Advanced Police Studies
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Program Overview
Policing is an honourable and challenging profession that requires a dynamic and diverse set of technical, personal and investigative skills. If "Deeds Not Words" is a mantra you can get behind, Fanshawe’s one-year Advanced Police Studies graduate certificate program will prepare you for an honourable career in policing.
Program Details
Program Code
APS2
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
Your Learning Experience
Fanshawe’s Advanced Police Studies program is designed to give you a recruitment advantage to succeed in the ultra-competitive and modern policing world. You’ll learn skills that put you in the upper percentile of qualified policing candidates, including oral, written and investigative skills coupled with holistic approaches to resolving conflict.
You’ll experience the ins and outs of social services referral, court prosecution and alternative dispute resolution, and refine your ability to analyze and make appropriate decisions in complex situations.
Your new skills will be put to the test during a pair of five-week field placements that will give you valuable first-hand experience observing and documenting the role of a police officer under authentic conditions.
This intensive police studies program provides specialized knowledge and advanced skills to prepare graduates to become competent police recruit candidates. The curriculum focuses on the practical application of community policing models, provincial and federal statutes and crime scene investigative techniques.
Students will develop skills in oral and written communication, conflict resolution, conducting criminal investigations, court preparation and police vehicle operation. Physical fitness and officer safety will be emphasized.
As the purpose of this program is to prepare students for careers as a police officer or special constable, the in-class instruction, simulated learning and field practicum components of the program will reflect the standards of the Police Service. Applicants will be required to undergo a screening process similar to that used by police services.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Advanced Police Studies program are trained for a career as a police officer or special constable thanks to specialized courses and field practicum experiences with a local police service throughout their studies. An exciting career of helping others and creating a safer community awaits!
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 Advanced Police Studies program:
Police Constable
Building relationships in the community to ensure public safety through crime prevention.
Police Cadet
Promote and enhance the career development and experience of future police constable candidates.
Correctional Officer
Enhancing public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens.
Surveillance Investigator
Gathering purposeful evidence and information in order to achieve a client’s goals.
I am a recent graduate of the Advanced Police Studies (APS) program as of 2017 and highly believe this program Fanshawe offers is the stepping-stone anyone needs if they are looking at pursuing a career in law enforcement. Also, being a recent graduate from the Ontario Police College (OPC), the APS program provided me with the essential tools and scenario-based learning that OPC requires. The staff are extremely knowledgeable in the law enforcement field and did not hesitate to assist with every step of the hiring processes. I am currently employed as a Police Constable with the Woodstock Police Service for just over two years and continue to use the knowledge, skills and abilities learned from the program to assist with career progression to this day.
Constable Jordan Wubbs
Woodstock Police Service - employed since September 2017
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to
1. Analyse situations and synthesize the various policies, procedures, legislation, social issues and community resources applicable to make appropriate decisions.
2. Integrate legislative, professional, organizational and ethical standards to develop a personal code of conduct.
3. Communicate professionally and effectively in all aspects of investigation, enforcement and community involvement.
4. Utilize technology effectively in the execution of policing duties in both routine and complex situations.
5. Utilize effective critical thinking, problem-solving decision making and multi-tasking in complex situations.
6. Integrate physical activity, fitness and wellness standards into the development of a personal lifestyle.
7. Integrate effective team/leadership/relationship building capabilities to promote effective and harmonious workplaces and community relations within a diverse society.
8. Apply specialized investigative methods in securing, searching, recording, collecting, preserving and evaluating evidence for enforcement and prosecution of offences including generating appropriate, accurate and comprehensive reports and legal documentation.
9. Illustrate a commitment to self-development and lifelong learning in the field of policing through the selection and implementation of effective strategies. agencies
10. Utilize appropriate conflict and crisis management techniques during dispute resolution and in potentially dangerous situations.
Related Programs
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Andrew Murray
Admission Requirements
ONE OF:
- Police Foundations Ontario College Diploma
- A Degree in a related discipline (as determined by the College)
upon completion of bridging program offered at Fanshawe
College
- An equivalent qualification from another institution as judged by
the College
- Acceptable combination of related work experience and
post-secondary education as judged by the College*
AND
Proof of having achieved stage 6 on the
Leger 20-meter Shuttle Run Test
AND
- Pass a pre-screening that determines eligibility for field
placement**
Note:
*Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter
that includes details of work experience.
**Applicants are advised that an individuals driving history,
illicit drug use, criminal convictions, criminal associations and
other personal behaviours may result in an applicant being
ineligible for placement and therefore will not be eligible to
graduate from the Advanced Police Studies program.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105 |
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Applicants are advised that an individual's driving
history, illicit drug use, criminal convictions, criminal
associations and other personal behaviours may result in an
applicant being ineligible for placement and therefore will not be
eligible to graduate from the Advanced Police Studies
program.
The following items are applicable to the program and are required
by April 1st:
- Possession of a valid Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent) and a Basic Rescuer course certificate (Level "C" CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
- Possession of a valid class 'G' driver's licence and a driver's abstract that validates that the applicant has no more than 6 demerit points
- Clear (no criminal offences) Police Check for Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) completed no earlier than February 1st
- Successful background screening conducted by a police agency on behalf of the College
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| PFLP-6001 | Advanced Fitness & Lifestyle Management | 2 | ||
| This course will focus on the physical fitness tests used in the field of policing. Students will be required to participate in group fitness training sessions in order to increase and/or maintain their overall physical fitness level. Students are required to successfully complete the Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP), Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) and the Ontario Police Fitness Award (PIN) testing. Students will address self-responsibility, physical fitness, nutrition, stress management and will develop strategies designed to meet their fitness and wellness goals. | ||||
| COMM-6022 | Communications 1 | 1 | ||
| Good communication skills are essential for success in law enforcement. This first level course will focus on written communication skills, including notebooks, occurrence reports, and court briefs. Students will learn how to use a records management system to log and search for information and file reports. Spelling and grammatical skills will be emphasized. | ||||
| PFLP-6002 | Community Policing | 2 | ||
| Police and the community work hand in hand to create a proactive, problem-solving approach to keep the community safe. Students will research and learn theory and practical application of community policing strategies, including problem oriented policing, crime analysis, crime prevention, and methods of community engagement. This course will prepare the student for the Community Policing Project in Semester 2. | ||||
| PFLP-6003 | Provincial Statutes | 1 | ||
| Front-line officers spend a large portion of their patrol time enforcing provincial statutes such as the Highway Traffic Act, Liquor Licence Act, Trespass to Property Act, Mental Health Act and utilize the Provincial Offences Act. Students in this course will practice the application of these statutes and will familiarize themselves with the appropriate forms and related enforcement activities. | ||||
| PFLP-6004 | Conflict Resolution | 1 | ||
| This course will address the continuum of conflict situations from peer resolution to mediation to intervention in crisis situations. Assessment, recognition and intervention strategies including effective communication and non-violent crisis intervention skills will be learned and applied to practical scenarios. | ||||
| PFLP-6005 | Advanced Criminal Investigation | 2 | ||
| Students will conduct criminal investigations from offence to court appearance. Investigative practices learned and demonstrated will include: identifying criminal offences, conducting witness interviews and suspect interrogations, arrest procedures, evidence collection and continuity and the preparation of charging forms and release documents. In addition, students will practice statement analysis and other specialized investigative techniques to assist in solving crime. Students will have access to data management software for case management purposes. | ||||
| PFLP-6006 | Court Preparation | 1 | ||
| APS2 - A successful prosecution begins with complete preparation. This course will teach the role of the police officer in preparing for court from charging documents to bail hearings, release forms and provisions, and Crown counsel briefs. Students will prepare a case from start to finish, having regard for the continuity of physical evidence, proving facts in issue while justifying one's actions in simulated court proceedings. Co-requisite(s) for this course:PFLP-6003 - PROVINCIAL STATUTESPFLP-6005 - ADVANCED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONPFLP-6022 - COMMUNICATIONS I ALE1 - A successful prosecution begins with complete preparation. This course will teach the role of the police, provincial or municipal officers in preparing for court from charging documents to bail hearings, release forms and provisions, and to the result of the Crown Brief. Students will prepare a case from start to finish, having regard for the continuity of physical evidence, proving facts in issue while justifying one's actions in simulated court proceedings. | ||||
| FLDP-6011 | Advanced Police Studies Practicum 1 | 4 | ||
| The five-week block practicum at a local police service and/or University/College police service exposes the student to all aspects of routine police/peace officer life and duties. Students will be expected to work shifts, weekends and holidays if required. During the practicum, students will be required to participate in on-line guided discussions related to their practicum experience, problems they encounter and to describe to fellow students how they are applying the knowledge, skills and abilities developed in the program. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*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.