Law Enforcement Transfer Pathway
Program Description
The Law Enforcement Transfer Pathway A.S. offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated Law Enforcement bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities*.
The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the 7 Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status. All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor’s degree programs in a related field.
The Law Enforcement Transfer Pathway A.S. helps make communities safer with an A.S. degree from Minneapolis College’s Law Enforcement program, which is accredited by accredited by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). You will get professional preparation includes academics and skills training. Experienced faculty will give you hands-on training using realistic simulations as you prepare for peace officer licensing.
*This transfer pathway in Associate of Science in Law Enforcement will transfer to the following majors:
- Bemidji State University: Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Emphasis
- Metropolitan State University: Law Enforcement, B.S.
- Minnesota State University, Mankato: Law Enforcement, B.S.
- Minnesota State University, Moorhead: Criminal Justice, B.A.
- Southwest Minnesota State University: Law Enforcement Administration, B.A.S.
- St. Cloud State University: Criminal Justice (21st Century Policing Emphasis), B.A.
- Winona State University: Sociology: Criminal Justice, B.S.
Advantages
- Minneapolis College’s Law Enforcement program prepares you for roles as law enforcement officers who apply communication and human behavior principles to the job and effectively use hands-on skills.
- The curriculum provides you with the required academic background on topics such as the Minnesota statutes and the U.S. Constitution, criminal and traffic law, and training for the many skills used in daily law enforcement like handling and using firearms and criminal investigation and arrest procedures.
- The Law Enforcement training program is accredited by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
- After completing the program, you are eligible to take the state’s Peace Officer Licensing Examination, a requirement for entry-level law enforcement positions with state, county or local government agencies.
- Faculty members include current and past law enforcement officers who use their broad experience, as well as some of the latest technologies, to provide the most practical training possible.
- You will confront law enforcement problems in a realistic simulation lab where your actions and techniques are videotaped for analysis. Decision-shooting exercises use DVD technology with interactive scenarios to help you learn to react quickly in life-threatening situations.
Program Details
Award Requirements and Course Descriptions & Outlines
Please select the award below to view the degree options and requirements in the college catalog.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Identify and discuss the principles of community policing, problem solving, critical thinking, ethics, interpersonal communications, service to the community, and special populations such as juveniles.
- Know and apply criminal and traffic statutes and demonstrate the techniques of criminal investigations and patrol operations.
- Know and apply the constitutional requirements involving use of force, arrest, interrogation, search and seizure, and other policing activities.
- Identify and discuss the effects of racism and bigotry in modern American society and the importance of practicing fair and impartial policing.
- Safely perform the numerous patrol functions required of law enforcement officers, such as high and low risk traffic stops, building searches, operating emergency vehicles, etc.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of required firearms, non-lethal weapons, prisoner control, and self-defense.
What Will You Learn
- Minneapolis College's Law Enforcement Program will prepare you to become a professional law enforcement officer who thinks clearly, applies communication and human behavior principles to the job and effectively uses hands-on skills as the situation requires.
- This program provides both the academic and skills components of the mandated law enforcement curriculum. As a result, your coursework will be varied - from learning Minnesota statutes and the U.S. Constitution, to studying criminal and traffic law, to training for the many skills used in daily law enforcement, such as:
- Handling and using firearms
- Decision shooting
- Armed and unarmed defensive tactics
- High-speed and pursuit driver techniques
- Low- and high-risk traffic stop tactics
- In-progress crimes and domestic violence tactics
- Criminal investigation and arrest procedures
- Traffic law enforcement and accident investigation
- You will experience the latest in tactics and technology, making your learning experiences highly valuable. For example, decision shooting exercises use DVD technology with interactive scenarios so you are immersed in realistic "life-threatening" situations. You will also find yourself confronting typical law enforcement problems in a realistic simulation lab, where your actions and techniques are videotaped for review and analysis.
- Once you complete the program, you will be eligible to take the State's peace officer licensing examination required to be eligible for entry-level law enforcement positions with State, county or local government.
Professional Licensure or Certification Disclosure
The Minneapolis College Law Enforcement Transfer Pathway curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Minnesota. Minneapolis College is required to identify if our degree meets the educational requirements outside of Minnesota. More information can be found at the Licensure/Certification Disclosures webpage.
If you have further questions about licensure for Law Enforcement, please feel free to reach out to Heidi Aldes, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management.
Occupational Outlook
Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10 percent over the 2008–18, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job opportunities in most local police departments will be favorable for individuals who meet the psychological, personal and physical qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies for Federal jobs and private-sector security jobs.
Potential Job Titles
- Law enforcement officer
Where You Could Work
- Police departments
- Sheriff’s departments
- Department of Natural Resources
- Minnesota State Patrol
- Private security organizations
- Some federal law enforcement agencies