6 Courses Required 198.00 Hours Required
Delivery method: Fully online
Number of courses: 6
Total course hours: 198 - 216 (depending on choice of elective)
Time to completion: Up to 5 years
Questions: openlearning@dal.ca


The Certificate in Police Leadership is offered fully online. It consists of five (5) required courses and one (1) elective. The practical and applied focus of the courses in this certificate help you develop a range of current, theory-based strategies and skills to lead effectively and successfully in high-pressure, high-stakes, publicly visible and rapidly evolving situations while holding true to your organization’s foundational principles. 

Courses

This certificate consists of five (5) required courses and one (1) elective. Click on each course name for more details and specific learning outcomes:

Required courses:

Electives (Choose from the options below to total at least 18 hours):

Please note: The Certificate requires a passing grade of 70% in each course. See each course for applicable tuition fees and schedule. Some courses fill up quickly, and registration in one course does not guarantee your spot in another. You must register for each course individually to reserve your spot. 

Registering for OLCD-POLC0016 or OLCD-POLC0023 automatically enrols students into the Certificate in Police Leadership. Courses can be taken in any order. There is no obligation to complete the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this certificate, learners will:

  • Develop an authentic personal leadership style that works in high-stakes and high-pressure policing contexts.
  • Be able to apply a variety of strategies to their short-term and long-term decision-making.
  • View their actions and decisions as a leader in policing contexts through an ethics lens.
  • Fill personal knowledge and skill gaps in different aspects of police leadership.
  • Gain foundational skills in key functional areas of police organizations.
  • Be able to discuss and analyze police leadership using a strong theoretical and practical foundation.

Prerequisites

Language Requirement: University-level English language proficiency required in writing, speaking and reading comprehension. It is recommended that students have an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 overall or a TOEFL-IBT score of 90 overall for this program. Please see the following guidelines from Dalhousie University for more information: English Language Requirements For Undergraduate Admissions - Admissions - Dalhousie University.

Program Delivery

The program is delivered through the flexibility and convenience of Dalhousie's enriched and engaging online learning platform (OpenDal). Course delivery is designed to provide maximum benefit and flexibility through online study.

Who Should Take This Certificate?

The Certificate in Police Leadership is intended for those who are currently working in policing or law enforcement. It is applicable to individuals pursuing or in a leadership role in a police organization.

You should take this certificate if:

  • You are in a leadership or decision-making capacity in a police organization and role.
  • You are new to a leadership position or moving into a leadership position in your police organization or role.
  • You aspire to a leadership role in your police organization or a new organization.

Recognition of Prior Learning

It may be possible to receive advanced standing in this certificate based on your prior learning from work or life experience. We provide two types of recognition of prior learning:

  • Prior Certified Learning: Assessment of prior coursework or training through a provider, that is neither a university or college, for the purpose of advanced standing. Examples of certified learning may include military courses, accredited certificates, workplace training programs, etc.
  • Prior Experiential Learning: Assessment of previous work and life learning that may be equivalent to learning outcomes of university courses / programs, for the purpose of advanced standing. Relevant prior learning may come from work or volunteer experience, participation on committees or boards, independent study, etc.

To discuss how to use your prior learning to apply for advanced standing, please contact rpl@dal.ca.

Additional Details

Courses

Minimum Required

180 Hour(s)

Minimum Required

18 Hour(s)

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