An associate's degree in police science is the basic degree. Offered as a two-year program, it prepares students to either continue in police science education or to begin careers in local law enforcement or security firms. These degrees are typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges and schools that specialize in law enforcement.
For those interested in pursuing careers in police science education or in federal law enforcement, a bachelor's degree in police science is the minimum level required. Studies for this degree include education in patrolling, traffic and crowd control, public relations, investigation, collecting and managing evidence and crime prevention. It might also include training in weapons and police equipment, preparing reports and routine law enforcement duties. Many universities will also require courses in criminal behavior, rehabilitation and the judicial system.
A master's degree prepares a student for teaching at the university level. Master's level programs are most frequently established as a criminal justice degree with emphases available in policing, leadership and executive management, fire and emergency services, corrections and homeland security. Topics that you will study while earning this degree are likely to be more theoretical in nature and focus on research methods, forensics, criminology and victimology.
Another useful degree for someone considering a career in police science education is a bachelor of arts in law enforcement administration. This has a slightly different emphasis than the police science degree. The focus is on how to manage law enforcement organizations rather than how to perform the job of a law enforcement officer. The degree includes coursework on how to manage a paramilitary organization, legal considerations and business management.