Policing (BA)

Designed for professionals working in the law enforcement with at least one year of professional experience, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Policing prepares you for leadership roles in law enforcement or to pursue post-policing careers.

Benefit from a fully online program that allows you to continue working in your field, as you learn critical leadership skills in analysis, communication and how to sensitively and strategically navigate the most current issues facing law enforcement professionals today. 

student and teacher in class

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you’ll get in the Policing program:

  • Participate in the Policing community page online, Community Space for Policing Degree, and meet other students in your online community.
  • Attend the Criminology Students' Association Annual Conference and public Criminology lecture series to hear from industry experts.
  • Enjoy learning from, and having conversational access to, professors with law enforcement and public safety backgrounds.

Check out the Policing Experience and Career Guide.

 

2022 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

 

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

 

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2022

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: part time      Duration: four years*     Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term) or May (spring term)    OUAC code: UPO
*Degree completion timeline may vary depending on transfer credits granted upon admission.

Program Details

About Laurier's Policing Program

Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Policing program is unlike any other in Canada. Extensive consultations with law enforcement agencies across Canada helped to shape the topics covered in this program. Topics include leadership, communication, diversity, ethics and building resilience. An advisory board ensures the course material stays relevant and current.

Program Timeline and Transfer Credits

The part-time nature of this program means you will take up to 1.5 credits (three 0.5-credit courses) per term for three terms per calendar year, depending on your schedule and available courses. 

Applicants are eligible to receive the following transfer credits (up to a max of 10.0 credits):

  • A maximum of 6.0 credits for a college diploma program.
  • University credits on a credit for credit basis.
  • 3.0 credits granted to officers for their studies at a Police Academy/Police College.
  • Credits from a certified Police training institution or other post-secondary institution(s) at the discretion of the dean*.

Due to these varying factors, you can expect your Policing (BA) degree to take approx. four to five years to complete, but we recommend connecting with an Academic Advisor to get a more accurate estimate based on your academic and professional history. 

Acquire Key Skills

The courses are designed to provide you with the skills to critically evaluate and apply different perspectives of our rapidly changing modern communities to police work experiences.

Student will learn how to:

  • Analyze and interpret information to productively contribute to law enforcement policy development.
  • Apply criminological and psychological theories, and perspectives to interpret and critique law enforcement issues.
  • Refine interpersonal communication to enhance leadership skills.
  • Sharpen critical thinking abilities to analyze and understand multiple perspectives and issues encountered in the field to better serve individuals and the communities.
  • Craft and delivery of arguments using logic and sound reasoning.

Program Options and Courses

Specializations, Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Criminology Minor
  • Global Crime and Justice Certificate
  • Gladue Principles Certificate

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

First-Year Required Courses

  • PD100: Models of Policing
  • PD101: Communications for Policing
  • PD200: Police Psychology
  • PD201: Intercultural Communication in Policing
  • PD202: Leadership and Career Development in Law Enforcement

Sample First-Year Electives

  • CC200: Youth Justice
  • OL140: Leadership Foundations
  • ISHS200: Gladue Principles

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • PD302: Indigenous Peoples’ Political Structures
  • PD305: Media, Social Media and Crime
  • PD306: Ethics, Corruption and Police Accountability
  • PD404: Cyber Crime

Similar Programs

Community Service-Learning

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Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with what you are learning in your classes. Placements are approximately 10 weeks and take place on a weekly basis from the second week of classes to the final week, typically for two hours per week.

CSL placements consist of volunteering at a local community service, such as a soup kitchen or a children's treatment centre. It’s a great way to apply classroom knowledge and gain practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, develop your network, and graduate with experience.

Interested? Learn more about Community Service-Learning.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

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Your Career Awaits

Graduates of the combination Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Policing will be well positioned to function and contribute in a range of public safety professions or pursue graduate studies in policing, criminal justice, law or related disciplines.

Possible career paths include:

  • investigator
  • detective
  • community relations officer
  • corrections officer
  • policy analyst
  • public safety educator

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Program Location

Courses for our Policing program are offered entirely in an online format. Designed to engage students in multiple formats such as student-instructor, student-content and student-student interaction, so you have significant opportunities to interact with other students in your class.