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.
Catalog Term Year: 2025 Fall
FIRST YEAR
First Semester
Hours
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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IAI Mathematics 
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IAI Mathematics


OR
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IAI Physical/Life Science 
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IAI Physical/Life Science


3.0
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 effects on the system will be examined.

Course Outline
3.0

Semester Totals

17.0
SECOND YEAR
First Semester
Hours
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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