Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies

About this programme

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. Leading towards your fourth year, you will choose a pathway. You may pursue a professional track that involves being hired by a police or related service and completing external officer recruit training, a practicum track that involves experiential learning with police services or related organizations, or you may complete an academic track with advanced coursework and elective studies. All three pathways lead to the Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies degree. 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 mode