Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Wilfrid Laurier University online programs, tuition costs, program details, admissions requirements and more. To speak with an enrolment advisor who can help answer questions by email, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca.
Yes, Wilfrid Laurier University is officially accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Ontario. There is no difference between receiving a degree online or on campus at Laurier.
While Wilfrid Laurier University is based in several areas throughout Ontario, Canada, our 100% online programs in policing, criminology and public safety are open to anyone inside or outside of Canada.
Whether you are interested in a Criminology or Policing degree, a Master of Public Safety or any other online course at Laurier, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca to speak with an Advisor who can fill you in on enrolment details.
Our online platform, MyLearningSpace by Desire2Learn, is available for you to log into any any time, 24/7. All of your course materials are accessible at MyLearningSpace. To see a demonstration of what online learning is like at Laurier, click here.
Yes, Wilfrid Laurier University was ranked #1 for course instructors by Maclean’s University Rankings, 2020.
Your dedicated Student Success Advisor can help you with any issues or difficulties you are encountering with your professor or any other matter regarding your online course. Your Advisor helps you maximize all of the resources at your disposal.
Online learning and programs at Laurier are flexible and offer the option to study at your own pace while you work, while still maintaining the quality and academic rigour that Laurier is known for in its on-campus programs. The programs are conducted asynchronously, meaning you are free to complete your coursework at your own pace on a week-to-week basis.
When you enroll in any of our online courses you will be assigned your own, dedicated Student Success Advisor to contact for support in your course. Your Student Success Advisor will be with you every step of the way from your first class to your last class.
Yes, we provide the option to transfer up to 10 of the 20 total credits required. To find out if your credits qualify for transfer, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca to speak with an advisor who will be happy to discuss your existing credits with you.
Most of our programs don’t offer transfer credits for work experience, which is what military experience falls under. To find out all transfer credit opportunities, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca to speak with an advisor. Military Police members can receive an automatic three transfer credits from their Basic Constable training.
Yes, you need to have completed a college of applied arts and technology diploma or a university degree to become a police officer.
As police organizations evolve, there has been a greater emphasis put on lifelong learning and obtaining post-secondary education. A degree in policing can give you an edge in your career and help you stand out from your peers, as well as providing opportunities for promotions and increased earning potential.
A Bachelor of Policing is not required to become a police officer in Ontario, but it can help. Learn more about the process of becoming a police officer in Toronto.
The time to complete depends on the number of transfer credits you are eligible for and how many courses are taken at once. Some students are able to transfer up to 10 of the total 20 credits and take two twelve-week courses at a time in order to complete their degree in less than three years.
The length of time required for completion of this Honours degree is dependent on whether a student is granted any transfer credits from previous post-secondary studies, and the chosen workload each semester. The 20 credit degree includes 12 credits of required Policing and Criminology courses. Enrolment in up to three 0.5 credit courses per term is possible, including electives. Twelve-week terms begin in Fall, Winter and Spring.
Coursework in the policing program focuses on one class in a six-week period. Each class is 0.5 credits and costs $754.84 plus an $85 incidental fee. The exact cost of tuition depends on your situation, because police officers with previous training may qualify for up to 10 credit transfers when entering our program.
Yes, our degrees earned on campus or online are identical.
Due to the broad range of police work that is available, the program is specifically designed for officers who have at least one year of professional work experience and who are:
You may be able to reduce the time and cost of the degree by transferring up to 10 of the 20 total credits required.
After you apply, an admissions coordinator will evaluate your transcripts to provide an initial assessment. Your final assessment of transfer credits will be completed by the Admissions Committee once your file has been submitted for review.
The BA in Policing online program is designed for working and retired police officers with at least one year of professional work experience in policing. Proof of a minimum of one year of full-time employment up to and including the time before classes begin for each police officer must be verified by an official letter from the human resources department of the police force(s) from which the officer has been employed.
Coursework in the Policing and Criminology program focuses on two classes in a 12-week period. Each class is 0.5 credits and costs $754.84 and an $85 incidental fee. The exact cost of tuition depends on your situation, because based on your prior education, you may qualify for transfer credits.
The online degree and transcript will appear as “Bachelor of Arts in Policing” or “Combined Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Policing” depending on the program you choose, with no mention of the online delivery mode.
Practice-based learning occurs when you use the knowledge you’ve gained from coursework in the real world while still in the program. When you practice what you’ve learned in scenarios and environments that encourage hands-on application, interactions and critical thinking, you gain knowledge that will last forever.
A reflexive approach is one where reflection creates change in oneself. By employing reflexive learning in the program, you will learn to recognize and unpack how your own experience and inherent biases influence the ways in which you interpret information about others - and to examine ways in which power relations influence this process. This can be a transformational experience. By critically examining the inherent assumptions you bring to interactions with others, you will be more open to real and authentic relationships that empower change.
Graduates of the Executive Development in Policing program with the Canadian Police College (CPC) are eligible to transfer credits towards two core courses in the Master of Public Safety Program. To find out all transfer credit opportunities, email us at MCSadvising@wlu.ca to speak with an advisor.
Yes, the credits from the two required safety courses as well as the specialized courses in Border Strategies, Countering Crime, Emergency Management and National Security may be transferred to count for half of the courses required for the MPS degree. Please note that the specialized courses in the Public Safety GIS and Data Analytics diploma are not a pathway for the Master of Public Safety. Only SAFE600 and SAFE601 may be transferred towards the master’s program upon admission.
The diplomas can be completed on average in less than 18 months. The degree includes two required public safety courses (0.5 credits each) and two other courses (0.5 credits each) in one of five areas: Border Strategies, Countering Crime, Emergency Management, National Security and Public Safety GIS and Data Analytics. You will take one 13-week course at a time, beginning in one of the three terms per year: Fall, Winter or Spring.
The master’s program consists of a total of eight 0.5 credits courses - six required courses and two courses related to the specific area of specialization being undertaken. Most students will finish their master’s in 2 years and 8 months.
To apply for the fully online MPS, applicants must:
To apply for any of the five fully online diplomas, applicants must:
The Master of Public Safety and Public Safety Graduate Diplomas are both $3,375 per course (0.5 credits). The Master of Public Safety is eight courses (four credits), and the Graduate Diplomas are four courses (two credits).
Wilfrid Laurier University’s 100% online program is offered through the MyLearningSpace online portal in either a part-time model or accelerated model. In the part-time model, students can complete the program in 6 terms or two years. In the accelerated model, students take two courses at a time and complete the program in four terms or 16 months.
Yes, the Master of Computer Science online degree is the same degree as is earned on campus at Wilfrid Laurier University, however the on-campus degree is called the Master of Applied Computing.
The Master of Computer Science online program is designed for entry-level or mid-level computer science professionals with an undergraduate degree in computer science, applied computing, computer engineering, information systems, mathematics or another related field.
To be admitted to the online Master of Computer Science (MCS) program, students must meet the general admission requirements of the University and must have an honours degree in Computer Science or a closely related area that includes courses in data structure, algorithms, object-oriented language programming and software engineering. A final year average of at least B+ is usually required, along with a cumulative average of at least B+ in all computer science courses.
Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee, which considers all prior university grades, letters of reference and indications of support from potential supervisors.
Applicants must submit the following paperwork:
The online Master of Computer Science program provides an in-depth examination of advanced machine learning techniques, big data, software development, application development, data mining, penetration testing, and information security. Students are given the opportunity to improve their use of Java, Python, C/C++, SQL, Spark, Hadoop, CUDA, Kali Linus, Metasploit, Nmap, MapReduce and more.
The Master of Computer Science online is the only online program of its kind in Canada. Wilfrid Laurier University combines a world-class graduate education with the convenience and flexibility of learning online. Areas of focus include computer science, physics, algorithms, networked computing platforms, cloud computing, middleware systems, information theory, high-performance computing and more.
The online degree and transcript will appear as “Master of Computer Science” with no mention of the online delivery mode.
Wilfrid Laurier University’s online Master of Computer Science program in Canada is one of the most affordable for Canadian and international students alike. It is priced competitively with and often less than other computer science programs in Canada or the U.S. Its award-winning, distinguished international faculty have extensive practical experience in physics, computer science, middleware systems, app development, cloud computing, networked platforms, parallel programming and more.
The Master of Computer Science degree in Canada is important because it prepares students for the 5,000 active job listings in Canada for senior positions such as Senior Data Scientist, Senior Data Engineer, Director of Information Technology - Application Development, Senior Android Development, Network Architect, Business Intelligence Manager and more.