, and résumés. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 110 / or permission of instructor

HLTH-201 - Credits: 3.000
Physical Health and Fitness
The aim of this course is to provide students with introductory knowledge regarding improvement in health and physical fitness for the enhancement of a healthy lifestyle and total well being. Students will examine the elements of muscular fitness, cardiovascular fitness, balance and flexibility as it relates to healthful living. Specifically, students will learn to develop personal exercise programs and understand the health implications of physical activity, physical fitness and nutrition. Furthermore, students will improve their current level of physical fitness. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / MATH-059 / or English 12 and/or English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent and MATH 11 or equivalent or permission of instructor.

SOCI-200 - Credits: 3.000
The Nature of Racism
This course examines the nature of racism and solutions to it from a historical, political, sociological, and cultural perceptive. This course will also look at race and culture as a social concept recognizing the impact of dominant majority group values, norms, and conflicting ideologies that inevitably lead to inequitable social and economic structures in Canada. Racism is analyzed by looking how it is manifested in government, education, media, human services, employment, justice and law enforcement. Finally, the concept of democratic racism will be explored as well as the policies and practices that support or attempt to dissolve its existence. More Details on this course

STSC-101 - Credits: 3.000
Strategies for Success
This course introduces students to higher learning and academic culture. Students will explore a variety of topics that will help them connect to resources that will aid in their student success, including test-taking strategies, note-taking, time management, research, student responsibilities and ethics, learning styles, and setting educational goals that will contribute to lifelong learning. In addition, students will connect with other academic supports like the Librarian and Student Success Centre and have access to Elders who will introduce learners to some Indigenous cultural traditions to help students maintain a healthy balance during their studies. More Details on this course

Current Course Offerings

01 = Merritt Campus
V1 = Burnaby Campus

For information on transferability, please see the BC Council on Admissions and Transferability

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Aboriginal Leadership in the Justice System Certificate