FAQ's
1. What is an applied degree? How is it different?
An applied degree is a 4-year credential at the bachelor’s level. It is structured as a 2 + 2, meaning that your first two years will take the form of a diploma in Corrections, Policing or a related field.
The second two years is what makes this degree different from a regular Bachelor’s degree. The first of the last two years is completed on campus as is the diploma. The second and final or 4th year is spent in a workplace setting. This final year is known as Directed Field Studies (DFS), a form of applied study where the student completes coursework while working.
The second two years is what makes this degree different from a regular Bachelor’s degree. The first of the last two years is completed on campus as is the diploma. The second and final or 4th year is spent in a workplace setting. This final year is known as Directed Field Studies (DFS), a form of applied study where the student completes coursework while working.
2. What is DFS?
DFS is the name given to the 4th year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies at Lethbridge College. It is a unique phase of your learning journey in that you must be employed or working as a close to full time volunteer in a justice or human services agency. The DFS year is the APPLIED year of your degree; our expectation is that your employment and education are closely linked and mutually supportive. Your DFS must be approved by the DFS coordinator.
3. Do I have to be employed in order to complete my 4th year?
Ideally, you should be employed in a justice or human service agency. If you are not yet employed but need to be or wish to be paid in this fourth year, it is your responsibility to find such employment. Ensure you discuss any potential employment to ensure the workplace meets the needs of the DFS placement.
- If you are not able to find full time employment, however, and opt to work in a voluntary position, your DFS coordinator will help you find a suitable DFS placement.
- No matter if it is paid or voluntary employment, you are expected to work at least 80% of full time hours for up to eight months.
- If you are unsure, talk with the DFS coordinator about your options.
4. Are there any 4th year courses I can take without being in a work situation?
Yes, it is possible to complete some of the DFS courses without being employed or in a placement. They are:
- JUS4455 – Comparative Justice Systems
- JUS4450 – Directed Topics in Criminal Justice
- JUS4465 – Diversity Seminar
- JUS4464 – Applied Research 1
- JUS4468 – Applied Research 2
5. If I am not employed, how do I find a DFS Placement?
The DFS Coordinator has a list of agencies that typically accept DFS Students. It is also possible for you to explore placement possibilities in other agencies, if you have a contact, that may provide learning opportunities or possible future employment. Before making contact with any agency, consult with the DFS Coordinator to determine whether the placement is suitable.
6. Will I get paid if I am in a DFS Placement?
Some students already employed may use their place of employment as a DFS placement and will therefore be paid. It is also true that some students have been paid in DFS placements through summer grant or co-op programs, however, being paid in a placement is not typical.
7. Must my DFS be Eight months long or can I break it up into two 4-month placements?
Most students remain in the same placement for two consecutive terms – the full eight months. It is possible to break this into two separate placements if there is a good reason for doing so. Again, this is not typical. It is also possible, depending on the courses required, that a period of less than eight months is acceptable. Speak to your DFS Coordinator for further details.
8. What should I be looking for in a DFS placement?
You should be looking for a full-time or near full-time (80%) work in a justice or human services agency. It must allow for direct client contact and engagement, and ideally should involve the management, teaching, or leading of clients and the application of agency policy. You must complete JUS 3388 – Orientation to DFS before you begin looking for a placement. During this course, you will necessarily communicate with the DFS Coordinator and or an instructor who will advise you on the suitability of a potential placement.
9. I've applied for jobs in my field. What if I get a job half-way through my DFS year?
This is a good thing! If the job is in the agency where you are completing a DFS Placement, the transition should be seamless and you can simply carry on with your courses. If the job is in another agency, you should notify the DFS Coordinator and your instructors immediately so that your program plan can be amended.
10. Do I have to start DFS immediately after completing my 3rd year?
No, you don’t. Many students take some time off after their 3rd year for personal reasons or in order to find a job. If you take some time off, you will have to make contact again with the DFS Coordinator. The Coordinator will help you find placement, advise on your wishes or workplace as a placement, and will ensure the proper paperwork is in place before you proceed. If you are not enrolled in courses for more than one semester, you will have to reapply to Justice Studies before you enroll in courses again.
11. Do I have to complete all my 3rd year courses before starting my DFS courses?
While it is not recommended, you may take DFS courses before completing all your 3rd year courses. However, you must first complete JUS-3388, an orientation course to DFS or 4th year.
12. How are the DFS courses structured?
DFS courses are structured in many different ways, although you will find that they are not as content-heavy as the previous courses you have worked on. This is because they are workplace based and much of the content is student generated.
13. How many hours per week will I have to spend on each course?
This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on many factors, including your own skills and abilities. It is fair to say that completing a full course load (5 per semester) while working full-time is demanding for most people.
14. How many courses must I take to be considered a full-time student?
College policy states that you are a full-time student if you are taking nine credits in any semester.
15. Will I be able to get a student loan for my 4th year?
The DFS part of the Degree is structured so that you are eligible for student loans during this year, just as you are in any year.
16. What happens if I want to reduce my course load?
Many students choose to spread their DFS course out over three or more semesters, depending on their finances and the time they have to devote to studies. If you are in a DFS placement, however, remember that your time in the agency is likely to be limited to eight months.
17. Can I choose to take any of the elective courses that interest me?
Some of the DFS courses may not apply to your work or DFS placement. You will complete an approved DFS Program Plan as part of JUS 3388 – Orientation to DFS which will insure the courses you choose are appropriate.
18. Can I get advance credit in 4th year for courses I have taken from another college or university?
It is possible, but such credit is more likely applied at the 3rd year level.
19. I’ve been working in my field for several years. Will my training and experience be recognized?
Lethbridge College recognizes that learning occurs through training and experience as well as in the classroom. Course credit can be awarded in all years of the degree through a process called Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Consult with the DFS Coordinator or DL Coordinator to see what is possible.
20. I’ve just completed my diploma. Do I have to start the degree right away?
No, you don’t. Many students find employment after completing their diploma, and come back to take the degree a year or two later.
21. Do I have to come to Lethbridge to complete my DFS?
Since all DFS course are online, you do not have to be in Lethbridge. In fact, you can be anywhere in the world!
22. I might want to go on for a Master’s Degree at some point. Will this degree qualify me for post-graduate work?
It is possible for you to continue on to a Master’s Degree once you have completed your Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies. Royal Roads University, Athabasca University, and Minot State University (North Dakota) will accept students with this degree. Often acceptance will be based partly on your experience and maturity as well as your academic background.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in a field such as law or social work, it is unlikely that you will be accepted directly into those programs with a BAAJS. Please contact the DFS Coordinator if you wish to explore this further.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in a field such as law or social work, it is unlikely that you will be accepted directly into those programs with a BAAJS. Please contact the DFS Coordinator if you wish to explore this further.