Police Foundations
Ontario College Diploma
4 Semesters / 2 Years
School of Public Safety
Key Details
Program Start Dates
September 2025
Please visit Ontario College Application Service to learn more about start dates.
Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Program Duration
3 Semesters / 1 YearProgram Contacts
Ryan Mcmahon
Program Coordinator / Professor
ryan.mcmahon@cambriancollege.ca
International Admissions
mailboxadmissions@cambriancollege.ca
School of Community Services
cips@cambriancollege.ca
Program Overview
Level up your crime-busting career with tech-savvy skills
Fight crime and protect your community with data. This program combines the emerging field of crime analytics with technology, research, and communications courses and is geared toward learners with a background or degree in police services.
Data from emails, videos, chat files, social media and text messages are just some of the mass amounts of data that can be used to gain crucial information. You’ll train to collect, store, and analyze data sets to examine patterns of criminal behaviour, predict trends, and identify threats in your community. Using critical thinking exercises, you’ll learn to work as a member of a major police case management team.
Program Highlights
Program highlights
- Learn to work as a member of an interdisciplinary analytics team
- Develop data collection, analysis, and presentation skills
- Seven-week capstone project in the final semester
- Build an in-demand skills set in ArcGIS, Microsoft Office and Excel, PowerBI, Python programming, R, statistics, and SQL database
Admissions
Admission requirements
Applicants must be graduates of a diploma, advanced diploma, or degree program from an Ontario College or equivalent.
OR
Applicant must possess five years of work experience in a related field (or combination of education and work experience) as judged by the College to be equivalent. Applicants must submit a resume detailing their related experience and a cover letter outlining their competencies and preparedness for the program (any post-secondary transcripts must still be submitted).
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. Cambrian College accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent test to satisfy our English admission requirements.
International Student Admissions
Are you an international student? Learn more about additional requirements.
Learn moreAdditional admission requirements
Recommendations
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
- Any grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U) (MCT4C is highly recommended)
- Students who do not possess the foundational math will need to take the bridging course/s before registration. Please get in touch with the program coordinator to discuss upgrading options.
Academic Upgrading
Are you missing admission requirements? Strengthen your academic skills for free at your own pace through Academic Upgrading!
Program delivery
Program delivery
2025-2026
Fall term start
- Semester 1: Fall 2025
- Semester 2: Winter 2026
- Semester 3: Spring 2026
Program of Study
Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ANA 1000 | Foundations of Data Analytics | 3 |
| ANA 1001 | Programming for Analytics | 4 |
| CRI 1001 | Intro to Crime and Intel Analy | 3 |
| DBA 1000 | Structured Data Management | 4 |
| EXL 1002 | Dashboards and Data Analysis | 3 |
| QMM 1001 | Statistics for Data Analytics | 4 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BTA 1013 | Communicating with Data | 3 |
| CRI 1003 | Intel Theories and Application | 3 |
| CRI 1005 | Appr. to the Study or Terroris | 3 |
| CRI 1007 | Professional Values and Ethics | 3 |
| CRI 1100 | Anatomy of Major Case Investigation | 2 |
| FIN 1025 | Financial Crime Risk Assessment | 2 |
| GIS 1025 | GIS Mapping | 2 |
| QMM 1002 | Stats and Data Visualization | 4 |
| Credits | 22 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| ANA 1010 | Analytics Capstone | 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 49 | |
Fees
Tuition Cost
Important Notice
Fees presented are estimates based on projections for future academic year(s) of study. Actual fees charged may differ from what is published here. A full detailed listing of all fees is available in myCambrian and updated annually no later than May 1 for the following academic year. Students in Academic Upgrading are responsible for any fees listed on their invoice each term.
Tuition and ancillary fees
Please see our fees page for the breakdown of tuition and mandatory ancillary fees by program and semester for both domestic and international students.
Books and supplies
Books and supplies may be required at the course level over and above what is estimated above. Please consult your professor/instructor for further information.
College may be more affordable than you think!
Have you said, “school can wait another year”? Don’t sacrifice your future any longer – you can do it!
Whether it’s fear, financial reasons, or something else that is impacting your decision to start school, we’re here to listen to you and help in any way we can!
Work-integrated learning (WIL)
Take your education beyond the classroom!
Cambrian programs blend academic learning, hands-on training, and community involvement opportunities to help you achieve your ultimate goal – your dream career. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios within and outside of the classroom through work-integrated learning. Whether it be a capstone project, co-op, practicum, preceptorship component, or placement, you’ll benefit from a practical, job-related experience before you graduate.
Work-integrated learning (WIL) resources
Your program may give you the opportunity to gain practical work experience through a capstone project, co-op, practicum, preceptorship component, or placement. Before starting your program it’s important to understand the differences between the opportunities as well as the requirements.
Field of Study
School of Community Services
Discover the profound difference you can make in the lives of others when you follow the rewarding and noble path provided by Cambrian’s School of Community Services. Community Services programs prepare you to address social and community needs, support child and family welfare, navigate support systems and become a powerful force for positive change.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian’s college and university agreement details for further information.
Career Outcomes
Need a career coach?
Explore how this program can lead to a great career! Cambrian’s Career Coach platform is a user-friendly, online tool that provides up-to-date and comprehensive labour market data to help you explore career options, salary expectations for the Greater Sudbury region, and more!
See where you'll be learning!
Minimum technology requirements
Success in this program requires that you come equipped with some program-specific technology requirements.
Minimum technology requirements
- Regular access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection
- Web cam and headset
- Personal computer
- Windows 10 Educational or Professional
- Processor: 64-bit current generation Intel i5 (i7 preferred) or AMD equivalent
- RAM: 8 GB (16 GB preferred)
- Storage space: 100 GB free with minimum 10GB available for software installs
- Software: Microsoft Office (provided by the College), PowerBI Desktop, MySQL workbench, R Studio, additional software will be provided
Required software will be provided by Cambrian College. Instruction on how to obtain software will be provided to you. Some software that you may access as part of your program may not be compatible with every device. If you have any questions about these technology requirements, please email info@cambriancollege.ca or call (705) 566-8101, ext. 7303.
System requirements for assistive technology
To access the widest range of assistive technology (AT), a Windows-based computer is recommended.
- Recommended OS: Windows 10 or newer
- Recommended CPU: Intel or AMD multicore processor
- Recommended RAM: 8 GB
- Recommended storage for assistive technology: 8 GB of available hard drive of solid state drive space (please note this is not the total drive size and refers specifically to available space needed for assistive technology)
- Recommended audio: Speakers or headphones for text-to-speech and microphone for speech input.
While Apple computers can provide many AT options, some specialized software may not be available/compatible with this platform. Please consult with the Glenn Crombie Centre for further details.
Bring your own device (BYOD)
Cambrian College has implemented a BYOD principle to both enrich the student learning experience in and out of the classroom and to ensure flexibility!
Ready to take the first step?
Start gaining the highest level of skills at Cambrian now – and you’ll be ready to take advantage of the many career opportunities waiting for you just around the corner. The future is yours!
Have Questions? We are here to help.
If you have any questions about programs, funding, OSAP, deadlines, student services, or anything else, reach out to our support team and we are happy to help!
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