Law Enforcement Degrees

Overview

Ensuring obedience and the adherence to the laws is known as law enforcement. If you want to do service for your society by protecting it, you can opt for law enforcement degrees. Police officers are the common careers of the law enforcement degree. However, you can also make other career choices like 911 emergency operators or criminal investigators.

You can pursue law enforcement degrees either as an associate degree or a bachelor degree. Some colleges also provide certification courses on law enforcement. The duration of the bachelor's degree in law enforcement can range from 3 years to 4 years, depending on the college and the program you wish to study. The curriculum of the law enforcement degrees are complex in order to prepare the student, as a strong and able officer. The subjects covered in the courses are criminal law, administration justice, criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, criminal procedure, crime control policies, and nature of crime. Certain colleges also offer internship training to their students.

Benefits

The major advantage of the law enforcement profession is the satisfaction of servicing the society by making it as a safer place to live. As mentioned before, apart from police officers, the job fields are varied in both private and public sectors, such as country sheriff's department, state patrol agencies, federal agencies, and private agencies. The diverse job profiles include correction officer, sergeant, commander, criminal investigator, community service officer, fire inspector, and security guard. You can expect a salary of $31,000 to $45,000 per annum on an average depending on the industry and the position you hold.

Costs

The cost of the law enforcement degree varies, depending on the college or university at which you choose to study. Average tuition fee for a graduate degree ranges from $11,000 to $17,000 per term. Additional expenses may include food, lodging, and transportation. You may look for a scholarship or financial aid either from your college or from other sources to reduce your financial burden.

Schools

There are many schools and colleges which provides law enforcement degrees. Ferris State University and Upper IOWA University are some of the colleges which provide under graduate degrees in law enforcement. American Intercontinental University provides part time law enforcement program.

Testing & Preparation

To pursue the small law enforcement degree, you should have a completed high school certificate or the General Education Development (GED). Many colleges expect a minimum score of 2.5 in core subject on the ranking scale of 5. Apart from this, you have to qualify at the tests such like American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If you are an international student, you should take up Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and/or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Also, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid license to drive a vehicle, hold the admission of a particular university offering the course of study, and pass a background check, physical fitness test, medical exam, and reading and writing exam.

If you wish to join the Police Department, you would be interviewed and certified by a psychologist who checks your emotional and mental conditions.

Financial Aid

Students who pursue law enforcement degrees from accredited schools, colleges, or universities are eligible for financial aid. Programs such as the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Federal Pell Grant are government-aided scholarships awarded to students. Federal Stafford loans and Plus Loans are government loans offered to the students. Undergraduate Academic Award is awarded to meritorious students of law enforcement at the Ferris State University.