JIBC LAUNCHES ONLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEGREE
Reach and access to law enforcement degree expands for students outside BC Lower Mainland

^{Const. Randhawa is a BLES graduate who is currently an officer with Metro Vancouver Transit Police.}

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 BC 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."

Greater flexibility for students

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.

Learning outcomes of the program

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.

What our students say about the program

JIBC BLES graduates have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers and educational paths after graduation.

"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.

JIBC BLES graduate Asif Hossain, who is currently working as a manager at an international security company, said, "The education I acquired from JIBC advanced my personal and professional skills to a higher level. It was truly a life changing experience. I will forever be thankful for the guidance I have received and the connections I made."