The most basic courses you can take at the college level that may help in your application to become a police officer are usually offered as part of an associate degree program. Associate degrees are usually offered through community colleges or smaller four-year institutions. Associate degree programs generally take about two years to complete and require a mixture of general education courses and criminology courses. General education courses that can prove important in police work include introductory psychology courses, communication courses and English courses. Examples of criminal justice courses are criminology, operations of law enforcement agencies and officials, correctional systems survey courses, forensic science courses and courses in constitutional law.
A bachelor's degree can prove much more impressive on your resume because it shows potential employers that you have received a well-rounded education consisting of a variety of general education courses and courses in criminology. Some college and university programs offer more than one degree track, dividing studies between criminology and forensic science. Bachelor's degrees usually require additional general education courses and some electives beyond the coursework in your major. Applicants will benefit from taking elective courses that can directly relate to the law enforcement field. Some of these might include sociology, abnormal psychology, political science and courses in the sciences. Additional criminology courses can include studies in areas such as law enforcement, corrections, the legal process and loss prevention and asset protection.
Although certainly not required, some schools now offer master's level courses in the field of criminal justice. Those entering the field of law enforcement with the intention of becoming a police detective may wish to consider master's degree courses because they introduce students to advanced theories within the field and provide students with invaluable research skills. Because of the inherently busy nature of the law enforcement field, some schools offer these courses online so that students can fit them in around their work schedule. Examples of master's level courses include studies in criminological theories, methods of research in the criminal justice field and applied statistical research.