Law Enforcement (BS)

Examines the making of criminal law, the evolution of policing, the adjudication of persons accused of criminal law violations, and the punishment of adult offenders.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

A critical consideration of definitions of juvenile delinquency, emphasis on micro and macro level of struggle in which delinquent behavior takes place, critique of current theories on delinquency, and the juvenile justice response to delinquency.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-5, GE-9

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Become informed enough to play your part in governing the United States. Start by learning about the Constitution, our rights and freedoms, how the national government works and the opportunities and challenges of citizen influence. Political Science methods, and the challenges of citizenship are emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09

The history, development, and application of criminal laws and criminal procedures in the criminal justice system.

Prerequisites: none

This course explores the history of community policing and explains what community policing is and is not. It also examines what research has discovered about the relationship of the police with the community. The student will be introduced to the value of positive interactions between peace officers and the populations they serve, as well as ways to incorporate problem-solving strategies on both small and large scales.

Prerequisites: none

The history, legal aspects of investigation, the evolution of investigations and forensics, procedures of crime investigations, procurement and preservation of evidence and interviewing.

Prerequisites: none

An extensive study of the rules, statutes, criminal laws, and traffic laws that directly relate to the role of a peace officer in the State of Minnesota.

Prerequisites: none

This course will introduce students to theoretical concepts in sociology, social psychology, psychology, and criminology pertaining to human behavior. Students will gain an understanding of how individual and societal factors influence the behaviors of the people they serve, as well as how those same factors influence the police officer personality. Students will also be introduced to many of the mental disorders they will encounter in the field so that they may more easily identify those in crisis when in the field and determine the most appropriate course of action to assist them.

Prerequisites: none

The course will examine ethics and leadership theory, interpretation, and application. Concepts such as vision, ownership, integrity, accountability, attitude, teamwork capability, monitoring, evaluation, and decision making will be interpreted through case studies of ethics and leadership in criminal justice.

Prerequisites: none

Research methodologies as they apply to correctional evidence-based practices are covered, as are strengths and limitations of various research practices, especially with respect to central correctional concepts such as risk, recidivism, and program evaluation. Students will gain experience with data sources, data collection, and basic interpretation of data analysis.

Prerequisites: none

A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 

This course is designed to provide law enforcement students with the basic information, tools, and skills needed to improve interpersonal communications with coworkers and citizens from all ethnic and cultural groups. It is also intended to provide some historical information so students can contextualize and better understand why particular groups may distrust and resist law enforcement and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

The purpose of this course is to develop in the student an insight into the dynamics of interpersonal violence, particularly sexual violence. The focus will be on developing effective law enforcement responses to the victims/survivors and the perpetrators.

Prerequisites: none

This course will cover the sources of intrapersonal and interpersonal stress in the law enforcement profession. Students will be required to assess their vulnerability to these stressors and develop their own strategies and tactics for coping.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the intellectual aspects of law enforcement from the perspectives of communication, interpersonal relations, and critical thinking. The course will provide the student with a solid foundation in effective law enforcement communications and prepare the student intellectually for a career as a law enforcement officer. This course also has a writing intensive requirement that involves drafting, editing, and reviewing a variety of written assignments.

Prerequisites: none

This course will cover the basic techniques of writing reports, memoranda, forms, and other documents used in the law enforcement profession. This is a writing-intensive course that will not only fulfill MN POST Report Writing requirements, but will also require students to compose numerous documents and respond to writing feedback throughout the semester.

Prerequisites: none

Senior Seminar is a capstone course that is specifically designed for Law Enforcement students to be eligible to become licensed peace officers. This course will assist the student in several areas to include preparation for the MN POST test, interviewing skills, critical thinking and decision making skills, group work and presentations, scenario based learning and application of law to the scenarios.

Prerequisites: Admission to the program.

Prerequisites: none

Concepts and development of lifelong healthy exercise and nutritional habits.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Theory and practice of aerobic conditioning.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Includes street fighting techniques and personal safety tips.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Participation and increase skill knowledge through activity in body building, physical conditioning, and aerobics.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

This class is open to all students. Please note, this is a physically demanding class. It is a comprehensive fitness program based on the latest military fitness techniques and principles. Students participate in and learn the components of an effective physical fitness program, with emphasis on the development of an individual fitness program and the role of exercise and fitness in one's life. In addition, students will achieve the highest standards of physical fitness in preparation for the Army Physical Fitness Test. This class is a pre-requisite for MSL 403.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Prerequisites: none

Prerequisites: none