Natural Resource Law Enforcement A.A.S. Degree

Why Choose Natural Resource Law Enforcement A.A.S. Degree at CLC?

• Online Classes are now available for Criminal Justice introduction courses.

• The only program in the state offering this unique A.A.S. Degree.

• About a dozen Minnesota DNR conservation officers visit the classroom each semester to talk with students.

• Courses are taught by both law enforcement and natural resource instructors.

• Only school in the state using the Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Information Systems simulated database (what police officers use) in the squad cars.

• The only program in the state to grant students certification for the nationwide Toward Zero Deaths program.

• One of the few schools in the state to offer certification for Occupant Protection Use and Equipment, Drugs that Impair, Medical Landing Zone, and Light Detection and Ranging.

• Partnerships with Camp Ripley for course training and combined arms combat training, and with Mills shooting range for firearms training.

• With all instructors currently active in law enforcement, a 5 year average shows CLC students have a 92% pass rate with the MN POST BOARD exam.

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About the Program

Get a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom walls with weekly fieldwork in the woods.

This two-year program has produced many successful conservation officers who work throughout the Midwest and inside the federal government.

A fleet of new state-of-the-art squad cars gives students a driver’s seat view into law enforcement.

Because of a close partnership between area law enforcement and the college, students have a wide selection of choices for internships.

With this Natural Resource Law Enforcement A.A.S Degree, you can be a conservation officer or hold nearly any other law enforcement position.

Program Information

Program Course Requirements

NATURAL RESOURCE LAW ENFORCEMENT A.A.S. DEGREE

Program Course Requirements

REQUIRED CORE COURSES

CRJU 1101 Criminal Justice (3 cr)

CRJU 1104 Juvenile Justice (3 cr)

CRJU 2101** Criminal Law (3 cr)

CRJU 2102 Criminal Procedures (4 cr)

CRJU 2108 Criminal Investigations (3 cr)

CRJU 2140 Law Enforcement and Behavioral Science (3 cr)

NATR 1106 Intro to Natural Resources Law Enforcement (2 cr)

NATR 1125 Ichthyology (3 cr)

NATR 1130 Mammalogy (3 cr)

NATR 1135 Ornithology (3 cr)

NATR 1360 Animal Behavior (3 cr)

NATR 2110 Herpetology (2 cr)

Total – 35 credits

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED CORE COURSES

Choose one of the following tracks:

Professional Peace Officer’s License track:

CRJU 1112 Police and the Community (3 cr)

CRJU 2106** Fitness for Law Enforcement (2 cr)

CRJU 2114** Traffic Law (3 cr)

CRJU 2124 General Evidence and Identification Preparation (4 cr)

CRJU 2160* Use of Force (2 cr)

CRJU 2162* Firearms (3 cr)

CRJU 2164* Patrol Practicals (5 cr)

CRJU 2166* Tactical Communications/Relations (2 cr)

Total – 24 credits

Non-Licensure Track:

NATR 1112 Land Measurement (3 cr)

NATR 1120 Dendrology (3 cr)

NATR 1140 Limnology (3 cr)

NATR 1200 Introduction to Natural Resources (3 cr)

NATR 1280 Introduction to GPS & GIS (Arc View) (2 cr)

NATR 2130* Wildlife Management (3 cr)

NATR 2140* Fisheries Management (3 cr)

Total 20 credits

REQUIRED GENERAL EDUCATION

Students must complete the requirements listed in the AAS Degree/General Education Transfer Curriculum document.

BIOL 2415 General Ecology (Goals 3, 10) (4 cr)

ENGL 1410 Composition I (Goal 1) (4 cr)

SOCL 2405 Criminology (Goal 5) (3 cr)

SOCL 2481 Race, Ethnicity and Oppression (Goals 5, 7) (3 cr)

Choose one (1) of the following:

AMSL 2420 Deaf Culture (Goals 5, 7) (3 cr)

SPAN 2420 Many Faces of Mexico (Goals 5, 8) (3 cr)

Total 17 credits

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT – 72 CREDITS

*Denotes Prerequisites

**These courses must be completed prior to SKILLS.

NOTE: Students must have the Emergency Medical Responder certification (or higher) and the card must be valid at the time of the Post Board Exam.

Individual semester plans are determined between instructor and student to best meet the student’s needs.

Program Planning Form

Click here to download the Natural Resource Law Enforcement AAS Degree Program Planning Form (PDF)

Detailed Program Information

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.

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:

At a minimum, students must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in courses listed in the above program.
College Cumulative GPA Requirement: The cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.0
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
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.

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

Program Outcomes

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.

Transfer Opportunities

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.

Instructors

Gae Davis
Gae Davis is coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program. She has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies from St. Cloud State University. Previously, Davis has worked for Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, Mille Lacs Tribal Police and the Motley Police Department. She has been at CLC since January 2002. Email Gae for more information

Curtis Pribnow
Curtis Pribnow has worked more than 20 years in the patrol and investigation fields, and has been at CLC since Fall 2011.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement and a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling with a criminal justice emphasis from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Email Curtis for more information

David Davis
Dave Davis is a part-time instructor and serves as the director of Security at CLC. He is also a deputy with the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.
He is one of only 200 in the world to be a certified PPCT Defensive Tactics instructor trainer.
He’s a certified NRA firearms instructor, DWI enforcement instructor and a Cooper Institute certified fitness specialist.
Davis has a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Executive Leadership from St. Cloud State University. Email David for more information

Andrew Galles
Andrew Galles is a part-time instructor and is also an investigative sergeant for the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Scholastica. Email Andrew for more information

Student Testimonials

Elizabeth

Little Falls, MN – Current student
After a seven-year break, I came back to CLC for this program. All of the instructors help students achieve their educational goals and they care about each student’s success. Being vice president of the Sigma Delta Law Enforcement Club on campus, I get to travel to conferences across the country and network with other clubs and law enforcement officers/advisors.

Rori

Baxter, MN – Current student
This has been the first time I’ve experienced a school that I just cannot get enough of. Since joining this program, I have seen and experienced things that only dreams are made of. I am currently a corrections officer with the Crow Wing County Jail in under two years of college, entirely because of this program and faculty. I have traveled places with the Law Enforcement Club that I will never forget. Because of this CLC Criminal Justice program I am a better person. I will truly hold the faculty near and dear forever for what they have turned me into.

Employment Statistics

For more information regarding employment statistics, career salary information and estimated job growth, follow the resource links below:

https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/ces/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
http://www.iseek.org/jobs/jobmarket.html