The Law Enforcement Program was founded in 1971. It was initially aimed at two groups of students. The first group was in-service officers seeking to improve their basic education, and the second was mainly young people who wanted to take the program preparatory to a career as a police officer. Originally begun as an Associates degree program, a Bachelors degree was added year later. By the late 1970's, approximately 90% of our students were seeking the four year degree. In 1978, the state legislature abolished the old "Police Training Board" and created in its place a new regulatory body, the Police Standards and Training Board (PO.S.T). The legislature and PO.S.T moved to have a two year degree in law enforcement/police science become the minimal standard for entry into law enforcement. The P.O.S.T. Board was to approve a number of programs to teach law enforcement as a part of meeting the professional peace officer requirements.As a result, the Law Enforcement Program divided itself into two options. Option I was structured to meet the requirements of Minnesota licensure, i.e. the P.O.S.T. Professional Peace Officer Learning Objectives. Option II was designed for students who either did not desire employment as a peace officer in Minnesota, were already licensed, or wanted to take what had become an interesting and reputable major. Since that time, there have been, and continue to be, many PO.S.T required changes concerning licensure.
Minnesota licensure may also be obtained by individuals with degrees in other areas. This can be accomplished by taking courses specified by the Law Enforcement Program Director which meets PO.S.T requirements and then completing the skills component. This frequently can be accomplished in one or two semesters and a 7-10 week summer program. This varies with course offerings and the individual's educational background.
Law Enforcement Program graduates have gone into a variety of career opportunities. The bulk have, not sur- prisingly, gone into police work. There are few police agencies of any size in Minnesota that do not have Minnesota State University, Mankato graduates among their ranks. A considerable number of our former students, both pre-service (professional) and in-service, hold supervisory or command rank. We have sent our former students to departments in at least 20 states, to virtually every major Federal law enforcement agency, and to the U.S. military. A number of our graduates have gone on to graduate school or law school. Still others have gone into the private sector, including security management.
The Law Enforcement Program offers only the B.A./B.S. degree.
The two year degree program began a phase out period in 1993 as the two year degree is offered at many community and technical colleges. We work closely with these institutions so that transfer from these programs to our four year program is easily accomplished. The program currently has approximately 500 majors. Recent changes in PO.S.T requirements led Minnesota State University, Mankato to develop cooperative arrangements with technical colleges to provide the "skills" or "clinical" component of the licensure option. Because of the many changes in both the higher education system and in the P.O.S.T. Board, the watchword for the Law Enforcement Program is "flexibility". The Option I program will be adjusted as necessary so that it more clearly reflects the needs of contemporary policing and meets P.O.S.T. requirements. This, for example, could mean more classes in ethnic and minority studies, in the practical aspects of psychology, and in verbal communication. Ties are being forged with other departments such as psychology, sociology, speech, and of course, our parent department, political science. Formal entry into the program now requires the successful completion of a back- ground check, psychological testing and physical testing. This is not done prior to entry into the University, but later in the student's college experience. The Law Enforcement Program is able to individualize what we have called Option II so that interests as varied as police psychology, fish and game law enforcement and information services for law enforcement can be accommodated, to mention just a few of the possible career options. The student's advisor can also assist students design a course of study if they are preparing to ; work in court services, and in the non-sworn administrative/support side of law enforcement. Although, the Law Enforcement Program does not offer an independent masters degree, we work closely with the Master of Arts in Public Administration (MAPA) program of our parent department. This course of study is offered both on campus in Mankato and off campus in the Twin Cites area. The MAPA program has been an especially vital program in the Twin Cities, where many officers of supervisory and command rank have obtained their masters degrees.
The future of law enforcement in terms of employment remains strong. Since this forecast is reflective of the nations growing concern with the reality of crime, this is perhaps regrettable on the philosophical level. None the less, the focus on the national level, as well as on the state level, suggests a strong market for our graduates. As we've done in the past, we hope to continue to produce some of the best prepared entrants in the field of law enforcement.
The following lists the requirements for a four year degree (Option I or II) in law enforcement. Note: If Option II is selected then a minor is also required. The complete degree will consist of the following:option I
general education classes
cultural diversity classes
major requirements
general electives
Total = 128 semester hours
option II
general education classes
cultural diversity classes
major requirements
minor requirements
general electives
Total = 128 semester hours
Law Enforcement Major (B.A. or B.S.)
option I
(Pre-Professional-Leads to Minnesota Licensure When Combined with Skills Component):LAWE 131(3)Introduction to Law Enforcement
231(3) Criminal Law and Procedures
232(3) Victims/Survivors: Police Response
233(3) Criminal Investigation
234(3) Policing in a Diverse Society Successfully apply for admission to Option 1 program before taking any 3/400 level classes.
See Law Enforcement office for details.331(3) Police Stress
332(3) Police Juvenile Justice Procedures
335(3) Police and the Community
343(4) Police Emergency Response Procedures
344(4) Tactical Communications
431(3) Police Patrol: Theory and Practice
432(3) MN. Criminal Code (criminal code and traffic law)
433(3) Senior Seminar (POST review, ethics and other selected topics)
POLS
221(3) Introduction to Political Analysis
or
260(3) Introduction to Public Administration
or
371(3) State and Local Government Six credits of LAWE electives, three at the 300/400 level; six credits of other approved electives. Total -- 56 credits
Students must also complete POLS 111, U.S. Government, which can be applied toward category 5 and category 9 of the University's general education requirements.
All listed required classes and listed electives, except LAWE 492, must be taken for a grade by Option I majors. A 2.5 GPA must be maintained in the major for admission to the program and graduation.
To be licensed in MN, student must be certified in first aid and CPR (Red Cross Emergency Response, First Responder or EMT currently qualify).
Option I is a broad major and does not require a minor.
Electives for Option I:
HLTH 210(3) (First Aid), CHEM 131, CHEM 134 or any class from law enforcement, speech, women's studies, ethnic studies, Spanish, computer Science, sociology, social work, political science, psychology, corrections, recreation, parks and leisure services that is not already required for the major.
Law Enforcement Major (B.A. or B.S.)
option II(Generalist, does not lead to MN licensure):LAWE 131(3) Introduction to Law Enforcement
231(3) Criminal Law and Procedure
232(3) Victims/Survivors: Police Response
233(3) Criminal Investigation234(3) Policing in a Diverse Society
or
ETHN 100(3) American Racial Minorities LAWE 331(3) Police Stress
335(3) Police and the Community POLS 221(3) Introduction to Political Analysis
POLS 371(3) State and Local Government
or
451(3) Administrative Law
or
452(3) Jurisprudence
or
454(3) Civil Liberties
or
475(3) Judicial Process Three credits of LAWE electives and six credits from other approved electives. Total -- 36 credits
Students must also complete POLS 111, U.S. Government, which can be applied toward category 5 and category 9 of the University's general education requirements.
All listed required classes and listed electives, except LAWE 492, must be taken for a grade by Option II majors.
A 2.5 GPA must be maintained in the major for graduation. Option II requires a minor. Electives for Option II:HLTH 210(3) (First Aid), CHEM 131, CHEM 134 or any class from law enforcement, speech, women's studies, ethnic studies, Spanish, computer Science, sociology, social work, political science, psychology, corrections, recreation, parks and leisure services that is not already required for the major.
If you are transferring credit from a community college, the number of credits which may be transferred is limited to 64 semester hours or 96 quarter credits. For questions of transferability of law enforcement or criminal justice classes, please contact the law enforcement program director. If you have questions regarding transferability of other classes, please contact the Office of Admissions at 507-389-1822 or fax inquiries to 507-389-5114 or call
800-722-0544.
Additional information is also on the World Wide Web at www.mnsu.edu and/or www.mntransfer.org/
Former Minnesota State University, Mankato State student:
If you wish to complete a degree, obtain another degree or become a certified peace officer, contact the Law Enforcement Program Director and start taking the classes required for your program.
Transfer Student:
Apply to Admissions for admission to Minnesota University, Mankato, forward official transcripts from college/universities attended to Admissions, consult the Law Enforcement Program Director regarding classes; required, attend orientation and start taking the required for your program.
New Students:
Apply to Admissions for admission to Minnesota University, Mankato, attend orientation and start the classes required for your program.
Drop by, give us a call or contact us on the web.Law Enforcement Program Director
109 Morris Hall · (507) 389-2721
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Political Science/Law Enforcement Department
109 Morris Hall
Mankato, MN 56001
Office Manager: Pat Davis
(507) 389-2721 Fax 389-6377e-mail Patricia.Davis@mnsu.edu
For general admissions questions, please contact admissions.
Toll Free in Minnesota:
1-800-722-0544
or
1-507-389-1822
TDD phone 1-507-389-1915
e-mail:admissions@mnsu.edu
Write:
Admissions
209 Wigley Administration Center
Mankato, MN 56001
Minnesota State University, Mankato is an affirmative action equal opportunity educator and employer. Information in this publication will be made available In alternative format such as large print or cassette tape, upon request. Contact the Political Science/Law Enforcement Department at (507)389-2721.
