Police Foundations (Accelerated)

*Domestic applicants include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Convention refugees.
If you’re interested in public law enforcement or in a career as a police officer, border services officer or correctional officer, this program offers excellent pre-employment academic instruction. You'll study the theory of human relations, combined with practical aspects and applications of law enforcement, police powers, community policing and investigation. You’ll be prepared to compete within the Ontario Constable Selection System for employment in public law enforcement or related careers.
As well, in just one year, you’ll have the option of remaining in the program or transferring into the Protection, Security and Investigation program (PSI), concentrating on loss prevention, risk management and corporate and commercial security. With the Police Foundations program, your selfless ambitions will be met by limitless career potential.
The Police Foundations program is designed to give potential police candidates a broad education in the theory of human relations, combined with related academic knowledge of the law, police powers, community policing and investigation. Delivered in the same context as other post-secondary education programs, the goal of the Police Foundations program is to provide students with a well-rounded education that prepares them to address the problems of the communities that they may serve, in a flexible and effective manner. The physical training and career preparation components of the program are designed to assist students to meet the demands of police recruitment processes. This program is not a requirement with police services.
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Police Foundations program are qualified to pursue a range of careers in the exciting field of public law enforcement, including:
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Police Foundations program:
Correctional Officer
Exercise reasonable, safe and secure control while encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens.
Security Guard
Help keep the hospital secure by screening patients coming into the facility.
RCMP Officer
Work to prevent crime, enforce laws, build relationships with communities and keep Canadians safe.
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
1. complete all tasks in compliance with pertinent legislation, as well as policing standards, regulations and guidelines.
2. analyze all relevant information and make effective and legally defensible decisions in accordance with ethical and professional standards
3. be accountable for one's actions when carrying out all tasks.
4. develop and implement ongoing effective strategies for personal and professional development.
5. ensure the respect of human rights and freedoms in all interactions.
6. work co-operatively in multidisciplinary teams to achieve mutual goals.
7. collaborate in the development and implementation of community policing strategies.
8. monitor, evaluate and document behaviours, situations and events accurately and discreetly in compliance with legal, professional, ethical and organizational requirements.
9. mitigate risks and maintain order by applying effective strategies in crisis, conflict and emergency situations.
10. take positive actions to help crime victims.
11. conduct investigations by collecting, documenting, preserving and presenting admissible evidence.
Elizabeth Schonemann
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
Note:
The following items are applicable to the program:
Level 1 | ||||
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
PFLP-1004 | Criminal Code | 3 | ||
In this course students will analyze specific elements of selected Criminal Code offences. These include offences against the person, against property and against public order. Students will use the Criminal Code to research offences and apply case law. | ||||
PSYC-1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | ||
This introductory course in psychology provides students the opportunity to review some of the major theories and research findings from various branches of psychology. Special attention will be given to implications and applications that are specific to issues in policing, law and security. The following topics will be covered: brain and behaviour, sensation and perception, learning, memory, sleep, drugs, stress, social relations, personality, and psychological disorders. | ||||
SOCI-1001 | Sociology & Canadian Society | 3 | ||
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the sociological perspective and the analysis of social events. Topics of study will include research methodology, culture, socialization, deviance and crime, social inequality, social change, and collective behaviour. The student will also analyze how law enforcement personnel, law enforcement services, and society have benefited from the social sciences. | ||||
PFLP-1003 | Fitness & Lifestyle Management 1 | 2 | ||
Law enforcement agencies recognize the importance of fitness, health and wellness for law enforcement personnel. This course introduces students to the concepts of occupational fitness, professionalism, wellness, and appropriate strategies for developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Students will participate in one hour of occupational physical fitness training and an additional hour of classroom lecture each week. Students will be exposed to current occupational fitness tests. | ||||
PSYC-1002 | Interpersonal & Group Dynamics | 3 | ||
This is an introductory level course in which students learn to apply knowledge and theory about interpersonal relations and group dynamics while working in a team. Students engage in cooperative work in multidisciplinary integrated enforcement groups to achieve established goals. | ||||
PFLP-1002 | Canadian Criminal Justice System | 3 | ||
Police, courts, and corrections, are the trinity that constitute the Canadian criminal justice system. This course will enable the student to understand the history, roles, and organization of the major criminal justice agencies in Canada as well as the process by which laws are made and enforced at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. | ||||
SOCI-1004 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 | ||
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the theoretical and historical analysis of contemporary social problems. Topics of study will include conflicting views of social problems, brief histories of social problem ideas, moral entrepreneurship, mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, domestic violence, and elder abuse. The student will also analyze differing strategies of intervention, objections to intervention, and the unanticipated consequences of intervention. | ||||
WRIT-1089 | Reason & Writing 1 for Public Safety | 3 | ||
This course will introduce public safety students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
PFLP-1019 | Law Enforcement Ethics & Leadership | 2 | ||
In this course, students will examine issues surrounding ethical decision-making in policing and law enforcement through scenario based learning and the review of cases involving police and correctional/security misconduct. Students will be exposed to critical judgment exercises and sound ethical decision-making protocols. Students will also learn principles of leadership and followership, and will explore the implications of law enforcement personnel being held to a higher standard as public role models. | ||||
PFLP-3002 | Police Powers 1 | 3 | ||
This course will examine pertinent sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and their impact on the Canadian Criminal Procedure. Police powers of arrest, release, search and seizure, police discretion and its implications will also be discussed. This course will enable the student to become familiar with police terminology and apply the procedures required to arrest and release. |
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.