What you will study
The University of Central Missouri’s Law Enforcement minor gives you practical knowledge
that helps you stand out in the field. Your courses will teach you actionable strategies
and professional skills to prepare you for positions of leadership. You’ll also learn
de-escalation strategies to help you diffuse situations you may encounter on the job.
Gain valuable written and verbal communication skills as well as critical decision-making
abilities in core courses that may include:
- Management and Leadership in Law Enforcement
- Policing a Democratic Society
- Criminal Justice Report Writing
- Criminal Investigation
- Interpersonal Communication Skills for Criminal Justice
In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to focus your Law Enforcement minor with
elective courses. You can choose to focus on subjects such as law enforcement at the
federal level, current issues in law enforcement, homeland security, homicide investigation
and more.
Our program’s curriculum is kept up to date based on feedback from current and former
law enforcement professionals. Their input helps us ensure you’re always getting the
latest instruction on what is most useful for current-day law enforcement officials.
Excellence in Law Enforcement
- #2: Best Criminal Justice School in Missouri (College Factual, 2022)
- #1: Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement &
Firefighting in Missouri (College Factual, 2022)
- Among the Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting Schools in Missouri (College Factual, 2022)
- Among the Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting in
Missouri (College Factual, 2022)
- #1 in Missouri (and #34 in the country): Best Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and
Firefighting Colleges for Non-Traditional Students (College Factual, 2021)
- #10: Best Online Law Enforcement program (Learn.org, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities in law enforcement
The Law Enforcement minor at the University of Central Missouri provides you with
exciting opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to learn about your potential
career paths.
- Internships: Get on-the-job law enforcement experience with an internship. At UCM, you can apply
to work at organizations such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol, local water patrol,
municipal departments and federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF); U.S. Secret Service; and U.S. Marshals.
- Guest speakers: Gain knowledge from professionals in a guest speaker series. Hear from police sergeants,
federal agents, crime lab technicians, U.S. marshals, state highway patrol officers
and others to gain insight into working in the field of law enforcement.
- Study tours: Get a first-hand look at what policing and law enforcement looks like around the world.
Our faculty-led study tours have taken students to Turkey, Italy, Belize, South Korea,
France and more to learn about the criminal justice system abroad.
What can you do with a minor in Law Enforcement from UCM?
The Law Enforcement minor at the University of Central Missouri prepares you to be
an influential leader. You’ll be ready to serve your community at the local, regional
and even federal level in positions that range from those focused on enforcing the
law to those primarily centered on supporting policing functions.
As a UCM graduate with a Law Enforcement minor, you’ll have vital context to get you
started on the career path for a number of job roles, including:
- Conservation protection
- Corporate and private security
- Dispatch
- Evidence handling
- Federal law enforcement
- Municipal policing
- Railroad policing
- School security
- State highway patrol enforcement
Jobs in law enforcement
Explore job possibilities in law enforcement, salary estimates for certain positions
and even projected career growth using the interactive tool below.
Financial assistance options for your Law Enforcement minor
We want you to be able to focus on your education while you’re in school — not on
how you’re going to pay for it. In fact, the University of Central Missouri has been
recognized by LendEDU as a top-ranked university for low student debt because we provide
a high-value education that’s within financial reach.
We offer a number of ways to help you pay for college, so you can reach your goals. Financial aid options for undergraduates at UCM include
grants, tuition awards, scholarships, employment opportunities and access to federal
financial aid.
In addition to university-wide financial assistance, UCM offers a number of scholarships
in certain programs and undergraduate majors. You can learn more about program-specific
scholarships at the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Faculty Member Dr. Gregg Etter
30 years of law enforcement experience
Dr. Etter spent nearly 30 years with the Sedgwick County (Kansas) Sheriff’s Office
as a lieutenant. He has a Professional Gang Expert Level 3 certification through the
National Gang Crime Research Center. In addition to teaching, he advises the American
Criminal Justice Association and accompanies students to regional and national competitions.
Meet the Faculty
Meet Faculty Member Mr. Tony Gasaway
Retired U.S. Marshal
Mr. Gasaway is passionate about mentoring and advising students about their law enforcement
education and careers. He teaches classes on the subject, including Federal Law Enforcement
and Policing a Democratic Society. In addition to his time as a U.S. Marshal, he has
been a deputy chief and staff instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Meet the Faculty
Meet Faculty Member Dr. Eddie Cho
International law enforcement experience
Dr. Cho brings an international law enforcement perspective to his classrooms and
mentorships. He has extensive experience serving in South Korea as chief of the Pyonchon
Police Substation, criminal investigation section leader in the Kwachon Police Department
and foreign affairs section leader for the Kyonggi Province Police Agency.
Meet the Faculty
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