Credential
- Certificate
Location Offered
- Nanaimo
The Legal Studies Certificate Program
This Certificate will appeal to students wishing to continue onto law school or graduate work in law and policy and to individuals interested in careers where there are significant legal issues. The program blends courses that develop essential writing, speaking and critical thinking skills with courses which offer more law-content specific focus.
This credential is designed primarily for students already enrolled, or intending to enroll, in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Business Administration degree program. Students will select from a variety of eligible courses to fit with their interest and their BA or BBA major or minor. Credits applied toward the Certificate may also be applied toward major program or minor program requirements, or toward a bachelor’s degree under the normal regulations governing those programs.
Students must satisfy the University Degree English Requirement and complete 30 credits in 4 areas: Foundations of the Canadian Legal System (6 credits), Primary Source Analysis, Reasoning, and Verbal/Written Argumentation (6 credits), Law (6 credits) and Legal Policy (12 credits).
Courses have been selected from several departments; however, there are no guaranteed seats for students registered for this credential. Each department has its own rules for reserved seating and cross-department enrolment policies. In addition, some courses have prerequisites. It is the responsibility of the students to ensure they have met the necessary prerequisites before enrolling in those courses. Students attempting to register in classes included in this credential are encouraged to contact the Legal Studies Coordinator and the individual instructors or program advisors and inquire about enrolment possibilities.
The Certificate comprises 30 credits in the 4 areas listed below. NOTE: Courses listed are worth 3 credits unless indicated otherwise)
1. Foundations of the Canadian Legal System (choose 6 credits)
Choose one of the following (3 credits):
Choose one of the following (3 credits):
- INDG 103 - (Introduction to First Nations Studies I)
- INDG 104 - (Introduction to First Nations Studies II)
- HIST 111 - (Canada to 1867: Contact, Colonies, and Empires)
- HIST 112 - (Canada 1867 to 1945: National Expansion in Peace and War)
- HIST 231 - (First Nations People in Canadian History Since 1867)
2. Primary Source Analysis, Reasoning, and Verbal/Written Argumentation (choose 6 credits)
- LBST 111* - (Love and Friendship)
- LBST 112* - (Knowledge, Good, and Evil)
- LBST 215 - (Freedom and Alienation: Economics, Politics, and Liberty)/LBST 315 (Freedom and Alienation: Economics, Politics, and Liberty (Advanced))
- PHIL 100 - (Rhetoric and Reasoning)
- PHIL 251 - (Formal logic)
3. Law (choose 6 credits):
- CRIM 135 - (Intro to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: A Criminal Justice Perspective)
- CRIM 210 - (Law, Youth and Young Offenders)
- CRIM 230 - (Criminal Law)
- CRIM 330 - (Advanced Topics in Criminal Law and Procedure)
- CRIM 400 - (Law and Human Rights)
- HIST 230A - (The Crown, Courts, and Aboriginal Resource Rights)
- LAWW 326 - (Commercial Law)
- MGMT 395 - (Workplace Legislation)
4. Legal Policy (choose 12 credits):
- ACCT 350 - (Fraud Awareness, Prevention, and Detection)
- CRIM 440 - (Alternate Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills)
- INDG 304* - (Indigenous Self-Determination)
- HIST 347 - (Human Rights in the Twentieth-century Canada)
- MGMT 460 - (Business-Government relations)
- MGMT 485 - (Labour and Employee Relations)
- PHIL 312 - (Philosophy of Law)
- PHIL 465 - (Applied Ethics in the Justice system)
- POLI 200 - (International Peace and Security)
- POLI 260 - (Justice and the Good Life: An Introduction to Political Thought)
- POLI 265 - (Freedom and Authority: Introduction to Modern Political Thought)
- POLI 300 - (International Organizations)
- POLI 301 - (Implementing Human Rights)
- POLI 321 - (Canadian Foreign Policy)
- POLI 345 - (Democratic Theory and Practice)
- RGMT 226 - (Law for Recreation and Sport Managers)
- SOCI 365 - (Surveillance and Society)
- SOCI 382 - (Crimes Against Humanity)
- TOUR 226 - (Law for Tourism Managers)
*6 credits
General admission requirements apply.
Students completing this certificate concurrent with and embedded within a VIU degree or diploma do not need to apply to this program. They should let their degree or diploma advisor, program coordinator, or the Registration Centre know of their intention. Careful planning is necessary to ensure prerequisites are met.
As this credential is designed to supplement a student’s primary degree, employment opportunities will be based on their primary degree. It is intended that this credential aid job seekers that are applying to jobs where legal issues are significant, such as in government, policy, law, insurance, and First Nations treaty negotiation.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit) | 4,992.00 |
| Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) | 199.68 |
| Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.35 per credit) | 220.50 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) | 220.80 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) | 265.00 |
| Total | 5,897.98 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester) | 23,993.10 |
| Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester) | 926.80 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) | 220.80 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) | 265.00 |
| Total | 25,405.70 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Nanaimo | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Next Intake(s):
January 6, 2025 September 2, 2025
Application Fee:
$45.16
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Assistant:
Name: Jenny Carpen-Rouget Phone: 250.753.3245 ext. 2283 Email: Jenny.carpen-rouget@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: David Livingstone Phone: 250.753.3245 ext. 2175 Email: David.Livingstone@viu.ca
Document Deadline:
The Legal Studies Certificate has two program start dates: one in September and one in January. Documents are due 4 weeks before program start. |
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Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.