Curriculum redesign aligns with evolving justice field, community needs
What do anti-money laundering, cybercrime investigations, drone technology, and alternative dispute resolution have in common? These are just some of the new courses coming to Justice Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) as part of the program’s refresh.
As the justice field continues to grow and evolve, the Justice Studies curriculum evolves alongside it, ensuring students are prepared for emerging trends and challenges. From new courses, and immersive learning environments to an updated credential, the program continues to expand opportunities for hands-on learning and career-ready experience.
“These curriculum changes position Guelph-Humber at the forefront of post-secondary education in Justice Studies in Canada, with new curriculum combining specialized, career-focused learning with a strong foundation in social justice and inclusion,” Justice Studies Chair Gary Galbraith said. "These changes provide greater flexibility for students to develop expertise in emerging fields while strengthening the professional skills employers are seeking from our graduates.”
Curriculum transformation, more opportunities
As technology and career paths within the justice sector diversify and expand, so does the Justice Studies curriculum.
Starting fall 2026, the program will offer a new course, AHSS*1500 Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice. This course will allow students to understand the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and become advocates for transformative approaches to justice service and the promotion of safe, inclusive, and equitable communities.
“Our graduates will be prepared not only to meet the complex roles of the justice sector at the global and national levels, but also to help shape a more inclusive and equitable future,” Galbraith said.
Furthermore, starting winter 2028, there will be further specialized areas of focus for upper-year justice studies students through six new program-restricted electives.
- Legal courses: Constitutional Law & Advocacy, Alternative Dispute Resolution & Mediation
- Crime analysis courses: Cybercrime Prevention & Investigations, Advanced Crime & Intelligence Analysis
- Advanced investigations courses: Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Investigations, Drones & Remote Piloted Technologies
Students will benefit from expanded applied work-integrated learning opportunities. In addition to placements, students will have access to flexible, paid experiential learning that can be completed during the summer months.
Justice Studies alum Kody Lin (class of 2019) is a global security intelligence analyst at Canada Goose. As a professional in the field, he recognizes the importance of teaching up-to-date content for burgeoning roles such as his.
“As technology evolves and AI becomes a bigger part of security landscapes, many organizations are merging cyber, physical, and fraud prevention into comprehensive fusion centers. In this context, the new Crime and Intelligence Analysis courses offer a crucial foothold for students exploring careers in corporate security. They’ll gain the adaptive skills needed in a rapidly changing world, going beyond traditional policing to encompass a broader Justice Studies perspective,” said Lin.
State-of-the-art spaces
The program revitalization also brings brand-new spaces for students to gain hands-on experience right on campus.
The first of these two spaces is the “Crime Lab,” which is a simulation apartment, providing a realistic setting for students to develop investigative and crime scene management skills. The space will be used for staging mock crime scenes and investigations, forensics, and interviewing.
The second space is the mock courtroom. This immersive space reflects an authentic Canadian courtroom with a judge’s bench, a witness box, and defence and prosecution tables. The mock courtroom will also support experiential learning opportunities like mooting competitions and mock trials, which will benefit students who are curious to learn about the legal system. With audio-visual technology integrated into the space, students can experience hybrid learning with participants from around the world through streaming.
“From the formality of opening arguments to the flexibility of cross-examining witnesses in the witness box, students will experience the full and realistic trial lifecycle,” said Ovais Ahmad, Assistant Crown Attorney and Guelph-Humber instructor and alum (class of 2017). “That kind of experiential learning and exposure translates directly into career readiness and actualities of working in the justice system.”
These innovative spaces will be used by Justice Studies and other students across U of GH, as well as student societies like the Guelph-Humber Pre-Law Society and Alpha Phi Sigma.
Updated credential: Policing and Community Safety
Justice Studies graduates will still complete the program with two credentials: an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies from the University of Guelph and a diploma from Humber Polytechnic. Students can opt to earn a diploma in Community & Justice Services or what’s now known as Policing and Community Safety (formerly known as Police Foundations).
This province-wide name change reflects an updated curriculum and a renewed focus on serving the community, with Indigenization and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) integrated throughout the curriculum.
To learn more about the Justice Studies program, click here.