Peace Officer Diploma

Program Overview:

The Peace Officer Diploma satisfies requirements to become Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board Exam eligible. Graduates seeking employment as a Peace Officer will be required to pass the POST exam to become eligible to be licensed as a Peace Officer in the State of Minnesota.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Peace Officer program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the Criminal Justice System and criminal procedure.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the current Juvenile Justice System.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of ethics in law enforcement.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Minnesota Criminal Statutes to satisfy POST Learning Objectives.

Additional Information:

Individuals applying for the diploma program must already possess a minimum of a two-year degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any subject. If the degree is in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement, the academic program leader can review the transcript and determine equivalencies.

Grade of “C” or better is required of all general education and Peace Officer Course requirements.

Notice of Minnesota Background Check Requirement Minnesota Statute 245C requires that students who have contact with individuals in licensed institutions complete an annual background study with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Individuals who do not pass the background check will not be allowed to participate in program activities. A list of disqualifying offenses is available at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=245C.15 Information about completing the background study will be available from program faculty.

PEACE OFFICER DIPLOMA

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (28 CREDITS)

• CRJU 1305 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 cr) OR POFC 1105 – Introduction to Peace Officers and the Criminal Justice System (3 cr)
• CRJU 2122 – Criminal Procedure (3 cr)
• CRJU 2127 – Juvenile Law and Procedures (3 cr)
• EMC 1121 – First Responder (2 cr)
• POFC 1112 – Introduction to Criminal Investigations (3 cr)
• POFC 2119 – Minnesota Criminal and Traffic Statutes (3 cr)
• POFC 2121 – Human Behavior and Ethics for Peace Officers (3 cr)
• POFC 2125 – Community Policing and Service (3 cr)
• SOC 2625 – Minority Group Relations (3 cr)

SKILLS COURSES (12 CREDITS)

• POFS 2101 – Crime Scene Processing (2 cr)*
• POFS 2102 – Traffic Enforcement (3 cr)*
• POFS 2103 – Defensive Tactics (2 cr)*
• POFS 2104 – Firearms for SKILLS (2 cr)*
• POFS 2105 – Patrol Practical’s (3 cr)*

*Tuition differential associated with these courses

HEALTH AND PHYSCIAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (1 CREDIT)

• PHED 1189 – Boot Camp (1 cr)

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

FULL-TIME

• Semester 1 (18 CREDITS): CRJU 1305 OR POFC 1105, CRJU 2122, EMC 1121, PHED 1189, POFC 1112, POFC 2119, POFC 2121
• Semester 2 (18 CREDITS): CRJU 2127, POFC 2125, POFS 2101, POFS 2102, POFS 2103, POFS 2104, POFS 2105
• Semester 3 (3 CREDITS): SOC 2625

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions