10 of Canada’s Best Police Foundations Programs
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Taking the step into a law enforcement career can be a huge leap of faith. With so many requirements and knowledge, many people aren’t sure where to start. Whether you’ve recently graduated from secondary school and are looking to start a career in law enforcement, or you want to make a career change later in life, many colleges and universities across Canada offer an excellent base for a law enforcement education.
The Police Foundations courses offered will give you a solid base for the entrance exams and assessments needed to get started. All of the programs we’ve listed offer policing and general education; some have also included field placement requirements, secondary language recommendations, and perks to help you get in the best physical and mental shape. Many of these schools have also made arrangements to transfer credits should you decide to go on to a four-year or advanced degree in policing, law enforcement or criminal justice.
Canadian Business College
Two-year Diploma Program
Offered in downtown Toronto and Mississauga, the Canadian Business College offers students an education to prepare them for various policing and law enforcement careers, including for the Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the military police or as a correctional office, students gain practical, hands-on knowledge.
Law enforcement-specific classes include education in diversity and First Nations training, criminology, statutes, investigation, community policing and young offenders. Other classes include sociology, communications, ethics, and Microsoft Windows training, as well as other basic, essential skills.
Durham College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
Durham College offers a two-year degree at the Oshawa campus, with classes beginning in September and January. The program allows students to seek entry-level policing positions. Courses cover police information, including instruction in criminal code and civil law, evidence and investigation, community policing and police powers; human relations, with courses like law enforcement communications, interpersonal and group dynamics and conflict management; and fitness and general education classes.
Students can take seminars and workshops put on by the Centre for Integrated Justice Studies. All students will also have a field placement working with youth at area at-risk high schools, under the guidance of a trained professional supervisor. Durham College also offers students a post-admission communications assessment, to enhance reading comprehension and writing skills.
Eastern College
54-Week Diploma Program
The 54-week course is offered at the Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton campuses in New Brunswick. Classes are taught by current and former police professionals and industry leaders. Eastern College helps to prepare students with test preparation and CPR/First Aid training.
Students have a four-week field placement to gain practical, real-life experience. In addition to courses that provide education on Canadian criminal code and justice, community policing, crisis intervention and conflict management and police powers, students are also required to take software labs that teach them computer fundamentals, word processing, and spreadsheets, as well as classes in communications, ethics, and diversity. Eastern College offers restricted and unrestricted firearms training for students at no additional cost. Also included is a gym membership so that students can improve their physical training.
Fanshawe College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
The Police Foundations course at Fanshawe College is offered at the London Campus, with classes starting in September and January. Courses are designed to give students a competitive spot in the Ontario Constable Selection System, which can lead them to public law enforcement or related careers. Courses are focused on human relations, police responsibilities, physical training and career preparation, and are offered for full-time students, as well as part-time day or evening students, and online.
The accelerated, three-semester program is offered at the Woodstock Campus, allowing graduates to earn a 48-week Ontario College Diploma. It’s offered for both full-time and part-time evening students and runs continuously from September to August. There are ten courses for the first semester, and 11 for the second and third semesters.
Fleming College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
Offered at the Peterborough Campus, students attend a rigorous four-semester program designed to jump-start a career in law and justice. Program administrators are constantly updating their curriculum to keep up with the needs law enforcement officers face when serving their communities, including a new specialized training for handling mental health service calls.
Students also have a 15-week field placement in their fourth semester, giving them 100 hours of direct work service and experience. Core police education courses provide instruction in the criminal code, interviewing, investigating, and police powers and are taught by current and former police officers. Additional required classes focus on helping students improve their communication, fitness and more. Peterborough/Lakefield Community Police Service Chief Murray Rodd is a graduate of the Fleming College program.
Georgian College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
The two-year program has four semesters and is offered in Orillia and Owen Sound. The program gives students the knowledge and skills that police officers need for success. First-year classes include instruction in the Canadian criminal justice and law enforcement programs. In the second year, students attend both academic and hands-on courses that give them instruction in crime scene investigation, interviewing skills, use of force, crisis intervention, and police powers. Students also receive physical training and career prep assistance.
Michael Osborne, chief of the Midland Police Service, is a 1987 graduate of the Police Foundations program. His leadership and volunteerism is a great example for current students, who regularly complete volunteer programs at the Scott Mission in Toronto, at Coldest Night of the Year events in Orillia, and realistic situation simulations.
Humber College
Two-year Diploma
Offered at both the Humber Lakeshore Campus beginning in January and September, and the Orangeville Campus in September, the program is designed to prepare students for a career in law enforcement. All students must meet specific admission criteria, including an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, be proficient in English, and may need to meet some mental and physical health requirements when they begin working in the field.
The program is available for full-time and part-time students, both at the campus and online. Professors and members of the Police Foundations Advisory Committee have real-world experience working in private and public law enforcement and have tailored courses to give students the academic and practical knowledge and expertise needed for a successful law enforcement career. Community service opportunities are presented throughout the program to give students an even more well-rounded education.
John Abbott College
Two- or Three-Year Career Program in Québec
The John Abbott College Police Technology Program is a six-semester course of studies designed to help students prepare for law enforcement careers in Québec and throughout Canada. Students are encouraged to become fluently bilingual in English and French, as they will become better candidates for employment. John Abbott is the only English Cegep to offer two- and three-year Police Technology programs. The intensive, two-year program is for full-time students.
Students must attend a day of pre-admission testing that includes physical and academic requirements. Course topics include instruction in the Québec legal system and municipal laws, crime control, penal matters, and accident reports, as well as three levels of communications courses, two levels of investigations courses, physical skills, fitness and driving.
Seneca College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
At the King City campus, students can begin the two-year, four-semester program in the fall or winter semesters. The program is a member of seven separate affiliations and associations, including the Canadian Police Association, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, and the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario.
Courses range from the study of criminal law and the criminal justice system to communications and interpersonal relations. Students must also attend general education courses, career preparation courses, and fitness courses. The learn about traffic law, working with youth, preparing for court cases, and also receive education in diversity and First Nations. Following graduation, students will be able to understand and complete all tasks and job duties with the pertinent legislation, standards, guidelines, and regulations, among other abilities.
St. Lawrence College
Two-year Ontario College Diploma
St. Lawrence College offers courses at three separate campuses, in Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston, as well as online for full-time and part-time students. Classes start in September, and programs are offered in classrooms, labs, online, or in a combination of several locations. Courses may be held in the day or evening.
Students may have opportunities to participate in learning activities with policing agencies throughout the course of their education. Law enforcement classes include instruction in the Canadian criminal justice system, criminology, community policing, and police powers. Other classes are taught in many areas, including communications, sociology and psychology, ethical reasoning, and fitness. The college prides itself on preparing students to enter policing, law enforcement or the Canadian Border Services, all of which are predicting a growing need for officers in the near future.