Overview

The Associate of Technical Studies degree program in Law Enforcement is for individuals currently working in law enforcement who want to qualify for advancement within their field. The ATSLE provides an opportunity for certified Ohio police/peace officers to obtain an associate’s degree.

To enroll in this program, students must have a certificate in basic peace officer training issued by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy or equivalent state/federal law enforcement training. The OPOTA certificate is equivalent to 24 credit hours toward the associate’s degree. Training must be approved by the Program Chair.

Contacts

Division Office

Humanities & Sciences Division Office

Career Outlook

Graduates Are Prepared To

  • Graduates completing this program are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in the criminal justice and law enforcement fields. An associate’s degree can be required or strongly recommended for promotion to specialized units, supervisory, or command roles in law enforcement fields.

Representative Job Titles For Graduates

  • Possible job titles for those who complete both OPOTA (Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy) certification and an associate’s degree include:
  • - Police Officer
  • - Sheriff's Deputy
  • - State Trooper
  • - Park Ranger / Wildlife Officer
  • - Police Detective (after experience/promotion)
  • - Crime Scene Investigator/Technician (after additional training)
  • - Corrections Officer
  • - Probation Officer
  • - Parole Officer

Graduate Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of police officers and detectives is projected to grow by 4 percent through 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

$72,280 annual salary (police and sheriff’s patrol officers)

Graduate Starting Salary Projections

Contacts

Division Office

Humanities & Sciences Division Office

Curriculum

Effective 2025-2026 academic year

Law Enforcement (ATSLE)

Semester 1 Lec Lab Credits
CRJ 150 Law Enforcement Studies: Advanced Standing ( T) 24 0 24
FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B)   1 0 1
ENG 101 English Composition 1 ( G) 3 0 3
MAT XXX Math Elective (G)   3 0 3
CRJ 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice ( T) 3 0 3
PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology ( G) 3 0 3
Semester 2    
ENG 104 English Composition 2: Technical Communication ( G) 3 0 3
SOC 125 Criminology 3 0 3
NDR 100 Introduction to Conflict Studies ( B) 3 0 3
PHI 110 Ethics ( G) 3 0 3
Semester 3    
CULT 105 Issues in Human Diversity ( B) 3 0 3
COMM XXX Communications Elective (B)   3 0 3
LDR XXX Leadership Elective (B)   3 0 3
XXX XXX Technical Elective (T)   3 0 3
Total Credits:   61 0 61

Electives

First Year Experience Elective
FYE 100 Essentials for College Success 1
FYE 105 Skills for College and Personal Success 2
FYE 110 Intensive College Success Strategies 3
Math Elective
MAT 105 Quantitative Reasoning 3
MAT 131 Statistics 1 3
Technical Elective
CRJ 120 Introduction to Courts 3
CRJ 115 Introduction to Corrections 3
CRJ 102 Juvenile Delinquency 3
ADC 100 Drugs in Society 3
Communications Elective
COMM 110 Public Speaking 3
COMM 105 Interpersonal Communication 3
Leadership Elective
LDR 100 Introduction to Leadership 3
LDR 105 Self as Leader 3
LDR 110 Leading for Social Change 3
LDR 115 Introduction to Organizational Leadership 3
LDR 120 Inclusive Leadership 3
LDR 135 Practicing Positive Leadership 3
The letters G, B, and T (displayed after course titles or elective descriptions) identify types of courses required by the Ohio Department of Higher Education as part of an associate’s degree curriculum.

G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
Some courses are offered in alternative versions identified with a letter after the course number -- for example, ENG 101 and ENG 101A.

• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.

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