Academic Programs

Law Enforcement (AAS.LE)

The Law Enforcement degree is intended for students who do not intend to transfer to a university after graduation and who primarily intend to seek a career as a police officer in a local or county police agency. This degree can also be ideal for those seeking a career in corrections by taking electives related to the field. Contact an academic advisor for a specific academic plan leading to successful graduation.

Program requirements may change over time. Specific degree/graduation requirements are determined by a degree audit.

Request More Info

Catalog Term Year: 2025 Fall

First Year
First Semester

CORECJS-150

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-151

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENCOM-200

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENPOS-162

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENENG-119

-OR-
Credit Hours: 3.00

First Year
Second Semester

CORECJS-152

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-156

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-081

Credit Hours: 2.00

CORECJS-166

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENPSY-271

Credit Hours: 3.00

GEN--- ---

-OR-
Credit Hours: 3.00

Second Year
First Semester

CORECJS-160

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-089

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-210

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-092

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENPSY-273

-OR-
Credit Hours: 3.00

Second Year
Second Semester

CORECJS-158

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-245

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-250

Credit Hours: 3.00

CORECJS-200

Credit Hours: 3.00

GENHED-178

Credit Hours: 2.00

FIRST YEAR
First Semester			Hours
CORE	CJS-150	Intro/Criminal Just CJS-150 Intro/Criminal Just Focuses on an overview of the justice system with emphasis on the total system of police, courts, and corrections. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	COM-200	Interpersonal Communication COM-200 Interpersonal Communication Principles and practices of oral communication emphasizing message formation and delivery, listening, perception, awareness of verbal and non-verbal codes, and managing conflict. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-151	Intro to Policing CJS-151 Intro to Policing This course provides an introduction to the police profession by examining the history of policing, the mental and physical requirements for a police officer and police operational issues. Consideration is also given to current policing trends. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	POS-162	State/Local Govern POS-162 State/Local Govern Focuses on legal authority, structure, leadership and functions of state, county, city, township and special district governments. The Illinois state constitution is analyzed. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	ENG-119	Composition I Pathway ENG-119 Composition I Pathway Students will study the writing process by reading essays illustrating a variety of rhetorical strategies, analyzing texts and writing, revising and editing short essays. Course is for students who have assessed into developmental English, receiving supplemental instruction for course completion. Course Outline OR
GEN	ENG-120	Composition I ENG-120 Composition I Students develop a writing process by reading and analyzing texts that illustrate various rhetorical strategies as well as writing, revising and editing short essays. Minimally, students must compose four formal, revised writing assignments, having one reach at least 1,250 words. Course Outline	3.0
	Semester Totals		15.0
Second Semester
CORE	CJS-152	Criminal Investigation I CJS-152 Criminal Investigation I Focuses on the fundamentals of investigation, crime scene applications, and investigative techniques and procedures. Upon completion of this course, the student will understand the theory and practicality of investigation from crime scene to courtroom. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-156	Criminal Law CJS-156 Criminal Law A study of the concept of social order, examining criminal law. Crime is defined and examined as is criminal responsibility, mental state, physical act and other fundamental legal doctrines. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-081	Police Report Writing CJS-081 Police Report Writing This course provides an understanding of the fundamental principles of good writing and effective police reporting by developing a practical, basic understanding to the types of reports and forms commonly used in the field of criminal justice. Course Outline	2.0
GEN	PSY-271	Intr/Psychology PSY-271 Intr/Psychology Focuses on psychology as a science, presenting concepts, research methods and research in a variety of subfields, including neuroscience, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning and memory, cognition, motivation and emotion, development, personality, disorders and therapy and social psychology. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	--- ---	IAI Mathematics --- --- IAI Mathematics OR
GEN	--- ---	IAI Physical/Life Science --- --- IAI Physical/Life Science	3.0
CORE	CJS-166	Corrections CJS-166 Corrections Enables the student to develop an understanding of the current problems in correctional institutions. Sentencing trends, alternatives to incarceration, inmate life of population, and their effect on the system will be examined. Course Outline	3.0
	Semester Totals		17.0

SECOND YEAR
First Semester			Hours
CORE	CJS-160	Criminal Evidence and Procedure CJS-160 Criminal Evidence and Procedure Focuses on the application of Constitutional law. Procedural responsibilities of the police as they apply to the constitutional rights of the individual will be emphasized. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-089	Police Operations CJS-089 Police Operations This course focuses on the duties and responsibilities of the patrol officer. Topics covered will include routine patrol, traffic enforcement and officer survival. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-210	Community Policing CJS-210 Community Policing This course examines the relationship between police and the community and provides information on how to strengthen that relationship. Strategies for effective community policing are examined. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	PSY-273	Abnormal Psychology PSY-273 Abnormal Psychology Takes an integrative approach to psychopathology. Areas of study include research methods; clinical assessment and diagnosis; descriptions, causes and treatments of the major psychological disorders; and legal and ethical issues in abnormal psychology. Course Outline OR
GEN	PSY-277	Social Psychology PSY-277 Social Psychology Study of social behavior including research methods, attitude formation and changes, social cognition, interpersonal relations, group processes, and social influences. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-092	Police Management & Supervision CJS-092 Police Management & Supervision This course focuses on organizational and managerial roles in law enforcement. Emphasis is placed on organizational structure, administrative procedures and enforcement responsibilities. Course Outline	3.0
	Semester Totals		15.0
Second Semester
CORE	CJS-158	Juvenile Justice CJS-158 Juvenile Justice This course is designed to familiarize the student with development and trends in the juvenile justice system. It includes delinquency prevention, causation of juvenile crime and treatment and control of the juvenile delinquent. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-245	Ethics in Criminal Justice CJS-245 Ethics in Criminal Justice This course analyzes various aspects of ethics in the criminal justice system, including the police, the court system, and the correctional system. Course Outline	3.0
CORE	CJS-250	Criminology CJS-250 Criminology This course analyzes criminological theories. Crime in relation to physical and psychological factors, to cultural areas, to the family and to other social institutions will be examined. Consideration is given to professional crime and white collar crime. Course Outline	3.0
GEN	HED-178	Responding to Emergencies HED-178 Responding to Emergencies The purpose of the American Red Cross Responding to Emergency course is to provide the citizen responder with the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life. Course Outline	2.0
CORE	CJS-200	Liability in Criminal Justice CJS-200 Liability in Criminal Justice This course explores civil and criminal liability within the criminal justice system. Areas prone to liability are examined, and best practices that minimize those liabilities are discussed. Course Outline	3.0
	Semester Totals		14.0

Total Program Hours

61.0

Call Counseling Services: 217-234-5232
Email: counsel@lakelandcollege.edu

Faculty Contact: David A Chambers234-5310

* There are prerequisites, corequisites, or minimum placement test scores for this course.
** Consult Academic Advisor for appropriate course
FA Course only offered fall semester
SP Course only offered spring semester
SU Course offered in summer term only

Law Enforcement (AAS.LE)

Extra Resources

Catalog Term Year: 2025 Fall

First YearFirst Semester

First YearSecond Semester

Second YearFirst Semester

Second YearSecond Semester

Semester Totals

Semester Totals

Semester Totals

Semester Totals

Total Program Hours

First Year
First Semester

First Year
Second Semester

Second Year
First Semester

Second Year
Second Semester