Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice, Advanced Certificate

Building community through advocacy and social responsibility. Eight months at Camosun can prepare you for a rewarding career in the expanding field of mental health and addictions and criminal justice and set you up for entry into an in-demand human services field.

Rope in a knot

Program at a glance

Credential

Advanced Certificate

Work experience

None

Study options

Part-time

Online

Open to International

No

Area of study

Health Sciences

Length

8 months

Building community, enhancing lives

Start in September

Apply an interprofessional approach to the provision of services and support for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges in contact with the mental health, social services, and the criminal justice system.

Information Sessions

Find out more about upcoming networking and information sessions occurring at Camosun.

group discussion

Are you passionate about social justice?

Operating from a social justice perspective, the Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice program emphasizes the values related to and importance of social responsibility, advocacy, community-capacity building, and interprofessional practice. The program provides a basis to build an environment where students in health, social services, and the criminal justice fields can develop collaborative, cooperative, and coordinated practice for providing client-centred care.

What to expect

The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice has been designed with working professionals in mind. The program is an interprofessional fully online eight-month program consisting of a series of four 7-week courses

Academic Term 1

In your first term, you’ll critically examine the intersection between the criminal justice and mental health systems and addictions, and apply an interprofessional approach to reviewing existing systems and organizations that service these populations.

Academic Term 2

In your second term, you’ll develop evidence-based approaches to support people facing mental health, substance use, and criminal justice challenges; develop approaches to address service barriers and challenges and explore contemporary social issues and perspectives through a social justice, human rights, advocacy and practice lens.

We’ll help you succeed

Upon completion of the program, you'll have an enhanced understanding of and ability to provide integrated services and supports, as well as to advocate for change in the systems and structures that individuals with mental health or substance use challenges and the justice system experience. You'll also have an increased understanding of the impact of systems, colonization, decolonization, including information related to the systemic racism of Indigenous peoples and communities.

Employment opportunities

As a graduate, you will have systemic level awareness and skills to navigate and support individuals with mental health and/or addiction challenges in residential and community. You will enhance your existing skills to support you in the workplace to better advocate, support, and serve clients. Our graduates may be currently working or wanting to pursue a career with a variety of mental health, addictions, community, and criminal justice agencies.

What you'll learn

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in myCamosun.

Program outline

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Program outline

Building community through advocacy and social responsibility

The program will include a focus on advocacy, preventative, and proactive practices as well as supporting those crossing service areas.

Term 1

In your first term, you’ll critically examine the intersection between the criminal justice and mental health systems and addictions, and apply an interprofessional approach to reviewing existing systems and organizations that service these populations.

Term 2

In your second term, you’ll develop evidence-based approaches to support people facing mental health, substance use, and criminal justice challenges; develop approaches to address service barriers and challenges and explore contemporary social issues and perspectives through a social justice, human rights, advocacy and practice lens.

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023

Estimated tuition

Tuition estimates are for the entire program.

Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice, Advanced Certificate

$2,143 (domestic)

Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to: Student Fees.

Financial assistance

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards 

Curriculum & courses

Admission requirements

Ready to get started? Get your application in for the September intake.

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the following admission requirements.

Tip: Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

One of:

  • Post-Secondary Credential: A minimum of a one-year credential in Criminal Justice or Mental Health from a recognized post-secondary institution (other credentials in these fields may be considered and approved by the Program Chair).
  • Proof of a diploma or bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution and 600 hours of work or volunteer experience in the mental health or criminal justice field.

And all of:

  • English Proficiency: Completed self-declaration confirming your level of English proficiency. Applicants to the program are expected to have English language proficiency with a strong recommendation of English 12 or higher.
  • Statement of Intention: Submission of a 400-500 word statement outlining career goals and motivation for entering the program.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Apply today

Missing admission requirements?

Take an assessment or upgrade with us.

Contact us

If you have admissions questions contact us today!

If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in your classes contact artsci@camosun.ca or the program chair. 

Faculty/staff profile

Wendy Taylor

Wendy Taylor

Chair, Criminal Justice

Faculty/staff profile

Jeanne Puritch

Jeanne Puritch

Chair of Community, Family and Child Studies Department

Jeanne is the Chair of the Community, Family and Child Studies Department at Camosun College. Programs in this department include:  EACS Certi ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Kelli Moorhouse

Kelli Moorhouse

Instructor, Criminal Justice

On Leave. Kelli is a graduate of the Criminal Justice program at Camosun College. She holds Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Work. Her b ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Blair Fisher

Blair Fisher

Instructor, Criminal Justice

I graduated from the Camosun Criminal Justice Program in the early 1990’s and went on to continue my Criminology Degree at Simon Fraser University. I ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Kristin Ross

Kristin Ross

Instructor

Kristin combines her broad-based experience and knowledge to facilitate student learning and prepare our graduates to support people living with menta ...

Read more

Faculty/staff profile

Eva Silden

Eva Silden

Instructor, Criminal Justice

Eva is a faculty member of the Criminal Justice Program at Camosun College.  Eva has spent over 20 years studying and working in the field of jus ...

Read more

bus-students-atrium

Learn more

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar. 

Contact information

School of Arts & Science

Campus location

Fisher 104

Location link

Lansdowne Campus

250–370–3298

artsci@camosun.ca