Bachelor of Policing

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Policing is a course intended for police, and officers in law enforcement agencies with a policing focus, in order to enhance their professional policing practice and knowledge.

About the course

The subjects are policing focused and are delivered entirely by distance education, using up-to-the-minute electronic methods, and allowing participants to carry out their study both when and where is most suitable to them.

The course aims to assist and prepare participants to be able to undertake independent critical reflection on policing policy and practice, and apply the results of research in policing to professional practice.

The Bachelor of Policing is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of law enforcement personnel.  The content of the program is structured to be directly relevant to current policing activities across a wide range of jurisdictions, and policing specialities.

Whilst it is recognised that law enforcement organisations supply a range of training for their personnel, the Bachelor of Policing content goes beyond and outside that level of training.  The course challenges participants to critically and independently analyse their work practices and decisions, particularly in regard to current and emerging police practice.

The ability to consider numerous and new options, and to gather logical evidence and support for decisions and actions, is actively encouraged in the programs. Those qualities are recognised as part of the rapidly growing expectations placed upon law enforcement practitioners by both their organisations, and the communities in which they serve.

The knowledge gained, and the wide range of abilities that are encouraged in the program, provide the opportunity for participants to improve their professional capacity, and encourages them to continue their learning throughout their various careers.

The degree will also enable graduates to understand and contribute to discussions of strategic directions in policing and to contribute to the profession of policing.

Applicants are able enter the course at any of the three sessions each year (February, July, and November), and are able to study across each of those sessions.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Policing is a nationally accredited and registered award in tertiary education.

Articulation and credit

This course fully articulates with CSU's Associate Degree in Policing Practice (ADPP). Graduates of the Associate Degree in Policing Practice, or its predecessor program the Diploma of Policing Practice, will be granted a minimum of 128 credit points on entering the Bachelor of Policing program, leaving a maximum 64 points (eight subjects) to complete the program, and be able to graduate.

Further credit packages for the program, based on prior learning and training, have been negotiated with other jurisdictions such as the Queensland Police Service, the Australian Federal Police, the Northern Territory Police, the Western Australia Police and the Australian Defence Forces. An attractive academic credit package is also available to Canadian police officers wishing to enter the program. Similar negotiations are ongoing with other jurisdictions. Please contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

Where no other formal credit package is available, students are admitted to this course based on demonstrated experience in policing, or a relevant related field. In recognition of that experience, all students will be granted a minimum 80 credit points (equivalent to the study of ten single subjects), leaving a maximum of 112 points (14 subjects) to complete to graduate.

Where applicable, students who hold the Diploma of Public Safety are entitled to an extra 16 points credit.

Additional credit may be available to applicants, up to the maximum allowable credit, dependent on their previous studies and training.

Students are formally advised of the exact amount of credit granted in their letter of offer to enter the program.

More information about credit and pathways.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.