Honours Bachelor of Police Studies

Description

The Honours Bachelor of Police Studies degree encourages a broadened critical understanding of the nature, role and function of policing. Students will explore a variety of topics offering opportunities for careers in law enforcement. The program learning outcomes value an integrated learning approach to police education that will provide a diverse range of students with the critical mix of professionalism, technical/legal expertise and analytical skills necessary to succeed in justice-related careers. This multi-dimensional degree complements, rather than duplicates, existing educational initiatives, offering courses that encourage increasing levels of thinking and analysis, which are dynamic in design, rationale and delivery. The learning outcomes are designed to directly calibrate with the policing community and its high professional standards.

Career Opportunities

This program will prepare our graduates with a variety of career and educational opportunities. The primary career categories include the Ontario Provincial Police Service and municipal police services. Opportunities may also include out-of-province police services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Armed Forces, By-Law Enforcement, Private Police and Investigators, Canada Border Services and Corrections. 

Program Learning Outcomes 

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. understand historical, current and future global trends affecting the professional police sector;
2. employ effective problem solving skills with respect to critical incident management in law enforcement;
3. apply computer literacy and effective oral and written communication skills applicable to the policing profession;
4. utilize interpersonal and team building skills in diverse settings and apply leadership skills appropriately;
5. understand national and international political, justice and legal systems including the wide variety of criminal and civil justice agencies and services;
6. research, organize, evaluate, synthesize and analyze evidence and statistical data based on investigation;
7. provide ethical, accountable and effective professional practices to individuals and groups in the community from a variety of diverse backgrounds;
8. assess and analyze the effectiveness and current relevance of judicial policies and procedures;
9. apply knowledge of individual and group behaviour within the context of current social issues and crime and deviance;
10. analyze and apply business strategies to police services;
11. develop short and long term personal and professional goals and networking that assist with ongoing career planning;
12. show an appreciation for life-long learning and a broad range of interests;
13. apply critical thinking and analytical skills inside and outside the discipline;
14. apply learning from one or more areas outside the discipline.

Practical Experience

All co-operative education programs at Georgian contain mandatory work term experiences aligned with program learning outcomes.  Co-op work terms are designed to integrate academic learning with work experience, supporting the development of industry specific competencies and employability skills.

Georgian College holds membership with, and endeavours to follow, the co-operative education guidelines set out by the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) and Experiential and Work-Integrated Ontario (EWO) as supported by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Co-op is facilitated as a supported, competitive job search process. Students are required to complete a Co-op and Career Preparation course scheduled prior to their first co-op work term. Students engage in an active co-op job search that includes applying to positions posted by Co-op Consultants, and personal networking.  Co-op work terms are scheduled according to a formal sequence that alternates academic and co-op semesters as shown in the program progression below.

Programs may have additional requirements such as a valid driver’s license, strong communication skills, industry specific certifications, and ability to travel. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be unable to complete the program progression as shown below. Please refer to Georgian College Academic Regulations for details.   

International co-op work terms are supported and encouraged, when aligned with program requirements.

Further information on co-op services can be found at www.GeorgianCollege.ca/co-op

Program Progression

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake - BAPS (direct entry stream)

• Sem 1: Fall 2025
• Sem 2: Winter 2026
• Sem 3: Fall 2026
• Sem 4: Winter 2027
• Sem 5: Fall 2027
• Sem 6: Winter 2028
• Work Term: Summer 2028
• Sem 7: Fall 2028
• Sem 8: Winter 2029

Fall Intake - BAPA (advanced standing stream)

Note: The advanced standing stream follows the Fall 2023 curriculum.

• Sem 5: Fall 2025
• Sem 6: Winter 2026
• Work Term: Summer 2026
• Sem 7: Fall 2026
• Sem 8: Winter 2027

Articulation

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, mature student status
• minimum overall average of 65 per cent
• six Grade 12 U or M level courses
• Grade 12 English (U)

Note: Police Foundations diploma graduates can apply to our advanced standing stream through OCAS using the major code of BAPA. 

Mature applicants may also be considered for admission to this program providing their previous school performance and/or recent work record suggests a strong possibility of academic success. In order to qualify, applicants must be 19 years of age on or before the commencement of the program and must have been away from formal education for at least one year immediately prior to beginning studies. Mature applicants must meet subject prerequisites prior to registration.

Applicants should be aware that first-year enrolment is limited; satisfying minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

Selection Process

Selection is based on academic grades and subject prerequisites; applicants must meet minimum averages to receive final acceptance.

Additional Information

The College has been granted consent by the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this degree. The college shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.

Non-core courses are required in all degree programs to meet the Ministry of Colleges and Universities benchmark for depth and breadth in degree-level learning. These courses are designed to give students the tools to develop interdisciplinary perspectives that inform their approach to their own discipline, their continued education and their life outside work.

Students are required to take: at least one first year interdisciplinary course (INTS1xxx); two introductory courses in their choice of disciplines outside their main field of study, which may include psychology (PSYC 1000 or PSYC 1001), social science (SOCI 1000), humanities (HUMA 1012), or science (SCEN 1000); one advanced course in a discipline (ex. PSYC3xxx, SOSC3xxx, HUMA3xxx), and; one upper level interdisciplinary course (INTS4xxx). These courses and any remaining non-core course requirements to be selected from the program list.

Please Note

In Canada the various federal, provincial and municipal acts and regulations outline special requirements for those entering a career as a law enforcement officer. Students wishing to pursue such careers should ensure that they will be able to meet the physical and educational requirements before enrolling. Potential students with a criminal record will need to discuss their personal situations with college before enrolling in the program. In some cases an official criminal record may make it more difficult for students to complete the program requirements and find related employment after graduation.

Graduation Requirements

27 Core Courses
4 Non-Core Courses
1 Non-Core Psychology Course
4 Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
4 Elective Non-Core Courses
1 Co-op Work Term

Note: The advanced standing stream follows the curriculum and progression for the Fall 2023 intake.

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, a student must attain a minimum of 60 percent or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester, and have an overall average of 65 percent in core courses and 60% in non-core courses.

Program Tracking - BAPS (direct entry stream)

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Core Courses
POLC 1000	Introduction to Police Studies	42
POLC 1001	Strategic Communications	42
POLC 1002	Canadian Criminal Justice	42
POLC 1009	Diversity, Equity, and Human Rights	42
Non-Core Courses
INTS 1007	Interdisciplinary Modes of Communication	42
	Hours	210
Semester 2
Core Courses
POLC 1004	Fundamental Concepts of Criminal Law	42
POLC 1005	Health and Wellness 1	42
POLC 1008	Community Policing	42
POLC 1010	Document and Case Management	42
Non-Core Courses
INTS 1002	Introduction to Multidisciplinary Research	42
	Hours	210
Semester 3
Core Courses
POLC 2003	Police Powers in Canada	42
POLC 2006	Provincial Offences	42
POLC 2008	Health and Wellness 2	42
POLC 2009	Youth Crime and Justice	42
Non-Core Psychology Course
Select either PSYC 1000 Introduction to Psychology 1 or PSYC 1001 Introduction to Psychology 2 during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 4
Core Courses
POLC 2007	Mental Health Issues	42
POLC 2010	Introduction to Forensic Science	42
POLC 2011	Criminology	42
POLC 2012	Principles in Traffic Law	42
Non-Core Course
SOCI 1000	Introduction to Society and Culture	42
	Hours	210
Semester 5
Core Courses
POLC 3002	Foundations of Interviewing	42
POLC 3007	Criminal Law: Advanced Theories	42
POLC 3012	Policing and Society	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-core Courses
Select 1 course at the 3000-level from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 6
Core Courses
POLC 3008	Criminal Procedures and Evidence	42
POLC 3013	Principles of Ethical Reasoning and Policing	42
POLC 3014	Introduction to Research Methods for Policing	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 7
Core Courses
POLC 4005	Human Resources Management in Policing	42
POLC 4014	Dispute Resolution	42
Non-Core Course
MNGM 1000	Leadership Models and Theories	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Courses: Core and Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course at the INTS 4000-level from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 8
Core Courses
POLC 4001	Professional Standards in Policing	42
POLC 4015	Criminal Behaviour and Analysis	42
POLC 4016	Honours Research Capstone	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
	Total Hours	1680

Program Tracking - BAPA (advanced standing stream)

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 5		Hours
Core Courses
POLC 3002	Foundations of Interviewing	42
POLC 3007	Criminal Law: Advanced Theories	42
POLC 3012	Policing and Society	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 6
Core Courses
POLC 3008	Criminal Procedures and Evidence	42
POLC 3013	Principles of Ethical Reasoning and Policing	42
POLC 3014	Introduction to Research Methods for Policing	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 7
Core Courses
POLC 4005	Human Resources Management in Policing	42
POLC 4014	Dispute Resolution	42
Non-Core Course
MNGM 1000	Leadership Models and Theories	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
Semester 8
Core Courses
POLC 4001	Professional Standards in Policing	42
POLC 4015	Criminal Behaviour and Analysis	42
POLC 4016	Honours Research Capstone	42
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-core)
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
Elective Non-Core Courses
Select 1 course from the available list during registration.		42
	Hours	210
	Total Hours	840

Plan of Study Grid

Co-op Work Term		Hours
COOP 1018	Police Studies Work Term 1	560
	Hours	560
	Total Hours	560

Course List

Code	Title
Elective Courses (Specialty Topics: Core or Non-Core) may include:
BSNS 2004	Organizational Behaviour
BSNS 4003	Risk Management
MNGM 1001	Management Principles
MNGM 2001	Project Management
MNGM 4000	Strategic Management
POLC 3009	Biology of Crime
POLC 3010	Terrorism and Violent Extremism
POLC 3011	Physical Fitness Training for Policing
POLC 4003	Major Incident Command and Negotiating Skills
POLC 4004	Public And Media Relations
POLC 4006	Forensic Science: Advanced Techniques and Application
POLC 4007	Contemporary Social Movements
POLC 4008	Organized Crime
POLC 4009	Cyber: Space, Crime and Security
POLC 4010	Corporate and White Collar Crime
POLC 4011	Police Governance
POLC 4012	Victimology
POLC 4017	Police Studies Advanced Perspectives

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of four years (as stated above) may take a maximum of eight years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.