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Peace Officer and Public Safety Associate of Science Degree

Overview and Award Outcomes

Overview

Hennepin Technical College’s Peace Officer and Public Safety A.S. Degree focuses on cultural competency as essential for police officers to build mutual trust and respect with communities of diverse backgrounds and cultural differences.  Embedded throughout the curriculum are learning objectives that will increase the student’s ability to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds. The Peace Officer and Public Safety curriculum will include HTC Learner Outcomes critical thinking and problem solving, and oral and written communication skills, as well as HTC Learner Values cultural and global awareness, and ethical and social responsibility. Future employers will value Hennepin Technical College Peace Officer and Public Safety graduates for their knowledge and experience with diverse communities and the various populations within those communities, their strong tactical skills, and exceptional interpersonal communication and critical thinking skills.

 

Hennepin Technical College is certified as a Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE) program.  The Peace Officer and Public Safety A.S. degree program is a Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) approved program and upon completion of the A.S. degree provides students the opportunity to take the POST eligibility test for licensure.

 

Award Outcomes

Demonstrate ethical principles required to perform the duties of a peace officers, including but not limited to police reports, criminal and traffic codes: local, state, tribal, and federal laws; emergency vehicle operations; defensive tactics and firearms

Demonstrate capacity for self-awareness and emotional intelligence in conflict management and de-escalation situations specifically with diverse communities.

Apply understanding of individual cultural competencies including beliefs, practices, and needs of diverse communities during community contact, arrests, and high-stress situations

Demonstrate effective communication with victims, witnesses, and suspects from diverse populations and identify implicit biases and how bias affects critical thinking in crisis intervention situations

Construct best practices for implementation of lifelong physical fitness and mental health for peace officers.

Assess the evolution of interaction between law enforcement and society and how implicit bias, procedural justice, and de-escalation can affect the outcomes.

Articulate how the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, additional Constitutional Amendments, and state constitutions protect citizens’ rights and impact policies and procedures.

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the Associates of Science degree and passing the POST licensure test, individuals can seek employment as a peace officer with any local, county, or state agency.

Program Requirements

Technical Studies Required 37 Credits

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
Core Courses

EMSV1050Emergency Medical Responder (First Responder)

3

POLC1200Equity in Policing

3

POLC1205Physical Fitness for Peace Officers

1

POLC2225Criminal Investigation

3

POLC2230Legal Issues

3

POLC2231MN Criminal and Traffic Codes

3

POLC2235Police Report Writing/Interview

2

POLC2241Crisis Intervention and Human Behavior

3

POLC2265Ethics and Communications

3

POLC2325Capstone

1

 

Skills

POLC2262In Progress Response

3

POLC2276Traffic

2

POLC2281Defensive Tactics

3

POLC2285Crime Scene and Evidence

1

POLC2291Firearms

3

POLC2300Tactical Driving

0

General Education Required 31 Credits

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
COMM1250Interpersonal Communication

3

ENGL1100Writing and Research

4

PHIL1100Critical Thinking for College Success

3

PHIL1200Ethics

3

PSYC1300Abnormal Psychology

3

SOCI1100Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI1200Marriage and Family

3

SOCI1400Race in America

3

SOCI1500Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

SOCI2400Juvenile Justice

3

General Education Elective 0 Credits

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits

Technical Studies Elective 0 Credits

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits

Total Associate of Science Degree Credits 68

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits

Semester Sequence

Offered at Brooklyn Park Only

First Semester

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
POLC1200Equity in Policing

3

 

ENGL1100Writing and Research

4

SOCI1100Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI1400Race in America

3

SOCI1500Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

Total Credits  16

Second Semester

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
POLC2231MN Criminal and Traffic Codes

3

POLC2235Police Report Writing/Interview

2

 

COMM1250Interpersonal Communication

3

SOCI1200Marriage and Family

3

SOCI2400Juvenile Justice

3

Total Credits  14

Third Semester

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
POLC1205Physical Fitness for Peace Officers

1

POLC2230Legal Issues

3

POLC2241Crisis Intervention and Human Behavior

3

 

PHIL1200Ethics

3

PSYC1300Abnormal Psychology

3

Total Credits  13

Fourth Semester

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
POLC2225Criminal Investigation

3

POLC2265Ethics and Communications

3

POLC2325Capstone

1

 

EMSV1050Emergency Medical Responder (First Responder)

3

 

PHIL1100Critical Thinking for College Success

3

Total Credits  13

Summer Semester

Course NumberCourse TitleCourse Credits
POLC2262In Progress Response

3

POLC2276Traffic

2

POLC2281Defensive Tactics

3

POLC2285Crime Scene and Evidence

1

POLC2291Firearms

3

POLC2300Tactical Driving

0

Total Credits 12

Graduation (68 Credits)

Semester listings reflect the recommended sequence.  Due to circumstances beyond our control, the information herein is subject to change without notice.


5/16/2024 : BP 8004 / EP