Law Enforcement Science

Law Enforcement Science, AAS Degree

Law-enforcement officers have the difficult and rewarding task of balancing a society’s order and liberty. To professionally accomplish this task, the officer, and student training to be an officer, must possess and display passion, maturity, tolerance, and discretion. The South Dakota Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission has approved the following curriculum, and rewards the student who obtains this degree with the opportunity to receive law-enforcement certification through a reciprocity examination.

The student who becomes certified greatly increases his or her employment opportunities, which include entry-level positions in law-enforcement agencies, private-security firms, and university-police departments. The first year of training focuses on the criminal-justice system and legal aspects of law enforcement. The second year of training equips the student with necessary practical skills.

Program Video

Background checks and drug screenings are required for this program. For more information please see Additional Program Requirements.

A interview with an instructor is also required for admission to this program.

Satisfactory completion of CJ 291 is required to take the South Dakota Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission Reciprocity Examination, which must be taken within two years of graduation.

Semester	Course Title	Credits

First Semester
CIS 101 CIS 101	Computer Essentials	2
CJ 105 CJ 105	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
An introduction to the history and philosophy of criminal justice systems with emphasis on law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Uniforms required.
CJ 109 CJ 109	Accident Investigation	2
CJ 110	Report Writing I	1
CJ 107 CJ 107	Multiculturalism	2
Explores the dynamics of living in a multicultural society. Attention will be given to contemporary issues of multiculturalism and an examination of the benefits and challenges of social diversity in a modern day society.
CJ 108 CJ 108	Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness	1
Introduces students to the importance of fitness, nutrition and wellness for the modern law enforcement professional. The course includes involving the students in developing a fitness routine, examining their nutritional intake and time for physical activity that will prepare them for passing the program’s fitness test.
MATH 115 MATH 115	College Math	3
A course covering the concepts and applications of mathematics, that includes: the arithmetic order of operations, percent problems, descriptive statistics and graphing, algebraic manipulations, solving linear equations, formula rearrangement, word problems, measurement, and applied plane and solid geometry. This course satisfies the institution's general education requirements for mathematics, but is not a transfer course. Prerequisite: Placement Assessment
SPCM 101T SPCM 101T	Fundamentals of Speech	3
Based on the study of communication theory as applied to public speaking. The goals are to improve the student's public speaking and listening skills. Experiences in the class range from developing speech outlines, researching topics, and practicing delivery techniques for an informative, persuasive, interviewing techniques and panel discussion assignment.
17
Second Semester
CJ 113 CJ 113	Constitutional Law	3
Begins with an examination of the United States Supreme Court's origins, its jurisdiction, its powers of judicial review and its adherence (or not) to precedent. Concentrates on the first ten amendments to the US Constitution (the Bill of Rights), with particular attention paid to which amendments impact, directly and circumstantially, the criminal justice system. Concludes with a survey of the SD Constitution, of the interplay between it and the US Constitution and of specific cases defining states' rights. Prerequisites: CJ 105, CJ 106, CJ 107
CJ 118 CJ 118	Physical Fitness, Wellness and Nutrition II	1
This course continues the personal physical fitness progress of the student began in CJ108. The student applies themselves to build on their fitness routine for the purpose of preparing them to pass the program’s fitness test. Prerequisite CJ108
CJ 120 CJ 120	Criminal Law	3
An examination of the essential elements of criminal law as they relate to various types of crime. Emphasis on the elements of a crime, defenses, and criminal responsibility. Prerequisites: CJ 105, CJ 106, CJ 107
CJ 201 CJ 201	Social Deviance	3
Explores psychological and sociological theories and treatments for deviant behavior, examines deviance and social control and challenges students to formulate order-maintaining social policy. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 119 CJ 119	First Responder	2
ENGL 101T ENGL 101T	Composition	3
English Composition will help develop proficiency in writing concise, coherent essays, and in using correct English. Several modes of discourse will be explored and good grammar skills are required. This course will improve the student's critical thinking skills as it provides students with practice in all stages of the writing process: planning, supporting, rewriting, analyzing, proofreading, and editing. This course will also require critical reading and writing. Prerequisite: Placement Assessment
SOC 150T SOC 150T	Social Problems	3
A sociological analysis of the causes and proposed solutions of contemporary social problems confronting society today. The class promotes student involvement in discussing the subject matter. It is designed to encourage debate and to get students to consider different positions or viewpoints with regard to social issues.
18
Third Semester
CJ 203 CJ 203	Occupational Sociology of Law Enforcement	3
Identifies and discusses job-related and personal aspects of working as a law-enforcement professional. Course pays particular attenditon to stress and how it affects the professional, the community and the professional's family. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 224 CJ 224	Juvenile Justice	2
CJ 208 CJ 208	Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness III	1
This course continues the personal physical fitness progress of the student began in CJ108. The student applies themselves to build on their fitness routine for the purpose of preparing them to pass the program’s fitness test. Prerequisite CJ108 and CJ208
CJ 209 CJ 209	Law Enforcement Survival	3
Involves students in wellness exercises, defensive and pressure-point-control tactics and proper building-search techniques. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 212 CJ 212	Traffic Enforcement I	2
Introduces South Dakota's Rules of the Road, supplements students' understanding of DWI laws and identifies, describes and demonstrates proper methods of traffic control, traffic-violation detection, accident-scene control, escorting vehicles, radio usage, vehicle pullover and approach and citation issuance. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 226 CJ 226	Civil Law for Law Enforcement	3
Examines the distinctions between civil and criminal law, delineates and describes civil-court processes, including statutes of limitation and service of process, and explores laws from varied sources covering, among other things, amercement, asset forfeiture, debt collection, court security, civil liability for criminal justice professionals and mental-illness-commitment procedures. Prerequisite: CJ Core with a "C" average
CJ 241 CJ 241	Victimology	3
Correctional principles and practices from victim's view and overview of victim's rights and compensation, responsibility and impact of victimization. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 223 CJ 223	Report Writing II	1
18
Fourth Semester
CJ 211 CJ 211	EVOC Emergency Vehicle Operations	1
Following this course, the Law Enforcement student will be able to demonstrate techniques of operating a motor vehicle to avoid accidents despite the actions of others. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 213 CJ 213	Traffic Enforcement II	2
Pays particular attention to detection, investigation and apprehension of intoxicated drivers, vehicle searches, identification of drugs and other intoxicants and certifies students as a Basic Radar Operators. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 218 CJ 218	Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness IV	1
This course continues the personal physical fitness progress of the student began in CJ108. The student applies themselves to build on their fitness routine for the purpose of preparing them to pass the program’s fitness test. Prerequisite CJ108, CJ208, and CJ 208
CJ 220 CJ 220	Criminal Investigations	3
Introduces students to the theories of criminal investigation and to personal attributes of a professional criminal investigator. Examines crime-scene procedures, investigative techniques, interviewing, report writing, case preparation and court testimony. Discusses inter-agency cooperation. Prerequisite: CJ Core
CJ 222 CJ 222	Spanish for Law Enforcement	3
CJ 227 CJ 227	Command Spanish	1
CJ 204	Use of Force and PPCT	1
CJ 290 CJ 290	Firearms Training	3
Course acclimates students to parts of single-action, double-action and semi-automatic handguns, and the Remington 870 shotgun, parts of ammunition for firearms and shooting techniques. Course meets all day for eight days; students fire at an outdoor range under a variety of conditions and students benefit from use of the Range 3000, a firearms simulator. Prerequisite: CJ Core
PSYC 101T PSYC 101T	General Psychology	3
Provides the student with an introduction to the basic psychological processes underlying human behavior. Topics include the functions of the brain amd nervous system, the characteristics of sensation, perception and altered states of consciousness, learning and memory, the nature of thinking skills and intelligence, theories of motivation, emotion and personality, a survey of psychological disorders and approaches to therapy, social/interpersonal relations, and practical applications.
18
Certification Review
CJ 291 CJ 291	Certification Review	1
Course prepares students for the South Dakota Law Enforcement Reciprocity Test. Prerequisite: Successful completion of prior CJ courses
1
Total Credits: 72