Law Enforcement

This program is a Selective Program. Application requirements are included in the description below.

County Corrections Specialist

Occupational Skills Award

This Occupational Skills Award (OSA) is designed to prepare students for a profession as a county corrections officer. County corrections academy students will learn the role and responsibilities of a county correction officer and become knowledgeable in classification, intake procedures and facility security protocols. The county corrections academy will prepare students for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement county corrections officer licensing standards.

Basic Peace Officer

Certificate

This program is designed to prepare students for a profession in law enforcement. Police academy students will learn the role and responsibilities of a law enforcement officer and become knowledgeable in Texas Criminal and Traffic law. The police academy will prepare students for peace officer certifications according to the standards from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers.

Application Requirements

In order to be considered for entry into the South Texas College Police Academy/Basic Peace Officer certificate, all applicants must complete the requirements below which will be evaluated for accuracy, passing scores and acceptable outcomes:

1. Must be at least 21 years of age by the completion of the police academy.
2. Applicants with military background must have an honorable discharge to apply.
3. Complete Police Academy application (published on program webpage).
4. Pass Physical Fitness Test administered by Police Academy. Information about test dates are published on program webpage. (Applicant must have valid identification to participate in test.).
5. Complete Personal History Statement.
6. Pass a Polygraph Examination. (Examiner approved by the Pharr Police Department.)
7. Submit fingerprints for criminal history check through a state/national database. Applicants convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor, or above, or convicted of a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years will not be considered.
8. Pass medical screening to include urinalysis. (Medical doctor approved by the Pharr Police Department.)
9. Pass psychological screening. (Doctor approved by the Pharr Police Department.)
10. Must provide the following documents:
    • Certified Copy of Court Disposition (for all charges on criminal history)
    • Licensee Medical Condition Declaration (TCOLE L-2 Form)
    • Licensee Psychological and Emotional Health Declaration (TCOLE L-3 Form)
    • Proof of U.S. Citizenship
    • Valid Texas Driver’s License
    • Official high school transcript (accredited) or proof of GED completion.
    • Military Discharge Form (DD 214), if applicable.

Law Enforcement

Associate of Applied Science

The Law Enforcement Associate Degree program offers the educational opportunity for veteran officers already in the field to expand upon their knowledge base. The program also provides the necessary foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Basic Peace Officer Certificate

1. Demonstrate effective written communication skills that includes conducting interviews and writing police reports.
2. Identify traffic laws related to the safe operation of vehicles on highways.
3. Identify procedures related to crime scene investigations.

1. Demonstrate effective written communication skills that includes conducting interviews and writing police reports.
2. Identify traffic laws related to the safe operation of vehicles on highways.
3. Identify procedures related to crime scene investigations.
4. Interpret legal procedures related to arrest, search, and seizure.
5. Identify various narcotics and other dangerous drugs.

Advisory Committee Members

Juan Gonzalez, Acting Chief of Police, Pharr Police Department
J.E. "Eddie" Guerra, Sheriff, Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
Dr. Joel Rivera, Chief of Police, Weslaco Police Department
Mark Perez, Chief of Police, Alton Police Department
Dr. David Friedlein, Reserve Captain, Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
Dr. Jonathon Flores, City Manager, City of Pharr
Jaime Ayala, Chief of Police, Edinburg Police Department
Noe Castillo, Chief of Police, Rio Grande City Police Department

Occupational Skills Award

• County Corrections Specialist Occupational Skills Award

Certificate

• Basic Peace Officer Certificate - Spring Admission
• Basic Peace Officer Certificate - Summer Admission

Associate Degree

• Law Enforcement Associate of Applied Science

County Corrections Specialist Occupational Skills Award

TSI Exempt

Basic Peace Officer Certificate* - Spring Admission

TSI Exempt

Plan of Study Grid

Spring		Credit Hours
CJLE 1506	Basic Peace Officer I	5
CJLE 1512	Basic Peace Officer II	5
CJLE 1518	Basic Peace Officer III	5
CJLE 1524	Basic Peace Officer IV	5
CJLE 1135	Police Academy Fitness I	1
	Credit Hours	21
Summer
CJLE 1429	Basic Peace Officer V	4
	Credit Hours	4
	Total Credit Hours	25

*Capstone: Successful completion of comprehensive exam.

Basic Peace Officer Certificate* - Summer Admission

TSI Exempt

Plan of Study Grid

Summer		Credit Hours
CJLE 1506	Basic Peace Officer I	5
	Credit Hours	5
Fall
CJLE 1512	Basic Peace Officer II	5
CJLE 1518	Basic Peace Officer III	5
CJLE 1524	Basic Peace Officer IV	5
CJLE 1429	Basic Peace Officer V	4
CJLE 1135	Police Academy Fitness I	1
	Credit Hours	20
	Total Credit Hours	25

*Capstone: Successful completion of comprehensive exam.

Law Enforcement Associate of Applied Science

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
ENGL 1301	Composition I 1	3
CJSA 1322 or CRIJ 1301	Introduction to Criminal Justice or Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CJSA 1313 or CRIJ 1306	Court Systems and Practices or Court Systems and Practices	3
CJSA 1325	Criminology	3
CJSA 1348	Ethics in Criminal Justice	3
CJLE 1249	Intermediate Arrest, Search and Seizure	2
	Credit Hours	17
Spring
Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective 1		3
Recommended:
PSYC 2301	General Psychology
CJSA 1327 or CRIJ 1310	Fundamentals of Criminal Law or Fundamentals of Criminal Law	3
CJSA 1359 or CRIJ 2328	Police System and Practices (or HMSY 1342) or Police Systems and Practices	3
CJSA 1351	Use of Force	3
CJLE 1327	Interviewing and Report Writing for CJ Professions	3
CJLE 1333 or CJSA 2300	Traffic Law and Investigations (or HMSY 1371) or Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement	3
	Credit Hours	18
Second Year
Fall
Math Elective 1		3
CJSA 1312	Crime in America	3
CJLE 1259	Intermediate Spanish for Law Enforcement	2
CJLE 1174	Current Events in Law Enforcement	1
CJLE 1345	Intermediate Crime Scene Investigation	3
	Credit Hours	12
Spring
Speech Elective 1		3
Humanities Elective 1		3
Law Enforcement Elective		3
Select One:
CJLE 1325	Criminal Justice Survey
HMSY 1337	Introduction to Homeland Security
CJLE 1374	Stress Management for Law Enforcement Officers
CJLE 1303	Basic Telecommunication Certification
CJCR 1300	Basic Jail Course
CJLE 2345	Vice and Narcotics Investigation	3
CJLE 2168	Practicum	1
	Credit Hours	13
	Total Credit Hours	60

¹

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement