Option I is the track within the law enforcement major that prepares students for licensure. Students contemplating becoming peace officers in Minnesota upon graduation from college should seek to enroll in Option I.
Admittance to Option I is not automatic. Students must fulfill the admission requirements for Option I and then formally apply for admittance. Students are encouraged to complete the requirements and apply for Option I no later than the end of their junior year.
The following is required for admission to Option I:
Students must complete the following courses:
Students must complete the above law enforcement courses with a grade of “C” or better. Additionally, students must have an average of 2.5 or greater in these classes and an overall university GPA of 2.0 or greater.
Important Note: The Law Enforcement Program no longer requires specific courses to fulfill the general education Category I requirements. It is enough to fulfill your Category I general education requirements to university’s satisfaction.
Students must acquire a statement on letterhead from a licensed psychologist stating that the student… “does not pose a serious threat to the health or safety of themselves or others.”
If students need assistance in locating a licensed psychologist to provide this statement, they can contact the Department of Political Science and Law Enforcement at 389-2721 for information.
Students must acquire a statement on letterhead from a licensed physician (MD or DO) stating that the student… “does not have any preexisting injuries or medical restrictions which may affect their ability to safely participate in strenuous, but not unduly harsh, training activities.”
Students must sign an advisory form in which they affirm that they understand the requirements for POST licensure as well as what will disqualify an individual from licensure and from Option I. The advisory form is available for downloading on the Law Enforcement Program website.
The "Ride-along" Requirement for Option I has been reinstated. Students seeking admittance to Option I must complete and document 24 hours of ride-along time with a law enforcement agency. This requirement can be accomplished by documenting previous ride-along time--even if it occurred prior to attending MSU.
The ride along requirement does not apply to students seeking admittance to Option I during the 2005-2006 academic year.
To apply for Option I, students should hand-deliver the required documentation of the psychological and physical assessments, an unofficial transcript, and the signed POST Minimum Selection Standards advisory form to: 109 Morris Hall. All materials should be submitted together.
