Bachelor of Policing (Investigations)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Policing (Investigations) is designed for serving police officers who intend pursuing a career in investigation. Enrolment in the program is restricted to those officers in policing, or other relevant organisations, who are designated as 'detective' or who are working towards that qualification in their organisation.

About the course

The course 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 Bachelor of Policing (Investigations) is specifically focused at the needs of detectives or investigators, and aims to enhance the capabilities of those professional investigators by building upon their existing knowledge of investigative practice and procedure.   

The content of the program is structured to be directly relevant to current high-level investigation activities across a wide range of jurisdictions. The course is designed to supplement and complement existing in-service investigation training programs, or their equivalent detective education programs.

With a mandatory core of four investigation related subjects, the program is designed to enhance knowledge and practice in the areas of evidence, accountability and ethics, investigation, intelligence, and investigation management.  Those core subjects are complemented by policing related elective subjects that expand on a wide range of current and emerging policing investigation practice areas, for example, terrorism, organised crime, and forensic science.

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

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 (Investigations) is a nationally accredited and registered award in tertiary education.

Articulation and credit

All suitable applicants into the program are granted 80 points credit (equivalent of 10 subjects study) in recognition of the learning involved in their policing experience.

Graduates of approved Detective Education Programs, and/or holders of the Advanced Diploma in Public Safety (Police Investigations) are granted a further 24 points credit (equivalent of three subjects) on entering the course, in recognition of their successful completion of that program.

Graduates of CSU’s Associate Degree in Policing Practice, or its predecessor program the Diploma of Policing Practice, are eligible for a further 48 points credit (equivalent of six subjects) on entering the course. Other applicants may be granted credit up to that level, in recognition of their prior successfully completed university subjects, restricted to subjects that are relevant to the Bachelor of Policing (Investigations).

Experienced detectives or investigators that have not undertaken tertiary level study previously, and for which credit has not been given, may be eligible for an additional credit of 24 points (equivalent of three subjects).

The maximum credit available to any participant is 152 credit points.

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.

Admission requirements

Admission is restricted to serving police officers or others employed by a related agency or in a relevant field.

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3