Public Safety (BA)

Master the critical thinking skills needed for a career in public safety — all from the convenience of our fully online program. Explore a diverse range of issues facing public safety professionals today, learning from engaging professors whose expertise extends far beyond the textbook and into the field.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a police officer, paramedic/EMS, fire fighter, or community and mental health worker, our online program lets you tailor your degree by combining it with a relevant online or on-campus major.

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Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Professors with Field Experience: Your professors have been chosen specifically for their relatable, real-world experience and their desire to provide timely and relevant courses material.
  • Built-In Learning Flexibility: Our asynchronous, online program removes barriers typically faced by those living far from campus, and those with full-time work and personal obligations. Our easy-to-navigate technology will ensure you stay connected to your peers and professors.
  • Content that Really Matters: Engaging with complex issues such as racial profiling, immigration, mental illness and cybercrime will provide you with compassionate, evidence-based strategies for serving your communities.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few ways our students apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree:

  • State-of-the-art Security Software: Construct crime maps, disaster maps and municipal emergency incident maps using online GIS mapping software. Analyze social media data via analytics and data mining platforms.
  • Field Skills Training: Develop public safety story maps, scenarios, pre-incident plans, intelligence and analytics reports, crash analysis maps and opioid response dashboards using ArcGIS Pro Law Enforcement and National Security Software.
  • Online Learning Activities: Engage with other students through online discussion boards, sharing real-world experiences and debating current issues.

 

Courses, Options and Pathways

First and Second-Year Courses

  • Introduction to Public Safety
  • Public Safety Administration and Government Relations
  • Introduction to Digital Technology and Public Safety
  • Leadership and Career Development in Law Enforcement
  • Public Safety Policy Analysis
  • Gladue Principles
  • Social Science Research Methods

Sample Electives

  • Leadership and Personal Development
  • Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
  • Foundations for Community Engagement and Service
  • Introduction to Indigenous Studies

Sample Upper Year Courses

  • Principles of Fire and Emergency Services
  • Theories of Correctional Justice
  • Public Safety GIS and Data Analytics
  • Immigration and Conflict Zones

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Criminology Minor
  • Leadership Minor
  • User Experience Design Minor
  • Health Studies Minor
  • Computer Science Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Combinations or Combined Degrees

Expand your field of expertise by pairing your Public Safety major with another major (or another whole degree) in:

  • Psychology*
  • Criminology
  • Game Design 

*Apply directly to Public Safety and Psychology with OUAC code UCJ (Brantford) or UCH (Waterloo).

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term), January (winter term) or May (spring term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • border or customs service officer
  • cybersecurity analyst
  • emergency response team responder
  • firefighter
  • intelligence analyst
  • law enforcement personnel
  • paramedic
  • police officer
  • policy analyst
  • urban planner

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Locations

Choose to take Public Safety online or on campus.

The Brantford campus is woven into the downtown core of the City of Brantford and is home to more than 3,000 students. With classrooms and study spaces close to great restaurants, shopping and hiking trails, you get the best of both worlds.

The Waterloo campus is home to more than 17,700 undergraduate and graduate students. You're steps away from classes, residence, and campus amenities on this close-knit campus.

Online degrees offer a flexible option for students looking to pair convenience with the strong community Laurier is best known for. Online learning at Laurier designed to engage you and provide significant opportunities to interact with other students, professors and employers making the most of educational technology.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?