Police Foundations (fast-track)

Program Overview

Gain the strategic communication skills, practical law enforcement knowledge and technical skills modern policing demands through this fast-track program that lets Protection, Security and Investigation graduates earn a two-year Police Foundations diploma in only one additional year of study. Students will build these skills sets, along with training on crisis intervention strategies and police interview preparation, while also gaining vital community outreach experience through a unique opportunity to work with youth from at-risk schools. Training will also focus on mental health strategies in policing related to community members and officers; students will earn their Mental Health First Aid certificate in their course of study.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 65 per cent)

View All Requirements

Tuition

View Full Costs

Semester 1 Courses

View All Courses

Law Enforcement

First Response

Physical Fitness

Technology recommendations

To help students succeed in programs with remote learning requirements, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified minimum technology recommendations. While these are not program requirements, these suggestions will help ensure students have the right tools to support a quality remote learning experience.

View All Recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2021	Open	Closed

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Police officer
Border services
Community service officer
Federal or provincial corrections officer
Loss prevention officer
Private investigator
Specialized security officer
Youth services officer

View all Career Options

Program Details

This program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue an entry-level policing position. Emphasis will be put on helping students prepare for testing and interviews, including from both physical fitness and professional development perspectives.

As a graduate, you will be eligible for a career in public policing with organizations such as:

Durham Regional Police Service
Ontario Provincial Police
Other public police services
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Toronto Police Service

You will be subject to all requirements of the Ontario constable selection process and local police requirements when applying for a position as a constable in Ontario. Please be aware that specific, minimum criteria such as vision and hearing standards will apply as will a clear Criminal Background Check (CBC). For more information, please see the Applicant Testing Services website at www.applicanttesting.com.

Program Learning Outcomes

Act in a manner consistent with all relevant law and legislation, and professional, organizational, and ethical standards.
Communicate accurately, persuasively, and credibly to develop effective working relationships with individuals, groups, and multidisciplinary teams in order to achieve goals.
Apply knowledge of fundamental concepts of psychology, sociology, and criminology when interacting with peers, supervisors, other professionals, victims, suspects/offenders, and the public.
Document, prepare, and assist in the presentation of court cases in compliance with criminal and provincial law, rules of evidence, and the Charter of Rights and Freedom.
Assess the use of police powers.
Initiate, promote, and facilitate partnerships to meet community policing and security needs.
Assess the relationship of policing services to other participants in the criminal justice system and other community service agencies.
Make sound decisions based on an evaluation of situations.
Cope with stress and optimize fitness and wellness.
Apply fundamental concepts of political science, law and legislative policy making, and public administration to the provision of police services.
Assess information-gathering skills used in basic investigative techniques.
Assess crisis intervention strategies.
Develop strategies to assist crime victims to meet their needs.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 65 per cent)

To be considered for the fast-track (credit transfer) pathway a specific educational background is required as follows.

Ontario College Diploma in Protection, Security and Investigation

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyCampus.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Police officer
Border services
Community service officer
Federal or provincial corrections officer
Loss prevention officer
Private investigator
Specialized security officer
Youth services officer

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Regional and provincial police services
Security companies
Youth and community service organizations
Banks
Event management security
Homeless and youth shelters
Hospitals
Loss prevention agencies

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience will be complemented with the opportunity to work with youth from a high need school in the community under the guidance of a supervised professional.

Students will also complete a capstone course in their second semester that will challenge them to apply all of the knowledge and skills acquired through their studies to explore and/or solve a chosen real-world problem or project.

Required Documentation

In order to maintain confidentiality and security, the program utilizes an independent provider, Verified by Synergy Gateway for field placement documentation collection and validation. This process is the Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC). There is a cost associated with this external agency of $49.95. Please refer to the Police Foundations ESPC Information Package for details.

Contact

For more information contact Treina Kennington, Student Advisor/Field Placement Officer.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College’s Advanced Law Enforcement; Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution; Youth Justice and Interventions; Victimology; Court Support Services; and Paralegal programs.

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Technology Recommendations

To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.

Processor: i3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
Internet connection

Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.

Book a campus tour

Interested in visiting our campuses? We'd love to show you around!

Book now!

T: 905.721.3000

Program related questions?
Contact Recruitment.

Application related questions?
Contact Admissions.

International student?

Contact International Admissions or call 905.721.2000 ext. 2355.

Police Foundations (fast-track)

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Technology recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Experiential Learning

Required Documentation

Contact

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Technology Recommendations

Police Foundations (fast-track) in the news

Helpful Resources

Durham College Viewbook

2021-22 Program Guide

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]