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JIBC launches online law enforcement degree

Students outside Metro Vancouver now have a new online degree option to help them gain the applied skills to pursue rewarding careers in law enforcement and public safety.

Applications are now being accepted for the first online offering of the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s (JIBC) Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies (BLES) program starting in September 2020.

“Over the years, it’s been a challenge for interested students from other parts of B.C. to take the leap and move to the Lower Mainland to complete our law enforcement degree program,” said Dr. Stuart Ruttan, Dean of the School of Criminal Justice & Security and Office of International Affairs. “We’re excited to make this flexible, online offering a reality and expand access of our popular degree program throughout the province and beyond.”

The online offering will allow students to maintain ongoing commitments as they complete the degree. Students in the online BLES will have the flexibility to take up to five years to complete the program. For the September 2020 intake, students will take a minimum of three courses per semester, with more flexible options available in subsequent years.

Students completing the full-time, on-campus offering complete the program in two years. It is a cohort- based format, and gives students unique opportunities to work together, network and participate in activities on-campus and with other JIBC law enforcement training academies.

The BLES program is designed to ladder from a two-year diploma or associate degree in a related field, such as criminology, criminal justice, police foundations, or JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma. Students in the BLES program take third- and fourth-year level courses to obtain their bachelor’s degree.

BLES students deepen their understanding and application of essential law enforcement and public safety skills, and fundamental leadership and management skills. The program incorporates a capstone research project which helps students contribute to undergraduate scholarship in law enforcement and public safety.

“The BLES program definitely assisted me in the recruitment process by providing valuable background knowledge and information about policing,” said Const. Randhawa, a BLES graduate who is currently an officer with Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

Students interested in the on-campus or online offerings of BLES are invited to the next JIBC Law Enforcement Studies information session on Feb. 25, 2020 at the New Westminster campus. As seats are limited, it’s recommended to reserve your seat online.

For more information about the program, visit the BLES program page. Questions about the online offering can be directed to bles@jibc.ca.