Police Studies

Offered through the Department of Criminology, the Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies is a four-year academic degree that prepares you for work in policing, justice, and community safety. You’ll explore policing in Canada through courses drawn from criminology, sociology, psychology, law, economics, and history while developing strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.

This program helps you understand the complexity of Canadian society and the role of law enforcement in modern democracies. You will build knowledge in justice, human rights, restorative justice, and the social systems that support safe and equitable communities.

In your fourth year, you choose a pathway. You may pursue a professional track that involves being hired by a police service and completing external recruit training, or you may complete an academic track with advanced coursework and a policing-related practicum. Both pathways lead to the Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies degree.

What is Police Studies?

Police Studies explores policing as both a profession and a key institution within society. You’ll study how police organizations operate, how policing practices evolve, and how law enforcement responds to legal, social, and community needs.

You will also examine broader justice issues including human rights, Indigenous justice, youth justice, and restorative approaches to harm and conflict. This will help you to understand both the responsibilities and realities of modern policing.

Some courses you may take as part of this program include:

CRIM 101 - Introduction to Criminology

A general overview of the subject of criminology and understanding of basic concepts including crime, law, deviance, and delinquency. Includes: an introduction to the measurement of crime and statistics on crime and victimization; victimology, and victims’ rights; theories of crime; and crime classifications.

CRIM 221 - Introduction to Policing

This course explores modern Canadian policing. It covers the history and evolution of policing in Canada, the role of police in society, and the nature of the policing profession, including aspects of recruitment and training. The course also addresses police decision-making, the use of discretion, police powers, and accountability frameworks. 

CRIM 323 - Community Policing

A theoretical examination of the history and models of contemporary community policing in Canada. The interrelated roles of the community and the police in the development and implementation of community and problem-oriented policing in urban as well as rural settings will be examined.

CRIM 350 - Justice and Indigenous Peoples

Intended to help human service workers understand the background of current issues, including aboriginal rights, land claims and self-government. Explores aboriginal history, colonization, settlement, displacement, and constitutional issues here and abroad.

CRIM 370 - Young Offenders and Youth Justice

Examines the status and prospects of youth and current legislation in regard to young offenders. Compares current and former legislation, with attention to guiding principles and actual outcomes. Considers policy and service issues and their impact on youth and youth workers.

CRIM 423 - Police Organization, Administration & Leadership in Canada

This course focuses on the principles of administration, organizational behaviour, and leadership in human services agencies, including social and criminal justice agencies. Topics include financial and human resource management, implementation of programs toward fulfillment of objectives and decision-making. This course will also examine different models and styles of organizational structure and how they influence organizational behaviour.