About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 2 Year Diploma
  • Campus: Welland
  • Code: 0200 P0200
  • Delivery Length: 2 Years
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Overview

Do you have a desire to make a difference in your community and an interest in serving and protecting the public by upholding the law?

As a Police Foundations graduate, you play an active role in the law enforcement system, ensuring public safety by maintaining law and order: protecting members of the public and their property; and preventing, detecting and investigating crime.

Highlights
  • Reality-based curriculum taught by former police officers with extensive investigative experience.

  • Gain practical, in-field experience via volunteer opportunities with municipal police services and local service agencies.

  • Hands-on experiential learning in the Justice Studies Simulation Lab.

  • Students who successfully complete first year and the First Aid course are eligible to write the Ontario Security Guard licensing exam.

  • Graduates or students enrolled in their last level of of Niagara College's Police Foundations program can gain a Protection, Security and Investigation OR Community and Justice Services (Correctional Worker) diploma with 8 additional months of study, based on available space and admission requirements. See: Pathways tab for more information.

Career Opportunities
  • By-law enforcement officer
  • Military police
  • Municipal, provincial or federal police services
  • Private investigation
  • Private security
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Courses

Term one (2024 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
COMM1180 Essentials of Writing to be Understood 3
LAWS1105 Canadian Justice System 3
LAWS1123 Law Enforcement Principles 3
PSYC1101 Psychology 3
SOCL1103 Sociology and Canadian Society 3
PHED1169 Fitness and Use of Force Management I 2
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term two (2025 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
COMM1280 Communications for Justice Studies II 3
CRIM1201 Criminology 3
LAWS1304 Criminal and Civil Law 3
LAWS1401 Provincial Offences 3
PHED1269 Fitness and Use of Force Management II 3
PHIL1329 Ethics and Code of Conduct 2
SOCL1209 Contemporary Social Issues 3
Term three (2025 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
LAWS1303 Police Powers I 3
PFPP1304 Interviewing and Investigations 3
PFPP1309 Criminal Code and Police Services Act 4
PFPP1311 Principles of Investigation and Articulation 2
PFPP1409 Community Policing 3
PHED1369 Fitness and Use of Force Management III 2
SOCL1430 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Canada 3
Term four (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
LAWS1305 Youth in Conflict with the Law 3
LAWS1402 Criminal Code and Federal Statutes 2
PFPP1404 Investigation and Evidence 3
PFPP1405 Conflict Management in Law Enforcement 3
PFPP1410 Traffic Management 4
PFPP1411 Criminal Procedure and Trial Preparation 2
PHED1469 Fitness and Use of Force Management IV 2
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Program Outcomes Term: 1244
  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.

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
Recommended Courses and/or Skills:

These courses and skills may help you succeed academically in this program, but they are not required for admission.

  • Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations in Contemporary Society – Grade 11 (C)
  • Canadian Politics and Citizenship – Grade 11 (O)
  • Challenge and Change in Society – Grade 12 (M)
  • Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology – Grade 11 (M)
  • Understanding Canadian Law – Grade 11 (M)
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Program Requirements
Note

Students with criminal charges or convictions for which a pardon has not been granted will be significantly limited in employment opportunities in the field of criminal justice.

Computer/Technology Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows 10 based desktop or laptop system that meets or exceeds the following general personal computer technology requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop system running on an updated Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory.
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities (a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps) is recommended.

Niagara College will not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications. Any provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses (supported under the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system) will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: There is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products for this program. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.

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Availability

Domestic Applicants Apply
International Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Police Foundations program below.

Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

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I recommend Niagara College’s Police Foundations program to any student who has policing as a career goal. The program is one of the finest in the province of Ontario with an extremely impressive staff of qualified instructors many who possess years of policing experience. Niagara College and the Police Foundations program have a unique partnership with the Niagara Regional Police Service. […] It is a wonderful learning environment of mutual support.

Donna Moody, Police Foundations graduate and retired Deputy Chief, Niagara Regional Police Service
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