Majoring in Police Foundations in Canada

What knowledge and skills do students learn in the Canadian law enforcement/policing major?

These programs to provide students with professional skills and knowledge, and students have a chance to work in internship positions, which prepare them for a career in a related industry. Police foundation courses include psychology, investigation and conflict resolution, which are designed to teach students how to solve problems. Meanwhile, interviewing and investigation, criminal code, Canadian criminal justice system and other legal courses provide students with the skills of basic police work. Detailed course content includes: current laws, investigative techniques, conflict resolution, criminal proceedings, community policing principles, etc.

• Have good communication (written/verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Committed to serving the community
• Have analytical and observation skills
• Enjoy being a teamplayer
• Have a healthy and active lifestyle

Employment prospects for Canadian police graduates

Graduates who successfully complete the requirements of law enforcement organizations can find jobs in municipal, regional, and provincial police departments in Ontario and other parts of Canada. They may also find work in other relevant law enforcement organizations. The Ontario Police Service Act requires applicants to:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• Be over 18 years old
• Be mentally and physically able to perform police constable duties
• Be an individual of good habits and moral character
• Have at least four years of secondary education or equivalent
• Pass the sight and hearing test
• Have the current standard first-aid certificate and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate;
• Have no criminal convictions
• Successfully complete a medical assessment

Specific positions are: police officers; Immigration, border services and revenue officers; security officers, corrections officers, private investigators, etc. Employment areas include: law enforcement including police services, private sector policing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, armed forces, company security; investigations in a wide range of diverse areas (i.e. animal cruelty investigations); law enforcement and the Canadian Armed Forces (especially military police), municipal, provincial, federal and indigenous police departments, private/university police, evidence and criminal investigations, computer forensics and cyber crime, etc.

》Job Description of a Police Officer

According to the PayScale description,，
The police are part of the Canadian criminal justice system. Members of the police force are responsible for law enforcement. The police patrol the community to stop criminal activity and monitor any threats to public safety, respond to incidents reported; deal with complaints; document interactions with suspects, victims and witnesses; and collect evidence at crime scenes. The police arrest criminals and suspects, collected evidence from them, and testified in court about the cases they were involved in. Some members of the police force need to coordinate community service activities and provide educational services. Police officers must complete the training program of the Police Academy and usually require a certificate or degree in criminal justice. Those who apply to join the police force must pass strict background checks, which includes providing criminal records, driving records and credit reports, to ensure that all members of the police force have the aptitude and the necessary moral fiber to carry a gun and a badge. They must be in good physical condition, as the work may sometimes require vigorous physical activity. The work schedules for these positions may vary according to the availability of other officers, and they usually need to work at night and on weekends.
Specifically, police duties include:

• • Patrolling the community to prevent and stop crime and security threats

• • Coordinating community work and outreach activities, and provide educational services

• • Arresting criminals and suspects, collect evidence, and testify in cases

• Responding to reports and complaints, record and collect evidence

》Salary for police graduates: The decisive factors & annual income

According to PayScale statistics,in Canada, the average annual salary of a police officer is $74,824 CAD, with the lower-end salary at $39,921, and the higher end at $101,075.

The best schools for Canadian police majors

Sault College

This college program has been rated as the first in the province for its student satisfaction for three consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to enter Lake Superior State University and obtain a college diploma and university degree within three years. It is the only program in North America partnered with Crime Stoppers for a patrol experience. Successful graduation from any course in their Justice Studies program area will exempt the student from taking the security guard and private investigator training sanctioned by the Ministry. They have small class sizes, providing one-on-one professional guidance.

Humber College

Humber College’s two-year diploma police program has earned a good reputation in the criminal justice community. The program’s courses are developed based on the insights and expertise of members of the college’s Police Foundations Advisory Committee to ensure that students learn what they need to succeed a justice related career. The professors have real work experience in public and private policing, and will help students graduate with a range of security, problem-solving and administrative skills, and with a commitment to justice and to the community. Graduates of the program will be subject to all requirements of the Ontario Constable Selection Process and local police requirements when applying for a position as a police constable in Ontario. International students can only apply on the Lakeshore campus.

Algonquin College

The college offers a two-year diploma program (Perth and Pembroke campuses) as the first step in preparing students for a career in law enforcement. Students receive a broad education in interpersonal skills and social interactions. Courses include police powers and procedures, community policing, investigation procedures, diversity in Canada, professionalism and ethics, communications, and health. Students can accept municipal, provincial and federal police work opportunities while benefiting from the training of experienced police and interdisciplinary professors.

Georgian College

Students benefit from academic courses and hands-on learning to develop the knowledge and skills required by the Canadian police force. The common first academic year of required courses for the Police Foundations program and the Community and Justice Services program allows students the opportunity to transfer between programs after the first year of study. In the first year, students focus on understanding criminal justice in Canada and implementing a healthy and active lifestyle related to that of law enforcement. Students focus on forensic crime scene investigation, interview skills, use of force theory and applications, and police power and crisis intervention techniques. The physical training and career preparation sections are designed to help students prepare to meet the specific needs of police recruitment processes and careers in this field.

Confederation College

Confederation College’s two-year police foundations diploma course provides pre-employment training designed to give potential police candidates a broad education in the law, human relations, police powers, community policing, lifestyle management and investigations. This program covers a wide range of topics, including security services, Canadian justice systems, human diversity/Indigenous people, career preparation, sociology, criminology, mental health and substance use issues and community policing. Pre-employment training aims to provide a wide range of education for potential police candidates. It aims to prepare students for the Ontario Constable Selection System, and graduates can seek opportunities in police at all levels.

Many colleges in Canada offer a two-year diploma program for police foundations. The teaching content is certified by the official industry association and taught by professors and mentors with senior experience. Students have the opportunity to visit workplaces, and the college arranges internships. Colleges without this program will have:

Mohawk College

Fanshaw College

St. Lawrence College

Shirdan College

Seneca College

 Cambrian College

Fleming College

Lambton College

Centennial College

Conestoga College

Durham College

St. Clair College

Canadore College

Northern College

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