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Applied Studies:
Law Enforcement

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Applied Studies: Law Enforcement at a glance

North Central University’s Applied Studies: Law Enforcement program will prepare you for a career as a professional law enforcement officer. Offered in partnership with Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC), you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree from North Central and an associate’s degree from MCTC while pursuing a fulfilling career in an in-demand field.

What sets us apart

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Our Law Enforcement program focuses on preparing you for success in a fulfilling career

Our Applied Studies: Law Enforcement program, in partnership with Minneapolis Community & Technical College, gives you opportunities to focus on gaining the applicable knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on training you need to pursue a career in the high-demand field of law enforcement.

By earning a liberal arts bachelor’s degree from North Central University and a career specific associate’s degree from MCTC, you’ll be a well-rounded, highly-skilled, marketable employee when you graduate. The broad worldview and critical thinking skills you’ll gain at North Central, along with the training and experience you’ll get at MCTC, will help you land that first job right out of college and will give you opportunities to pursue a calling that’s professionally and personally rewarding.

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Get all the benefits of our Christian community

One of the best things about being a North Central University student is joining our spirit-filled, faithful, vibrant urban community. In the Applied Studies program, you’ll be a full NCU student, meaning you’ll live on campus, attend daily chapel with your friends and classmates, find mentors in NCU professors, and participate in student organizations and events.

Plus, you’ll get all the benefits of a well-rounded Christian liberal arts education. You’ll take the Christian Studies Core (and graduate with a Christian Studies minor) just like all North Central students. You’ll also take general education courses and electives at North Central. The Christian liberal arts education that North Central provides will prepare you with a firmly rooted faith, a broad and informed worldview, cultural and global awareness, and the critical thinking skills you need for any career field.

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Partnership with MCTC

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Our MCTC partnership gives you access to courses, resources, and expert faculty

By partnering with Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC), we can offer you access to career specific courses and training, opportunities to gain real-world experience, and expert faculty in the Law Enforcement field.

MCTC is a public two-year college located in downtown Minneapolis. As a part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, MCTC offers a wide range of learning opportunities and has access to many unique resources.

These resources will prepare you with the skills and knowledge you need to find your first job out of college, succeed in your career, and pursue a calling that is fulfilling, meaningful, and rewarding.

In the Applied Studies: Law Enforcement program, you’ll take career-specific courses at MCTC, accounting for 30-50% of the credits towards your bachelor’s degree.

The Applied Studies program may not be VA benefit eligible. Please contact Student Financial Services to learn more.

  • Skills you’ll gain

    When you graduate from the Law Enforcement program, you’ll be prepared with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on training to:

    • Understand Minnesota statutes, the U.S. Constitution, criminal, and traffic law
    • Use the skills necessary for daily enforcement, including handling and using firearms, decision shooting, armed and unarmed defense tactics, high-speed and pursuit driver techniques, low- and high-risk traffic stop tactics, in-progress crimes and domestic violence tactics, criminal investigation and arrest procedures, traffic law enforcement, and accident investigation
    • Apply critical thinking, effective communication, and principles of human behaviour to your job
    • Use hands-on skills as the situation requires
  • Potential careers

    Our graduates succeed in a variety of jobs and careers. Here are some possibilities:

    • Law Enforcement Officer
    • Uniformed Police Officer
    • State Police Officer
    • Transit or Railroad Police Officer
    • Detective
    • Criminal Investigator

    You could work in a variety of settings, including:

    • Police departments
    • Sheriff’s departments
    • Department of Natural Resources
    • Minnesota State Patrol
    • Private security organizations
    • Federal law enforcement agencies
  • Minors & supporting programs

    We want you to be well-rounded and well-prepared when you graduate, so you’ll have the opportunity to choose a minor or supporting program so you can explore another area of interest. Here are some possibilities:

    • Alcohol & Drug Counseling
    • Intercultural Studies
    • Leadership Development
    • Pre-Law
    • Sociology
    • Spanish
    • Urban Studies

    See the full list of minors and supporting programs.

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Education Services Engineer, JAMF Software

Dale Houghton ‘12
Woodbury, MN

"The student to professor ratio is wonderful. I loved that the professors not only knew who I was, but took a vested interest in my life and career, encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone to advance my career."

Requirements

All students must complete the General Education Core and Christian Studies Core. General electives may be added or an optional minor may be selected. You need 124 total credit hours to complete an Applied Studies: Law Enforcement degree.

Want to learn more?

Download the one sheet!

Simply fill in your info on the form to download the informational one sheet that covers:

  • An overview of the program
  • Classes you’ll take
  • Exciting jobs you can get after graduation

Interested in earning your degree in Applied Studies: Law Enforcement?

Click here to apply today!