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ERIC Number: EJ1382951
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Mar
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1941-3432
Should We Require the Police to Have a College Degree?
Tovar, Lynn A.
Research in Higher Education Journal, v43 Mar 2023
This paper probes whether a formal college education is linked to the quality of policing. Citizens desire a higher level of professionalism with ever-increasing demands placed on their police departments. Annual on-the-job training for police is common with proposed reform initiatives, however, the difference between police training and requiring a college degree is in debate. Other professions require higher education, however, those who work in policing often do not agree there should be a requirement of a higher education degree for employment. Can police obtain all the necessary skills from the police academy and in-house training? Or in the pursuit of professionalizing the profession should police agencies require college degrees? Further, would a college degree enhance the quality of interactions between the police and the community? This inquiry adds some pieces to the puzzle of examining the value of requiring a college education for police officers and the relationship of experimental learning in training police academies within a college curriculum. Over a three-year period, criminal justice students (N=75) enrolled in an online bachelor's program were asked "do you think police departments should require a bachelor's degree?" The respondents included traditional and non-traditional male and female adult learners many current law enforcement officers. The assumption was since they were currently enrolled in a criminal justice degree program, they would see the value in a degree and indicate a college degree should be mandated.
Academic and Business Research Institute. 147 Medjool Trail, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081. Tel: 904-435-4330; e-mail: editorial.staff@aabri.com; Web site: http://www.aabri.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A