Master of Arts in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies

The primary aim of the graduate program at the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies is to provide students with opportunities for advanced multidisciplinary study and supervised research experience in the areas of crime, the administration of criminal justice, and social studies of law and regulation. The program familiarizes students with existing bodies of criminological and sociolegal research, and develops critical, analytical and methodological skills. It is not a training program in forensic science, nor in professional legal studies. Rather, it is designed to educate students for careers in teaching or research, as well as jobs in which the ability to evaluate criminological or sociolegal research critically is necessary or desirable.
The graduate program is identified with two fields: criminology and sociolegal studies.
The criminology field includes the study of patterns in crime, criminal behaviour, and the administration of criminal justice. Subject areas include, for example, theories of crime and order, politics and crime, the psychology of criminal behaviour, policing, the criminal process, sentencing, penology, youth crime and justice, and criminal justice history.
The sociolegal studies field includes the study of how various types of law (e.g., criminal, civil, administrative, regulatory), as well as different mechanisms of social regulation, are used to prevent manage and sanction harmful conduct and effect security. Subject areas include, for example, theoretical perspectives on law and society, regulation, law, crime, and the economy, and, risk, regulation, and security.
Students can complete the MA program on a part-time or full-time basis. Full- and part-time MA students programs begin in September. In all cases students are required to complete the program within the time limits set for the MA degree under the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

Candidates for admission to the MA Program must have a four-year university bachelor's degree normally in the social sciences or humanities.
A four year bachelor degree is regarded as normally consisting of 20 full courses.
Applicants with arts and science degrees must have at least a B+ standing.
Applicants who have already completed a J.D. degree or its equivalent in law schools must have at least a B standing.
Each year a large number of applicants apply for the relatively small number of places available in the MA program.
Statement of Interest
Letters of Recommendation - In addition to the statement of interest, you must submit two academic letters of recommendation.

Although a B+ average is the minimum requirement for admission to MA programs at the University of Toronto, successful applicants often have an A- average (80%) or higher over the most recent two or three years of study.
Even people with an A- or an A average, however, are not guaranteed admission, since admission decisions are based on a holistic reading of applicant files by a committee of graduate faculty. This includes grades, reference letters, statements of intent, and courses taken.

An overall score of 580 and a written score of 5.0 on the paper-based test are the minimum standards. With the computer-based test, an overall score of 237 and a written score of 5 are required.
With the Internet-based TOEFL test, the overall score of 93 is considered by ETS to be the equivalent ot 580 (paper-based) or 237 (computer-based) on the current test. The Writing section score of 22 equates roughly to a score of 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
IELTS - Minimum required score: 7.0 (Academic) with at least 6.5 for each component.