Law Enforcement (Certificate)
Program Advisor: Reena Bucknell
413-236-4551 • rbucknel@berkshirecc.edu
Developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association the Law Enforcement (LE) Certificate program prepares students for a career in Law Enforcement. The LE certificate concept has been ratified by the MCOPA Training and Education Committee as an important step in their goal to have a better educated and more professional workforce in the Commonwealth. Although the certificate is not yet a requirement in the hiring and training procedures, it is clearly anticipated that it will substitute for a significant part of the Massachusetts Training Council curriculum in the near future.
The certificate combines specialized criminal justice and general education coursework to provide students with knowledge and skills they need to compete for entry in the Massachusetts law enforcement field and to promote their abilities for career advancement. The rationale is to provide courses which will enhance competencies in communications (written and oral), interpersonal skill building and understanding of multicultural issues necessary for working with diverse populations, critical thinking, and reasoning in the law enforcement discipline.
The curriculum emphasizes both an academic and practical approach on constitutional processes, substantive criminal law, application of appropriate criminal investigation techniques, identification of crime typologies and offender profiles, and ethical practices and standards in the legal issues facing law enforcement practitioners. All of the credits earned in the certificate program can be applied to an associate degree in Criminal Justice which may result in more significant job opportunities, promotions and career advancement, and increased compensation (for Massachusetts police officers who qualify for the benefit, the BCC Criminal Justice program is approved as a PCIPP: Police Career Incentive Program by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education).
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the LE certificate program option will be based on an open enrollment process. Anyone wishing to enroll will fill out and complete an application to BCC and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
The program requires that students demonstrate sufficient emotional maturity, academic ability and communication and interpersonal skills to attain positions of responsibility in the community. Applicants are expected to understand and respect the diversity of people and thought and demonstrate a willingness to work with all segments of society.
A felony conviction may be an impediment to employment in certain agencies in the law enforcement discipline. Students enrolled in this certificate program may be eligible for certain Credit for Prior Experience pending review.
Expected Outcomes
- Demonstrate and utilize effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards in the law enforcement discipline and apply these standards in practical situations
- Properly use basic criminal justice terms and concepts
- Identify and explain the interrelationship between the major components of the criminal justice discipline: police, courts, corrections
- Explain constitutional processes, substantive criminal law, application of appropriate criminal investigation techniques
- Identify and demonstrate an understanding of specific crime typologies and offender profiles
Graduation Requirements
Program Courses
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| CRJ-105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| SOC-105 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| CRJ-109 | Police & Community Relations | 3 |
| CRJ-121 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ-126 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| COM-104 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM-105 | Introduction to Oral Communication | 3 |
| COM-107 | Introduction to Oral Communication in Business | 3 |
| CRJ-200 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
First Semester
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| CRJ-105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| SOC-105 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| CRJ-109 | Police & Community Relations | 3 |
| COM-105 | Introduction to Oral Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Semester
| CRJ-121 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| CRJ-126 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CRJ-200 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |