Law Enforcement

Graduates of this program know the history and development of the criminal justice system and the role of law enforcement in the system. They understand the legal process from arrest to the courts, and through the corrections system. They understand the policy and practice of traffic enforcement, firearms use, defensive tactics, investigations, and pursuit driving, and can perform skills in each area. Graduates value written and interpersonal communication, critical thinking and problem solving, information and financial literacy, and diversity awareness skills and their significance in academic and workplace situations. Upon completing this program, passing a physical fitness test, and completing additional required first responder training, graduates will be eligible to take the Minnesota Peace Officer Licensing Exam.

• Police Officer
• Deputy Sheriff
• Conservation Officer
• State Trooper
• Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent
• Security Officer

The Law Enforcement Associate’s Degree is only offered in Minnesota. Residential Law Enforcement skills training courses are only offered through the Eagan, MN, campus at the HERO Training Center.

The Law Enforcement Associate’s Degree meets the educational standards established by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (MN POST) for persons who intend to seek employment in Minnesota as a peace officer. Upon completing this program, passing a physical fitness test, and completing additional required first responder training, graduates will be eligible to take the Minnesota Peace Officer Licensing Exam. The Law Enforcement Associate’s Degree contains both online and residential courses and is designed to lead to law enforcement careers in Minnesota. This program does not meet standards of states other than Minnesota. Additional training and education may be required for licensure in other states. This program is only open to residents of Minnesota, or those willing to sign an attestation of their intent to seek employment in Minnesota as a peace officer.

Students enrolled in this program are required to complete an officially recognized first-aid course in First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). In addition to all other MN POST eligibility requirements, students must provide the Rasmussen University Law Enforcement POST Coordinator with a copy of their required first-aid certification (e.g., a photocopy of their first responder card) in order to become eligible to sit for the MN Peace Officer Licensing Exam.

Students may be deemed eligible for Admission to the Law Enforcement program and begin the Skills portion of the program if one of the two requirements below have been met:

1. Applicant is eligible to sit for the Military Reciprocity Examination by the MN POST Board due to prior military law enforcement experience. Applicant is eligible for admission upon receipt of a current signed verification letter sent directly to Rasmussen University from the MN POST Board.
2. Rasmussen University has received a verification letter from a certified MN POST-approved institution, for which Rasmussen University has an articulation agreement. The verification letter must be signed by the school’s PPOE Program Coordinator and indicate that the applicant is eligible to begin the Skills component.

Applicants are required to meet all admission requirements for the Law Enforcement programs.

Eligibility for admission to the Law Enforcement programs requires completion of the following steps:

1. Applicants must achieve a score on the University Entrance Placement examination acceptable for admission into the University at a level that does not require Developmental Education coursework. Alternatively, the applicant must provide a college transcript indicating a grade of C or higher in college-level English and/or Mathematics.
2. Applicant and Admissions Representative to complete the following:
   1. Information session
   2. Certified driving record documentation
   3. Criminal history record documentation
   4. Two-page written autobiography
   5. Health physical
   6. Psychological evaluation
3. Once the applicant file is complete, the Admissions Representative may schedule a face-to-face interview between the applicant and Program Coordinator/Director. Applicants must then:
   1. Complete an application.
   2. Provide official college transcripts. Official transcripts must be received by the University no later than the sixth business day of the first quarter of enrollment in a Law Enforcement program.
   3. Successfully pass a criminal background check through Rasmussen University’s chosen third-party vendor and also submit to a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check.
   4. Complete any additional program-specific requirements specified at the time of enrollment.

Upon completing the application process, the completed files will be reviewed by the acceptance committee. Students accepted into their program will receive written communication from the University. Applicants must also attend programmatic orientation as well as general orientation or risk being removed from the cohort.