Police Science

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Program Overview

Interested in a career where you can make a difference? Consider a career in public service!

The Police Science program prepares you for a career in public service. This degree will enable you to work in law enforcement, corrections, or security; plus lay a foundation for you to work in adult or juvenile probation and parole, or legal work. Our graduates work in many different roles at the city, county, state, and federal levels.

Careers in public service need trainable people who are of good character with limited criminal history and devoted to solving problems and making communities better. An interest in law is helpful, but not required; but prepare to hone your writing, math, and speaking skills.

Next generation public service professionals are people just like you, interested in helping and protecting others, solving problems, advocating for victims, and interacting with their community. All you need to have is a willingness to build your knowledge, physical fitness, technical, and interpersonal skills.

At Hawkeye Community College our curriculum focuses on building your knowledge and skills through classes such as:

Police operations
Crime scene, accident, and general investigations
Critical incident management
Criminal and constitutional law
Report writing and testifying
Physical fitness conditioning
Safe and legal use of force in defensive tactics and firearms

All Police Science instructors have law enforcement experience, academic training, and are dedicated to mentoring students. Instructors will coach you to ensure you make ethical choices, maintain a clear criminal history, and care for your physical and emotional fitness and resiliency.

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Crime Scene Lab: Practice legal and ethical evidence collection techniques and analysis.
Indoor and Outdoor Firing Ranges: Learn safe operation of, and care and maintenance of, firearms
Virtual Firearms Simulator System (MILO): Learn and practice decision making skills with scenarios that require you to reason appropriate use of force.
Internship: Gain 128 hours of real-world work experience ensuring you have the skills you need to succeed in your future career.

Police Academy

Graduates, either newly hired or sponsored by a law enforcement agency, are eligible to attend the New Officer 9-Week Basic Level II Certification Academy. Hawkeye is designated as a Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Transfer Information

An articulation agreement allows you to transfer your Police Science coursework to either the Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program at the University of Northern Iowa or the Bachelor of Applied Science program at the University of Iowa.

If you plan to transfer, work closely with the Police Science academic / college success advisor to ensure courses transfer and you meet program requirements.

At A Glance
Award	Associate of Applied Science
Length of Study	2 years
Tuition-Free Eligible	This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition. Students must apply for and be awarded the Last-Dollar Scholarship.

Program Faculty

Michael Leary

Michael began teaching full time at Hawkeye after serving 16 years as a police officer in Waverly and Cedar Falls. He’s a graduate of Hawkeye’s Police Science program, holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Northern Iowa, a master's degree in Criminal Justice from St. Ambrose University, and a master's degree in philosophy-Criminal Justice and a doctorate in Criminal Justice from Walden University. Michael also serves as a part-time police officer for the city of Vinton and volunteers as a firefighter and EMT for the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department.

Traci Ciepiela

Traci started teaching at Hawkeye in January 2019 after teaching at another community college for 12 years. Prior to her education career she worked as an officer and deputy in the State of Missouri for nearly 14 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, a Master's degree in Criminal Justice, and has continued post graduate education in Criminal Justice and Human Services. Traci is a member and frequent conference presenter at the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainer’s Association. She was one of the first to introduce the field of law enforcement to yoga and meditation skills to prevent injuries.

Video Overview

Students Practice Quick Decision-Making Skills using the MILO Range Simulator

The MILO Range Simulator's high definition video makes each simulated training look and feel as life-like as possible. The scenario library offers more than 425 different video options. The interactive training weapons use lasers in place of firing pins to interact with the computer-based equipment for live scenarios as well as marksmanship drills. Instructors are in control of the scenarios and can alter the video based on the student's reaction to the simulated situation.

See More Video

Graduate Spotlight

Andrew Bartels isn’t the first in his family to go to college, and he’s definitely not the first to come to Hawkeye Community College. His parents, grandparents, uncles, and, and cousins all went here before him. As he graduates from the Police Science program, Andrew is looking forward to continuing his education and one day becoming a patrol officer. “I want to be seen in the community as someone that people can walk up to and say ‘I know him and he is a great guy, and I know he’ll help me every day of the week.”

Your Criminal History Matters

As a future criminal justice professional, students need to use good judgment in all areas of their personal, professional, and scholastic interactions and activities; and must keep their records clean. Criminal justice organizations require background checks for internships, volunteer placements, and employment; which will include adult and juvenile civil and criminal issues, official and informal contacts with police, and character references. Employment will also hinge on the successful completion of a polygraph, credit check, and psychological evaluation.

Be aware that character counts and your behavior can sabotage your ability to graduate from this program and your ability to work in the field. Consider what your actions and criminal history says about you….i.e. an OWI conviction indicates that you demonstrate poor judgment by drinking to excess and deciding to drive, which may kill or injure you or another person. Remember your personal behaviors (what you didn’t get caught for) will be revealed during the polygraph, and what you do privately (when no one is watching or supervising) speaks volumes as to the true content of one’s character.

If you want to work in criminal justice avoid these issues:

Acquiring speeding tickets or safety violation citations.
Acquiring a suspended driver’s license or citations for driving with a suspended license.
Participating in underage drinking, using fake ID’s, or buying alcohol for underage persons.
Use or abuse of prescription drugs, street drugs, club drugs (ecstasy), marijuana, or synthetic drugs.
Engaging in theft of property, goods, or services.

You will not be employable in criminal justice if you have:

Felony convictions.
Domestic abuse convictions.
Placement on an abuse registry (Sex offender, child/elder abuse).
Drug convictions, or history of drug use or abuse (methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, etc.) Each agency (city, county, state, or federal) sets their own limits on marijuana use from zero tolerance to a limited amount of use, and factors in how recent the use was.
Weapons violations.

Ultimately, criminal justice employers will rationalize your behavior by this criteria: If you know or reasonably believe an action is illegal or will cause harm then the best candidate will take responsibility, demonstrate self-control, and not do it.

Lastly, employers will ask our faculty for references. Students need to know that full-time faculty and adjunct faculty members are constantly formally and informally assessing students in terms of academic performance, attendance, honesty, professionalism, social skills, maturity, and appearance so that we can make objective assessments when asked. Your interactions count, and we are here to mentor you.

Program Pathway

Police Science Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree

Program Details

Award	Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Credits	62
Program Start	Fall
Number of Terms	4
Time to Complete	2 years
Admissions Application	Select Academic Program: Police Science – AAS See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1

Introduction to Criminal Justice
Police Operations
Traffic Law

Term 2

Advanced Accident Investigation
Criminal and Constitutional Law
Criminal Evidence
Juvenile Justice

Term 3

Advanced Firearms
Basic Firearms
Crime Scene Investigation
Criminology
Defensive Tactics
Emergency Medical Responder -OR-
Emergency Medical Technician
Physical Conditioning for Public Services

Term 4

Criminal Investigation
Crisis Intervention
Internship
Report Writing and Testifying
Tactical Police Operations

Students convicted of a felony will not be allowed to enroll in the Firearms and Practicum courses and will not graduate from the Police Science program. Learn how your criminal history matters.

You have completed the Police Science Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. Check out the Law Enforcement continuing education courses to keep up to date in your profession.

Careers

Positions

Graduates are eligible to work in a variety of capacities within the criminal justice field, including city and county law enforcement agencies, corrections and probation systems, and private/corporate security. Additional education and experience may be required to work in specific capacities at the state and federal levels.

The ability to be hired by a law enforcement agency may be impaired by any arrest record, juvenile or adult. Learn how your criminal history matters.

Example Careers and Average Wages
	Entry	Average	Experienced
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$55,100	$79,700	$92,000
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators	$26,700	$36,100	$40,800
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$45,800	$62,100	$70,300
Private/Corporate Security Guards	$22,200	$34,000	$39,900

Source: 2021 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Employers

The following is a list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:

Police departments throughout Iowa
County sheriff’s offices throughout Iowa
Iowa State Patrol
Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States

Program Admission

Apply at Hawkeye

If you have military or reserve officer training, send transcripts for evaluation to receive possible credit for your training.

Demonstrate College Readiness

In order to be eligible for the Police Science program, all students must meet minimum score requirements and/or successfully complete the required college success courses in English, reading, and math with a C- grade or higher at Hawkeye Community College or comparable courses at another accredited college. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
	ACCUPLACER	COMPASS	ACT	ACCUPLACER Next Generation	GPA
Math	40 Arithmetic	24 Pre-Algebra	14	240 Arithmetic 241 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics	2.00
Reading	58	69	16	239	2.50
Writing	64 Sentence Skills	41	16	240	2.50

Program Acceptance

Applicants successfully demonstrating college readiness criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants falling short of successful demonstration of college readiness criteria will be accepted to a Pre-Program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts
Admissions		Email Admissions	319-296-4000	Hawkeye Center 114
Academic/College Success Advisor	Brittany Warren	Email Brittany Warren Schedule an appointment with Brittany Warren	319-296-4014 ext.1086	Hawkeye Center 208J
Faculty Advisor	Traci Ciepiela	Email Traci Ciepiela	319-296-2329 ext.1330	Health Education and Services Center 222D
Faculty Advisor	Michael Leary	Email Michael Leary	319-296-2329 ext.1069	Health Education and Services Center 222A
Faculty Advisor	Jane Wagner	Email Jane Wagner	319-296-2329 ext.1400	Health Education and Services Center 222B
Administrative Assistant	Kathy Konrardy	Email Kathy Konrardy	319-296-4012	Black Hawk Hall 258
Dean	Catharine Freeman	Email Catharine Freeman	319-296-4041	Black Hawk Hall 258B

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