Law Enforcement
Undergraduate Programs
Description
The law enforcement program is designed for individuals seeking a professional career in criminal justice and law enforcement. It is open to in-service students who wish to improve their basic education or complete their degree, and to pre-service students who may be interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. This program aligns with the Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Transfer Pathway.
In order to enter the law enforcement profession, applicants should be aware that physical, mental and background standards are set by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board and law enforcement agencies. Students should be aware that some criminal convictions prevent licensure as a peace officer. Law enforcement students should consider these standards.
Majors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement BS | BS - Bachelor of Science |
|
120 |
Minors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement Minor | 22 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission to Major: Admission to the licensing degree is granted by the department. Admission requires satisfaction of departmental GPA and course pre-requisites as well as POST board documentation. Since these requirements are subject to change, students should contact the Government Department Office for current admission requirements. Both academic and physical agility standards are course requirements for which passing grades are necessary to graduation with the licensing degree option. Admission to the licensing degree requires that a student must have completed 4 of the 6 lower division common core courses, LAWE131, and POL111 with a “C” or higher in each course, and a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or higher in the completed lower division core courses. Must have a cumulative GPA in the major of 2.6 or higher.
Admission to the general degree is granted by the department. Admission requires satisfaction of departmental GPA requirements. A minor must be declared and a student must meet with an advisor for the application process.
GPA Policy. Students seeking to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement (licensing option) must have an earned 2.6 GPA in the major. They must also earn a grade of “C” or higher in the general education courses and the major common core courses. Students seeking to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement (general studies) must have an earned 2.6 GPA in the major and they must also earn a grade of “C” or better in POL111, LAWE131, LAWE133, LAWE231 and LAWE233.
P/N Grading Policy. All law enforcement classes except LAWE492 must be taken for a grade.
Repeated Course Policy. Students majoring in Law Enforcement may not repeat a course more than once, and no more than three different LAWE classes (including those accepted as transfer credits) may be repeated within a five year period.
Minimum Courses Policy. All students, including transfer students, majoring in Law Enforcement must take a minimum of five (5) different LAWE classes at Minnesota State Mankato for a total of not less than fifteen (15) credit hours. All students, including transfer students, seeking a minor in Law Enforcement must take a minimum of three (3) different LAWE classes at Minnesota State Mankato for a total of not less than nine (9) credit hours.
Minnesota Licensure. The student must successfully complete the licensing studies major and an integrated skills program, as well as meet other P.O.S.T. Board and Minnesota State Mankato requirements before being approved to take the P.O.S.T. Board licensure examination. This includes being certified in first aid and CPR (First Responder or EMT currently qualify). Only graduates of certified two and four year academic programs that also meet the requirements of the skills program providers may enter an integrated skills program. The license examination is administered by P.O.S.T. and covers those items included in the P.O.S.T. Board learning objectives.
Note: Since P.O.S.T. Board rules change from year to year, we advise students to contact the program director, the program academic advisor or their assigned academic advisor for current rules regarding licensure.
Contact Information
109 Morris Hall
Office (507) 389-2721sbs.mnsu.edu/government/lenforcement
Faculty
Chair
- Pat Nelson, PhD
Program Academic Advisor
- Trudy Kunkel
Faculty
100 Level
Credits: 3
The course provides a survey of the institutions and processes of the criminal justice system with an emphasis on the role of law enforcement agencies in a free society. Political theories of justice are explored with theories of crime causation.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05
Credits: 3
An overview of conflicting theories in criminal justice and the tools to critically evaluate the theories and present the strengths and weaknesses of each in written, oral or other forms.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05
Credits: 3
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 the police officer and the citizens they serve, as well as ways to incorporate problem-solving strategies on both small and large scales.Prerequisites: none
200 Level
Credits: 4
The history and development of criminal law procedures and their application by law enforcement.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
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
Credits: 3
An extensive study of Chapter 609, Minnesota Criminal Code, and traffic law. Prereq: LAWE 231, admission to Option I or consentPrerequisites: Admission to Option I, LAWE 231
Credits: 3
This course will expose students to theoretical foundations of human behavior and explore specific law enforcement situations in which that information can be used.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course focuses on the law enforcement approach to the juvenile justice system and how it has evolved in the United States. Theories of delinquency are reviewed. Minnesota Juvenile Code in emphasized.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course focuses on the law enforcement approach to the juvenile justice system and how it has evolved in the United States. Theories of delinquency are reviewed. Minnesota Juvenile Code in emphasized.Prerequisites: none
300 Level
Credits: 3
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
Credits: 3
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
Credits: 3
This course utilizes a broad multi-disciplinary approach in examining the forces, theories, and popular beliefs that influenced the restriction and eventual acceptance of women in the policing profession. Included in this course are perspectives from the social, historical, biological, political, and social-psychological sciences.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
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
Credits: 3
Criminal forensics will include the history and development of the crime lab. Contemporary and historical cases will be discussed to provide the background and application of forensics. Also, discussion of crime lab examination of physical evidence and utilization of medico-legal specialists in investigations will be included in the course.Fall, Spring, SummerPrerequisites: none
Credits: 3
A survey of methods and techniques for the investigation of major crimes.Prerequisites: LAWE 233
Credits: 3
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: LAWE 236
Credits: 3
he course focuses on the psychological aspects of law enforcement from the perspectives of communication, interpersonal relations, and officer safety. The course will have required accompanying readings and the materials which, along with the classroom interaction, should provide the student with a solid foundation to build effective communications and to start to prepare the student psychologically for a career as a law enforcement officer. This course also has a writing intensive requirement that involves drafting, editing, and reviewing written assignments.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
The course focuses on the psychological aspects of law enforcement from the perspectives of communication, interpersonal relations, and officer safety. The course will have required accompanying readings and the materials which, along with the classroom interaction, should provide the student with a solid foundation to build effective communications and to start to prepare the student psychologically for a career as a law enforcement officer.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
The course will examine the most commonly abused and trafficked controlled substances, as well as the Minnesota criminal statutes which provide the basis for law enforcement action. Also, the major case precedents that guide law enforcement interdiction efforts are discussed. Finally, this course additionally explores narcotics investigation on multiple levels, but emphasizes local law enforcement strategies and tactics.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
An examination of issues facing law enforcement today in constantly changing legal, social and cultural environments. Topics will vary and may be repeated for credit.Prerequisites: none
400 Level
Credits: 3
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 law enforcement.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Provides students with specific procedures for handling various types of routine calls and situations and provides a base for handling those incidents which are not routine. Emphasizes critical thinking skills through discussion, assignments and evaluations. Prereq: Junior or senior standingPrerequisites: Admission to Option I
Credits: 3
This is the capstone course for LAWE Option 1 and will include such topics as P.O.S.T. License review, ethics and interviewing skills.Prerequisites: Admission to Option I
Credits: 3
A comparison of criminal justice philosophies, structures, and procedures found in various countries around the world. Same as POL 449.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Review of selected United States Supreme Court decisions interpreting important freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. Focus is on the rationale which underlies decisions and its impact on American political social processes. Provides an opportunity to exercise and develop individual analytical abilities through analysis of Court's reasoning. Same as POL 454.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
An examination of the structure, jurisdiction and processes of federal and state courts. Emphasis is placed on selection of judges and justices and on the dynamics of judicial decision-making. Same as POL 475.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
History, philosophy, techniques and countermeasures to terroristic and law intensity threats to public order. Both domestic and international terror. The blurring of the lines between low intensity conflict/terrorism and multinational high intensity crime. Same as POL 425.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
An examination of emerging administrative and management concepts and the processes related to their implementation.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course explores the history, development and current role of federal law enforcement in the United States. This course also explores the history, implementation, and role of Homeland Security, along with the integration of purpose, action, and enforcement between Homeland Security, federal law enforcement, and local law enforcement with a lens of legal, policy, and cooperation strategies at the federal, state, and local levels.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course complements the learning experience of traveling on a faculty led study abroad trip. The focus will be a comparison of terrorism, political violence, and counter-terrorism activities in the United States to the same activities in the visited countries based on readings, research, observation, and participation. Instructor permission is required to register for this course.Prerequisites: Must be accepted into a faculty led study abroad trip.
Credits: 3
This course complements the learning experience of traveling on a faculty led study abroad trip. The focus will be on a comparison of international justice systems in a variety of countries based on readings, research, observation, and participation. Instructor permission is required to register for this course.Prerequisites: Must be registered and approved for a faculty-led study abroad program.
Credits: 3
Review of selected U.S. Supreme Court decisions relating to the powers of the President, Congress and the Judiciary, as well as the division of power between the states and the federal government. Focus is on case briefing, underlying rationales, and the development of individual analytical abilities.Prerequisites: LAWE 231
Credits: 4
Legal procedures by which state and federal administrative agencies exercise legislative, judicial and executive powers. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional position of administrative agencies, the rule making process, the power of agencies to decide rights and obligations concerning individual cases, and judicial control of administrative action.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-5
This course explores topics in law enforcement beyond what is covered in the existing curriculum. Students study specialized topics of current importance in the field. Specific topics will change depending on the term and instructor. May be retaken with a change of topic.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-8
Field placement with a law enforcement agency or related organization. Provides a learning experience in which the student can integrate and apply knowledge and theory derived from curriculum. P/N only.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-3
Advanced study and research on topics not currently available in existing courses. May be repeated with a change of topic. Requires advisor and instructor approval of topic.Prerequisites: none
