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Policing/Public Safety (BA)
Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you and learning about the many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world. There are so many opportunities to learn, lead, and embrace new opportunities all while having an exceptional student experience.

In this Guide

Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.

Year-to-Year Academic Experience Co-Curricular Opportunities Knowledge and Skills Career Options and Graduate Outcomes

Your Year-to-Year Experience

Enhance your academic experience by learning about the opportunities available in your program.

Explore Co-Curricular Experiences

Participate in co-curricular experiences to complement your Laurier
academic journey and gain meaningful learning opportunities.

As a Policing or Public Safety student, you can: 

  • Join student clubs such as the Criminology Students’ Association (CSA), or Association of Aspiring Law Officers and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
  • Participate in the Policing community page online: Community Space for Policing Degree.
  • Get involved in community partnerships with local police forces and the Canadian military.

Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in. 

Design Your Degree

These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.

If you're taking the BA in combination, you must combine this program with another Bachelor of Arts degree at Laurier, from either our Waterloo or Brantford campus. Some popular options include:

  • Criminology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Human Rights and Human Diversity
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Develop Your Knowledge and Skills

As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.

Competency Framework

Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include: 

  • Adaptability and Resiliency
  • Collaboration and Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Digital Literacy
  • Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
  • Functional Knowledge
  • Leadership
  • Problem Solving
  • Professional Attributes
  • Self-Awareness

Functional Knowledge

  • Gain an understanding of why some behaviours (and not others) are defined as criminal, the causes of law-breaking behaviour and how society reacts to crime.
  • Gather and assess information related to the prediction and management of criminal and deviant behaviours.
  • Develop an awareness of human and social behaviour and how it is applied to policy development.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of public policy and interpret and assess its impact on society.
  • Develop an understanding of various governmental, community and social institutions and their roles and the ability to provide information to assist individuals and organizations to make informed decisions.
  • Gain an understanding of how cultural and societal change and diversity within the community impacts individuals' behaviour and perceptions.
  • Study and investigate criminal activities and identify methods of prevention and justice in combination with competencies developed in second major.

Discover Career Options

All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
%
Pursuing Further Education
%
Employed
%
Other

42 Policing respondents from the 2023 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Master’s Degree - Public Safety, Social Work
  • College Program - Mental Health and Addictions
  • JD - Law

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • law enforcement officer
  • compliance officer
  • emergency response maintainer
  • operations manager
  • police officer
  • product designer
  • program coordinator
  • youth residential caseworker

Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation

  • child and youth counsellor
  • constable
  • community shelter worker
  • detective
  • public safety advisor
  • security supervisor

Career Options and Resources

Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you. 

Career and Industry Options

  • border security/customs
  • emergency response
  • finance/insurance
  • forensics
  • fraud
  • government
  • immigration
  • intelligence
  • investigation
  • law enforcement
  • legal field
  • mediation
  • mental health
  • military
  • probations/parole
  • social work

Career Resources

Your Experiences Tell Your Story

Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!



Share Your Feedback

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