Natural Resource Law Enforcement A.A.S. Degree

Career Description: Students in the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Program learn skills that lead to becoming a conservation officer. Conservation officers work with fish and wildlife agencies, state parks, trails, forests, waters and wetlands, as well as work in educational activities within and throughout Minnesota. Conservation officers often work from 4×4 patrol vehicles, snowmobiles, ATV, and various watercrafts.

Program Outcomes:
Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate field identification of regionally important mammals, birds and fish and their communities;
• Use a broad range of technological tools to research, document, map, measure, record and analyze data relevant to natural resources;
• Navigate and safely function in an outdoor workplace;
• Demonstrate knowledge of structure, process and relationships between law enforcement, the courts and correctional systems;
• Apply tactical skills, weapon safety, defense and arrest tactics, vehicle operation, crisis management and force options;
• Process crime scenes from preliminary stage through disposition;
• Function in a multicultural society as a mature, adaptable citizen, while meeting the needs and challenges of clients and communities;
• Interpret and apply theory, law, policy and practice as it relates to juvenile delinquency and deviant behavior;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the roles of the legislative, judicial and executive branches and how they relate to criminal law;
• Apply knowledge of criminal law, constitutional law and Minnesota traffic code;
• Demonstrate strong and effective written and oral communication skills; and
• Understand the importance of ethics and ethical behavior in law enforcement.

Special Program Requirements:

Students must be able to complete skills portion of the program to become licensed. This involves several real-life crime-scene situations, firearms and physical proficiency, and law enforcement procedural practices. Students must have the Emergency Medical Responder certification (or higher) and the card must be valid at the time of the Post Board Exam.

In addition to the program requirements listed, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

1. At a minimum, students must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in courses listed in the above program.
2. College Cumulative GPA Requirement: The cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.0
3. College Technical Core GPA Requirement: The cumulative GPA of credits in the technical core of the diploma or degree must be at least 2.0
4. Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College.

Admissions: Program Admissions Requirements: (Please see the Criminal Justice Coordinator for further information.) • Background Check: Students must complete and pass a background check prior to being admitted into the program. This background check must be completed prior to the first day of classes. • MMPI: Students must also complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) with a Psychologist approved by the Program Coordinator prior to admission into the program.

Transfer Opportunities: Central Lakes College has an Articulation Agreement with Bemidji State University for transfer of Criminal Justice courses. Other colleges and universities conduct a student-by-student evaluation regarding transfer of courses and degree. Please see an advisor for further information.

Career Opportunities: The selection process for being a conservation officer in Minnesota includes a written exam, division interview, background investigation, functional capacity exam, psychological assessment and a medical evaluation. In addition, conservation officers must be a United States Citizen, possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license, have no felony convictions, have the ability to swim and possess a license or be eligible for licensing as a Minnesota peace officer at the time of hire.

Career Titles: Conservation Officer