Associate of Arts Degree, with a concentration in the Fundamentals of Police Science
Intended for Law Enforcement Personnel, the two year Associate of Arts degree is a collaboration betweenMissoula College UM (MC), the University of Montana baccalaureate campus (UM-M), and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Helena.
What is the AA in FPS?
An Associate of Arts Degree (AA) is a 60-credit transfer degree designed for students to meet all lower division Montana University System general education requirements. The AA that includes a concentration in Fundamentals of Police Science (FPS) is the equivalent of the first two years of a baccalaureate (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Sociology, Criminology Option.
The AA in FPS provides a pathway for eligible students to pursue a higher education degree using the MLEA Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Basic Course as one of the semesters (18 credits) included in their program. Students should have their MLEA transcript sent to the MC Admissions Office upon completion of the LEO Basic Course.
How the Program Works
Once a student is scheduled to attend the MLEA Officer Basic Course, the student will concurrently apply for admission to the MC Associate of Arts (General AA) Program. If a student has previously attended college at another institution, official transcripts from that institution should be sent to the Missoula College Admissions office.
Upon acceptance at MC, the student will work with an AA advisor to work on a completion plan of coursework to apply toward the concentration in the Fundamentals of Police Science (see two year sample plan). Advising for fall semester begins mid-March, and advising for spring semester begins in mid-October. There is limited online course availability, so students should contact an advisor as early as possible.
Once the AA degree is completed, a student may move to the UM baccalaureate campus to pursue work toward a BA degree in Sociology with a Criminology Option.
Common Questions
Who is eligible for enrollment in the AA/FPS?
This curriculum was approved for MLEA students who completed the LEO Basic Course as early as fall 2012, and for students currently enrolled in the LEO Basic Course.
Would this get me a seat at MLEA even if I haven’t been sponsored by a law enforcement department?
No, students must first be accepted to MLEA. This joint program is an educational option for new officers to either begin an academic career or to continue the pursuit of college credits.
For More Information
Missoula College
Brandie Terpe
Academic Advisor
Montana Law Enforcement Academy
Glen Stinar
MLEA Administrator
Beth Standberg
MLEA Operations Manager