Program Outline

Program Director: Colleen Clarke, Ed.D.

LE Program Office Manager: Judith Ziemke
Click to contact: Judie Ziemke at judith.ziemke@mnsu.edu

Law Enforcement Faculty: Jeff Bumgarner, Ph.D., Susan Burum, J.D., Colleen Clarke, Ed.D., Chris Dobratz, M.A.,  Mark Robbins, Ph.D., Tamara Wilkins, Ph.D.

The law enforcement program is a distinct degree program within the Department of Government. There is considerable integration between law enforcement and the other programs in the department. The law enforcement program is designed for men and women seeking a professional career in criminal justice and law enforcement. It is open to in-service students who wish to improve their basic education, and to pre-service students who may be interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

In order to enter the police profession, applicants should be aware that height, visual, and other physical and mental standards are set by law enforcement agencies. Students should be aware that some criminal convictions prevent licensure as a peace officer. Law enforcement students should consider these standards.

All of the information below is available from the Political Science/Law Enforcement Department Home page. The items below relate specifically to law enforcement.

Program Requirements

For descriptions of the following law enforcement courses go to the courses page.

Admission to Major, Option I

is granted by the department. Admission to Option I requires satisfaction of departmental GPA and course prerequisites as well as POST Board documentation. Since these requirements are subject to change, students should contact the Department of Government office for current admission requirements.

Admission to Major, Option II

is granted by the department. Contact the department for application procedures.

Required General Education (3 Credits):

POL 111 US Government (3)

Required of Major (Option I or Option II):

There are two different options for the law enforcement degree. The Option I program is certified as meeting the academic learning objectives of the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board. Option II is designed for students who do not wish to take the POST Board Certification Test in Minnesota.

Option I (Pre-Professional)

Leads to Minnesota Licensure when combined with Skills Component

Required for Option I (Core, 44 credits):

LAWE 131 Introduction to Law Enforcement (3)

LAWE 231 Criminal Law and Procedures (3)

LAWE 232 Victims, Survivors: Police Response (3)

LAWE 233 Criminal Investigation (3)

LAWE 234 Policing in a Diverse Society (3)

Successfully

apply for admission to Option I program before taking 300-400 level classes. See Law Enforcement Office for details.

LAWE 331 Police Stress (3)

LAWE 332 Police Juvenile Justice Procedures (3)

LAWE 335 Police and the Community

LAWE 343 Police Emergency Response Procedures (4)

LAWE 344 Tactical Communications (4) (Pre: LAWE 343 or instructors permission)

LAWE 431 Police Patrol: Theory, Practice (3)

LAWE 432 Minnesota Criminal Code (3)

LAWE 433 Senior Seminar (3)

Choose one of the following:

POL 221 Introduction to Political Analysis (3)

POL 260 Introduction to Public Administration (3)

POL 371 State and Local Government (3)

Required for Option I (Electives 12 credits):

6 credits of LAWE electives, 3 at the 300/400 level; 6 credits of electives from the following departments:

CHEM 131 CHEM 134 COMS xxx

CORR xxx ETHN xxx HLTH 210

LAWE xxx POL xxx PSYC xxx

RPLS xxx SOC xxx SOWK xxx

SPAN xxx SPEE xxx WOST xxx

Required for Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree ONLY:

Language (8)

Total Credits Required for Major:

(56 credits)

Required Minor:

None

Option II (Generalist)

Required for Option II (27 credits):

LAWE 131 Introduction to Law Enforcement (3)

LAWE 231 Criminal Law and Procedures (3)

LAWE 232 Victims, Survivors: Police Response (3)

LAWE 233 Criminal Investigation (3)

LAWE 234 Policing in a Diverse Society (3)

LAWE 331 Police Stress (3)

LAWE 335 Police and the Community (3)

POL 221 Introduction to Political Analysis (3)

Choose one of the following:

POL 371 State and Local Government

POL 451 Administrative Law (3)

POL 452 Jurisprudence (3)

POL 454 Civil Liberties (3)

POL 475 Judicial Process (3)

Required for Option II (Electives, 9 credits):

3 credits of LAWE electives and 6 credits from the following departments:

CHEM 131 CHEM 134 COMS xxx

CORR xxx ETHN xxx HLTH 210

LAWE xxx POL xxx PSYC xxx

RPLS xxx SOC xxx SOWK xxx

SPAN xxx SPEE xxx WOST xxx

Required for Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree ONLY:

Language (8)

Total Credits Required for Major (36 credits)

Required Minor: Option II, yes, any.

Law Enforcement Minor (21 total credits)

Required for Minor (Core, 9 credits):

LAWE 131 Introduction to Law Enforcement (3)

LAWE 231 Criminal Law and Procedures (3)

POL 111 United States Government (3)

Required for Minor (12 credits):

LAWE 233 LAWE 234 LAWE 235

LAWE 332 LAWE 335 LAWE 393

LAWE 434 LAWE 435 LAWE 436

LAWE 437 LAWE 438 LAWE 491

LAWE 493

All required classes in the minor must be taken for a grade.

Policies/Information

GPA Policy:

Students seeking to graduate with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement (either option) must have accrued a 2.6 grade-point average in their major.

P/N Grading Policy.

All law enforcements classes (both options and minor) except LAWE 492 must be taken for a grade.

Minnesota Licensure:

The student must successfully complete the Option I program and an integrated "skills" program and meet other POST Board and Minnesota State University requirements before being approved to take the POST Board Licensure examination. This includes being certified in first aid and CPR (Red Cross Emergency Response, First Responder or EMT currently qualify). Only graduates of certified two and four year academic programs that also meet requirements of the "skills" program providers may enter an integrated skills program. The licensure examination is administered by POST and covers those items included in the POST Board academic and skills learning objectives. Note: Since POST Board rules change from year to year we advise students to contact the program director for current rules regarding licensure.