Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance (Co-op)

at Ontario Tech University Canada

Forensic psychology exists at the intersection between psychology and the justice system. It involves applying the principles and scientific methods of psychology to the study of both criminal behaviour and the basic tenets of the judicial system. Specific applications include the study of eyewitness memory, the intricacies of jury decision making, effective police interrogation techniques, and the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of criminal behaviour.

You will study the core areas of psychology: social, cognitive, developmental and abnormal, as well as research methods and data analysis. You will explore a variety of forensic psychology courses that apply psychology to crime, policing, the courts, corrections and other aspects of the justice system. You will also have opportunities to incorporate aspects of criminology, legal studies, health and neuroscience into your degree, with the objective of developing unique knowledge and skill sets.

Students have access to new, modern buildings and innovative labs including:

• Forensic Psychology Laboratory 
• Social Science Library 

Experiential learning

• A limited number of fourth-year students are granted an opportunity to participate in a learning experience with a community organization. The practicum is an experiential learning tool that provides students with opportunities to acquire workplace skills and knowledge, confront the relationship between theory and practice, and cultivate a sense of personal and professional development. The practicum course consists of 100 hours of fieldwork, several in-class seminars and a set of academic assignments.

Pursue an area of Biological Science that is rapidly growing and which applies to many day-to-day applications, such as health, agriculture and industry.

Individuals interested in this specialization will apply directly to Applied Biotechnology through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre using application code DSF.

Most of today’s controversial issues - whether stemming from political conflict, technological developments, economic inequality or other social changes - are expressed and mediated through law. The Legal Studies program offers you the opportunity to critically explore the social roles of law and its connections with community, government and society from different theoretical perspectives. The program demonstrates a commitment to promoting justice by cultivating active citizenship skills, critical reflection, and respect for diversity, pluralism, equality, and equity.  

You will be stimulated to appreciate the law in its plural - formal and informal - forms and to evaluate it from diverse perspectives. You will be challenged to question whether law equally responds to the needs of all groups in society, including Indigenous people, racial minorities, immigrants, the poor, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and persons with disabilities. You will study law in relation to topical themes, including national security, globalization, technology and the environment. You will explore various ways of resolving social conflicts - from traditional court processes to alternative methods of dispute resolution such as mediation.

Legal Studies graduates have knowledge and skills suitable for careers requiring legal research and analysis, policy analysis, human rights advocacy, mediation, and/or an understanding of privacy and information access issues. The program also offers preparation for graduate work in legal studies, law school, or paralegal or mediator certification programs.

You may pursue the comprehensive program or a specialization in:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Human Rights Law
• Information Law

Experiential learning:

• A limited number of fourth-year students have an opportunity to participate in a learning experience with a community organization. The practicum is an experiential learning tool that provides students with opportunities to acquire workplace skills and knowledge, confront the relationship between theory and practice, and cultivate a sense of personal and professional development. The practicum course consists of 100 hours of fieldwork, several in-class seminars and a set of academic assignments.

The amount of data generated by, and available to, companies, governments, and individuals, is exploding. There is an urgent need for individuals who can grapple with massive amounts of data and extract key information. As a Computer Science student in the Data Science specialization, you will develop the knowledge, skills, and tools, to set you up for success in this desirable job market. You will also develop critical problem-solving, analytical, and computational skills that will enable you to turn vast quantities of data into insight.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry is a specialization in our Chemistry program. Individuals interested in this specialization will apply directly to Pharmaceutical Chemistry through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre using application code DSW.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry combines the study of drug discovery and development, pharmacology, analytical techniques, and drug chemistry.  The chemical design process and evaluation of potential future medications will be a prime focus of your studies. You will apply knowledge gained from course material, hands-on lab experiences and faculty research to the pharmaceutical industry.

Experiential learning

• A five-year Co-operative Education option is available in all of our Science programs (except for Forensic Science, which already has an embedded experiential component), all of which satisfy the guidelines of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education. These combine an Honours Bachelor of Science program with embedded work terms. The co-op option gives you opportunities to apply your classroom and lab concepts to real-world situations and help you gain valuable, relevant work experience to promote networking and lifelong career success.
• Co-op work terms give you the opportunity to earn a competitive salary that will help pay for your university degree and the work experience to help clarify your career objectives. More importantly, a co-op degree gives you a distinct advantage that will assist your prospects for full-time employment after graduation or for being readily accepted into graduate school to pursue further studies. Studies have shown that university students who graduate with a co-op degree have lower debt loads, are employed faster and have higher starting salaries.
• We are committed to providing you with outstanding opportunities to work with today’s highest-quality employers in business and industry. Our university has developed strong partnerships with leading employers in Durham Region and beyond to allow you to connect with experts in the field and gain hands-on, real-world experience.

Learn about marine ecosystems and organisms in this specialization, and immerse yourself in the marine environment during a semester abroad in Bermuda.

Individuals interested in this specialization will apply directly to Marine Biology through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre using application code DMB.

If you're interested in applying to the Marine Biology (Co-op) specialization, apply via OUAC code DBL.

Marine Biology is a specialization within the Biological Science program. Within the marine biology specialization, students will learn about marine ecosystems and organisms, as well as have experiential learning opportunities in the marine environment via a semester abroad* at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS).

Pharmaceutical Chemistry is a specialization in our Chemistry program. Individuals interested in this specialization will apply directly to Pharmaceutical Chemistry through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre using application code DSW.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry combines the study of drug discovery and development, pharmacology, analytical techniques, and drug chemistry.  The chemical design process and evaluation of potential future medications will be a prime focus of your studies. You will apply knowledge gained from course material, hands-on lab experiences and faculty research to the pharmaceutical industry.

Our program puts you one step ahead by combining the latest technology with the most current business and information technology trends. 
Integrating key business functions with the use and understanding of today’s latest technologies, this program provides you with the skills necessary for employment in a competitive market.

The first two years of the program have a common curriculum featuring simulations, teamwork and case studies. In your third year, you may choose one of the following five majors:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Marketing
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management
• Technology Management

Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management

• This major will help you develop the skills and knowledge required to transform an organization's most important asset, human capital, into a sustainable competitive advantage. It prepares you for a human resources career, providing you with the courses needed to pursue the Certified Human Resources Leader professional designation. 

Pursuing the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Liberal Studies program entails deepening one’s capacity for effective communication, incisive analysis, creative thinking, and critical self-reflection. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to adapt to and thrive in a dynamic employment environment. It is not just a university graduate’s overall sum of knowledge, but the capacity to increase, deepen, distribute and apply that knowledge, which matters most in an ever-changing world.

Preparing students to flourish in their personal and professional lives informs the holistic, interdisciplinary, inquiry-driven approach of the Liberal Studies program. Creating awareness and compassion, fostering civic engagement, and nurturing the needs of the 'whole student’ are central to the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities’ mission to equip students with the intellectual and interpersonal skills they need to excel in all facets of life.

Experiential learning

• A limited number of fourth-year students are granted an opportunity to participate in a learning experience with a community organization. The practicum course consists of 100 hours of fieldwork, several in-class seminars and a set of academic assignments.

Forensic Science is an interdisciplinary area of science that involves the use of scientific principles to analyze evidence for legal investigations. Our program is fully accredited by the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) recognizing that our curriculum, labs, faculty and research have met the rigorous standards set by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

You will benefit from both a strong general scientific foundation and forensic courses. Students gain real-world experiences and unique hands-on training at the Crime Scene House, Forensic Ecology Research Facility and Forensic Teaching Laboratory.

At the end of first year, you will choose to specialize in one of the following areas:-
Forensic Biology:- Forensic biology spans a multitude of applications of biological evidence, such as blood and other body fluids, hairs, botanical remains, microbes and insects, to criminal, civil and regulatory law investigations and prosecutions. You will learn how forensic biology plays a crucial role in the justice system through courses such as Population Genetics and Forensic Biology.

Forensic Chemistry:- Forensic Chemistry encompasses numerous disciplines including paint analysis, arson and fire debris investigations, explosives analysis, fibre and textile testing as well as the subdiscipline of toxicology, the study of drugs and poisons.You will further your skills in analytical instrumentation, the analysis of fire accelerants and toxicology through courses such as Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Fire Investigation.

Forensic Physics:- The discipline of forensic physics describes the application of the scientific study of matter, motion and energy to forensic investigations of many types, including ballistics, accident reconstruction, metal strength and damage analysis, and optical and acoustic analyses. Courses such as Electricity and Magnetism, and Forensic Physics will help you understand forensic materials analysis as well as the mechanics of bloodstain patterns and vehicle collision investigations.

Experiential learning:-
Students in their graduating year will complete either an independent Thesis Research project, Directed Studies project, or Mock Crime Scenee Practicum.

The Thesis Research Project provides students with the opportunity, under the supervision of a faculty member or a forensic professional, to integrate and synthesize knowledge gained throughout their program of study. Students will prepare a written and oral thesis defense that includes a literature review, methods, results and significance of the research.

The Directed Studies Project requires independent research of a current topic in a specialized area of forensic science, including, but not restricted to, biology, chemistry, anthropology and the application of science to law. Students select topics from current research literature and prepare a review and critical appraisal of underlying experimental principles.

The Mock Crime Scene Practicum will allow students to investigate a simulated major crime scene, synthesizing the knowledge they have gained throughout the forensic science program. They will participate in all aspects of a forensic science investigation, from crime scene to lab, culminating with expert witness testimony in a mock court setting.