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Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement — Page 1�

Revised–June 2024

Law and Public Service Career Cluster

The Law and Public Service career cluster focuses on planning, managing, and providing legal services, public safety, protective services, and homeland security, including professional and technical support services. This career cluster includes occupations ranging from police officer and firefighter to political scientist and lawyer.

Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement *

The Law Enforcement program of study focuses on occupational and educational opportunities associated with the development and enforcement of laws by various branches of law enforcement. This program of study includes the history, organization, and functions of local, state, and federal law enforcement. Students will understand the role of constitutional law at local, state, and federal levels; the U.S. legal system; criminal law; and law enforcement terminology and the classification and elements of crime.

Secondary Courses for High School Credit

Level 1

  • Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security (CRIJ 1301)

Level 2

  • Law Enforcement I (CRIJ 1310)
  • Criminal Investigation (CRIJ 2314)
  • Federal Law Enforcement and Protective �Services

Level 3

  • Law Enforcement II (CRIJ 2328)
  • Correctional Services (CRIJ 2313)
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Counseling and Mental Health
  • Crisis Care (TBD)

Level 4

  • Forensic Science
  • Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security (DC CRIJ Elect/IBC)
  • Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security + Extended Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
  • Career Preparation for Programs of Study
  • Career Preparation for Programs of Study + Extended Career Preparation

Aligned Advanced Academic Courses

Dual Credit

Dual credit offerings will vary by local education agency.

Students should be advised to consider these course opportunities to enrich their preparation. AP or IB courses not listed under the Secondary Courses for High School Credit section of this framework document do not count towards concentrator/completer status for this program of study.

Work-Based Learning and Expanded Learning Opportunities

Work-Based Learning Activities

  • Shadow a detective to learn about investigations and the role of detectives in law enforcement
  • Intern in dispatch at a local law enforcement agency to learn about first responder roles and processes

Expanded Learning Opportunities

  • Visit a police department
  • Participate in TSA or SkillsUSA

Aligned Industry-Based Certifications

  • IAED Emergency Telecommunicator
  • Non-Commissioned Security Officer Level II License

Example Postsecondary Opportunities

Apprenticeships

  • Security Specialist

Associate Degrees

  • Criminal Justice
  • Law Enforcement

Bachelor’s Degrees

  • Forensic Science
  • Criminal Justice

Master’s, Doctoral, and Professional Degrees

  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice

Additional Stackable IBCs/Licensures

  • Jailer – Basic County Corrections
  • Basic Telecommunicator

Example Aligned Occupations

Police and Sheriff’s �Patrol Officers

Median Wage: $64,373

Annual Openings: 5,424

10-Year Growth: 13%

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Median Wage: $82,090

Annual Openings: 1,536

10-Year Growth: 8%�

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Median Wage: $97,571

Annual Openings: 5,461

10-Year Growth: 12%

Successful completion of the Law and Public Service program of study will fulfill requirements of the Public Services endorsement.

Data Source: TexasWages, Texas Workforce Commission. Retrieved 3/8/2024.

Law Enforcement

This is an online dual credit program through South Plains College.

Must be 21 to enter SPC Police Academy.

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Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement — Page 2

Law and Public Service Career Cluster

Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement

Course Information

Level 1

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites   

Career Clusters

Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security*

13029200 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

1.

Level 2

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites  

Career Clusters

Law Enforcement I

13029300 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Recommended Corequisites: None

Criminal Investigation

13029550 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Recommended Corequisites: None

Federal Law Enforcement and Protective Services*

13029800 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Recommended Corequisites: None

Level 3

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites

Career Clusters

Law Enforcement II

13029400 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Law Enforcement I

Recommended Corequisites: None

Correctional Services

13029700 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Recommended Corequisites: None

Forensic Psychology

N1303012 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Law Enforcement I and Psychology

Recommended Corequisites: None

Continued on next page

* Indicates course is included in more than one program of study.

For additional information on the Law and Public Service career cluster, �contact cte@tea.texas.gov or visit https://tea.texas.gov/cte 

[LEA name] does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: [title], [address], [telephone number], [email]. Further nondiscrimination information can be found at Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs.

Law Enforcement

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Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement — Page 3

Law and Public Service Career Cluster

Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement

Course Information

Level 3

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites

Career Clusters

Counseling and Mental Health*

13024600 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: Principles of Human Services

Recommended Corequisites: None

Crisis Care*

TBD (TBD credit)

Prerequisites: TBD

Corequisites: TBD

Recommended Prerequisites: TBD

Recommended Corequisites: TBD

Level 4

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites

Career Clusters

Forensic Science*

13029500 (1 credit)

Prerequisites: One credit in Biology, one credit in Chemistry, Integrated Chemistry and Physics (IPC), or Physics�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security*

First Time Taken:

13030100 (2 credits)

Second Time Taken:

13030110 (2 credits)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security + Extended Practicum in Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security*

First Time Taken:

13030105 (3 credits)

Second Time Taken:

13030115 (3 credits)

Prerequisites: None�Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

Career Preparation for Programs of Study*

First Time Taken:

12701121 (2 credits)

Prerequisites: At least one Level 2

or higher CTE course

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

Continued on next page

* Indicates course is included in more than one program of study.

For additional information on the Law and Public Service career cluster, �contact cte@tea.texas.gov or visit https://tea.texas.gov/cte 

[LEA name] does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: [title], [address], [telephone number], [email]. Further nondiscrimination information can be found at Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs.

Law Enforcement

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Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement — Page 4

Law and Public Service Career Cluster

Statewide Program of Study: Law Enforcement

Course Information

Level 4

Course

Prerequisites | Corequisites

Career Clusters

Career Preparation for Programs of Study + Extended Career Preparation*

First Time Taken:

12701141 (3 credits)

Prerequisites: At least one Level 2

or higher CTE course

Corequisites: None

Recommended Prerequisites: None

Recommended Corequisites: None

* Indicates course is included in more than one program of study.

For additional information on the Law and Public Service career cluster, �contact cte@tea.texas.gov or visit https://tea.texas.gov/cte 

[LEA name] does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: [title], [address], [telephone number], [email]. Further nondiscrimination information can be found at Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs.

Law Enforcement