Police Science / Law Enforcement Course Descriptions
PST 1000 Intro To Criminal Justice Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the administration of criminal justice and its purposes, goals, and functions. Topics include evaluation of law enforcement responsibilities, techniques, and methods of how
police patrol is conducted. Provides a basic understanding of the criminal justice components, including history of law enforcement; DUI enforcement; officer survival; police corruption; sects, cults, and deviant movements; police administration; firearms; and defensive tactics.
PST 1005 Intro To Criminology Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of societal problems including deviant behavior, its causes, patterns, treatment, and prevention.
PST 1010 Criminal Law & Procedure Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of trial procedures, history of constitutional rights, rules of evidence admissibility, types of evidence, and laws of arrest, search, and seizure.
PST 1020 Police Administration Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the principles of personnel management functions and organization of the police agency. Topics include policy procedures, evaluation of the research, planning, and development processes, and operational duties and commands.
PST 1030 Criminal Evidence Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the types, proper treatment, and disposition of criminal evidence. Examines the problems of admissibility in court proceedings. Other topics include types of evidence, rules for obtaining the evidence, principles of exclusion, evaluation and examination of the evidence, proof, competence of witnesses, hearsay rule, opinion, pre-trial discovery, and testimony in court.
PST 1035 Report Writ for Law Enforce Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the objectives of effective police report preparation as it specifically pertains to law enforcement. Emphasizes how to present information in an organized, clear and chronological manner. Topics include the three categories of law enforcement documents, incident, administrative, and affidavit.
PST 1040 Defensive Tactics Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An introduction to basic police defensive tactics system through physical practice of uncomplicated movements and control of distance. Basic defensive tactics include hand and foot strikes, pressure points, control tactics, impact weapons, handcuffing techniques and use-of-force plans to include various policies on deadly force. Studies mental conditioning for survival and use-of-force continuum.
PST 1043 Investigative Photography Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the basic concepts of photography through an understanding of aperture, shutter speed, and film speed. Emphasizes principles of the 35 mm camera and digital cameras
and their application of recording and reconstructing crime scenes. Also prepares the student for the Evidence Photography that takes photography into the laboratory. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills
PST 1050 Tactical Shotgun Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of operating skills for "tactical response shotgun." Special emphasis on safety, gun handling, ammo selection, position shooting, marksmanship, and tactical movement. Upon completion, the student will be able to explain and demonstrate the safe and proper use
of the "tactical shotgun" and have a working knowledge of weapon function, ammunition selection, shotgun wounding characteristics, various applied shotgun techniques, and basic mechanical troubleshooting for the shotgun.
PST 1055 Intro to Computer Crime
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
Provides an overview of criminal acts that can be committed with the use of a computer and the Internet, how computer related crimes are committed and how computer related crimes are investigated. The legal issues involved in the prosecution of computer related crimes will also be explored.
PST 1060 Basic Surveillance Techniques Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An examination of basic police surveillance and counter-surveillance procedures and methods, including foot and vehicle; one-, two- and three-person or ABC surveillance; aerial platform; and electronic and stationary surveillance operations. Hands on training includes topics: definition and history of surveillance, four basic methods of surveillance, foot surveillance operations, vehicle surveillance procedures, stationary surveillance methods, aerial platform surveillance, counter-surveillance operations, detecting and eluding surveillance operatives, and presentation of surveillance evidence in court.
PST 1070 Officer Survival Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the basics of police work needed to survive both mentally and physically. Topics include basic officer survival tactics and techniques, proper survival techniques used during field interviews, unknown risk calls, and traffic stops. Provides a working knowledge of survival skills used during domestic calls, crimes in progress, and high risk traffic stops.
PST 1080 Interv/Interrog Techniques Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the techniques utilized in interviewing victims, witnesses, and subjects of interrogations. Topics include preparation and strategy, legal aspects, interpretation of verbal and physical behavior, causes of denial, interviewing, establishing credibility, reducing resistance, obtaining the admission, and the use of video equipment.
PST 1085 Basic Fingerprint/Pattern ID Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of ridge pattern identification and the physical aspects of fingerprints. Provides the basis for developing techniques for the taking of presentable and classifiable inked impressions. Emphasizes hands-on application of these techniques.
PST 1086 Latent Fingerprint Development Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the fundamentals of fingerprint development from the history of fingerprints to the most advanced techniques of modern day technology. Other topics include the use of Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills
PST 1087 Basic Crime Scene Invest Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the principles of crime scene investigation. Topics include scene assessment, photography, diagramming, evidence collection, processing of evidence, crime scene preservation, and the presentation of the evidence into a court of law. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills
PST 1090 Traffic Accident Investigation Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of traffic collisions using scientific methods of vehicle speed calculation, timed distance speed, report writing, and diagramming. Explores the legal, statistical, and professional aspects of this interesting field. Includes dynamic vehicle experiments and practical exercises in gathering facts for traffic investigators.
PST 1095 Tactical Talk Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An interpersonal communications course for police officers. Provides officers the necessary tools to diffuse verbal confrontations as well as persuade contacts to obey legal
and lawful orders. Topics include the goals, objectives, and visions of law enforcement and field interviewing techniques and neurolinguistics.
PST 1097 Surface Skel & Buried Bodies Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of techniques in locating clandestine bodies and graves. Topics include visual search indicators of burials, disturbances in nature, soil compaction, soil gas detection, cadaver dogs, and scavenging patterns. Also includes many hands-on exercises. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills, PST 1087
PST 2000 Drug Identification & Effects Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the fundamentals needed for identifying both the appearance and effects of controlled substances. Students receive guides to controlled substances: their color, trade names, and drug codes. Topics include a critical examination of the physiological, sociological, psychological, and legal aspects of drug abuse and many complexities that have developed as a direct or indirect result of their abuse in society.
PST 2010 Criminal Investigation Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the fundamentals of criminal investigation including crime scene search and recording; collection and preservation of evidence; a survey of related forensic science; interviews and interrogations; and methods of surveillance. Emphasizes the techniques of case preparation
and presenting the case to court.
PST 2014 Advanced Crime Scene Techn Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of crime scene techniques that takes the student beyond the classroom and into the field. Students will work mock crime scenes and apply all the skills acquired from previous studies. Simulates reality for the students and requires the student to photograph, diagram, and preserve crime scene evidence. Other topics include casting techniques and blood presumptive applications. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills, PST 1086 and PST 1087
PST 2020 Police Firearms Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An introduction to police combat firearms training, firearms tactics, deadly force policies and shoot/donÕt shoot decisions. Emphasizes practical, safe operation and firing of handguns. Students learn how to safely operate and fire a handgun and make use-of-force decisions in firearms. Students must furnish weapons and ammunition.
PST 2023 Advanced Fingerprint Techn Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the comprehensive application of development of enhancement techniques for physical evidence using forensic chemicals to develop latent fingerprints from crime scene evidence. Utilizes a forensic laboratory using ninhydrin, cyanoacrylate, chemical powders,
and many other forensic chemicals. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills, PST 1086
PST 2030 Seminar In Police Science Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An opportunity for Police Science students to study the role of law enforcement and corrections in a seminar setting. Also includes off-campus experiences, which involve supervised field activities, field site visits, and extensive research activities.
PST 2031 Seminar in CSI Syllabi
4 Credits 4 Class Hours
An opportunity for the CSI student to study the role of the crime scene technician in the crime lab work setting. Includes off campus experiences involving supervised activities within local police departments, field site visits, and extensive research activities. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills, PST 1086, 1087, 2014, 2023
PST 2035 Juvenile Procedures Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An introduction to the concepts of youth crimes and techniques practiced by police and courts in prevention and control. Topics include the development and trends in juvenile court procedures.
PST 2045 Intro To Criminalistics Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the scientific evaluation of physical evidence in the crime lab; firearms examination, comparative micrography, toxicology, serology, polygraph, and microanalysis of hair, fiber, paint, and glass; and legal photography applications.
PST 2050 Police Tact Training (SWAT) Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An overview of the historical development of special weapons and tactical teams. Studies the techniques of urban and rural movements, breaching techniques and forced entry methods. Methods of surreptitious and dynamic entry and clearing and hostage rescue are practiced with tactical diagramming and aid planning.
PST 2055 Gangs Cults & Deviant Movement Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
An examination of gang problems in the United States. Topics include precepts and current philosophies of Paganism, Neo-Paganism, Witchcraft, Satanism, Santeria, and Brujeria. Examines ceremonial and magical rituals, signs, symbols, secret alphabets, ritualized abuse, and Cult-Occult crime investigation. Explores psychological and sociological effects of media
on adolescents.
PST 2060 Evidence Photography Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the photographic aspects used in criminal investigation with emphasis on types of cameras and lighting for purpose of recording evidence.
PST 2064 Bloodstain Evidence Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of bloodstains, bloodspatter, and bloodstain pattern. Focuses on surface texture, direction of travel of blood striking an object, determining the impact angle of blood, the origin
of bloodspatter and an examination of a blood drop in a two-dimensional configuration. Other topics include the collection and preservation of bloodstain evidence. Prerequisites: DSPR 0700, DSPW 0700 or equivalent skills
PST 2065 Prevention & Control Of Crime Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the police function as it pertains to the analysis of crime prevention and control. Addresses the major problems and needs of police agencies to fulfill their roles within the criminal justice system.
PST 2070 Business & Industrial Security Syllabi
3 Credits 3 Class Hours
A study of the functions and concepts of security personnel forces of industrial plants, airports, hospitals, and commercial stores.
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