10504103Professional Development Seminar for Criminal Justice
Course Information
Description
This course is designed for second year criminal justice/ public safety students who are preparing to enter into the job search process. Prepares the student for the hiring process for a Criminal Justice/Fire/EMS career including applications, resumes, interviews and hiring process standards. This course is also based on the Office of Community Oriented Policing, “Innovations in Police Recruitment and Hiring” manual.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Complete a research paper on a chosen agency in which you seek employment
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product-research paper
    Criteria
    Identify government entity employers
    Describe statutory requirements of hiring, training, disciplining, and terminating public employees
    Explain the relationship between government and the community, such as public meetings and budgets
    Describe the effect of communities on job satisfaction as a public safety worker
    Identify the challenges in living and serving in a community
    Explore supportive community resources such as papers, news outlets, schools, crime data and reports, medical and mental health facilities, and service clubs
    Relate the use of community resources to the law enforcement

  2. Submit critical thinking self-reflections on career choices and goals
    Assessment Strategies
    Critical thinking journal entries
    Criteria
    your entries include at least one career choice
    you identify goals needed to achieve employment in the chosen career
    you provide justification for your chosen career

  3. Complete a public safety application
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Examine applications for federal, state, and local public safety jobs
    Complete a DJ-LE application for employment form according to instructor specifications
    Your application is thorough and complete

  4. Build a portfolio based on education, life experience, and skillsets.
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product-Portfolio
    Criteria
    Portfolio includes relevant items to support your education, life experience and skillsets
    Resume contains elements targeting a specific public safety position
    Resume meets minimum guidelines for content, clarity, punctuation, grammar and spelling as specified by instructor

  5. Write an essay for a public safety application
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay
    Criteria
    Essay contains elements targeting a specific public safety position
    Paper meets minimum guidelines for content, clarity, punctuation, grammar and spelling as specified by instructor

  6. Prepare for and complete a physical fitness assessment related your public safety field
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill Demonstration
    Criteria
    Physical display modern-day assessments for public safety applicants
    Perform the DOJ Fitness Evaluation Academy Entrance Exam (Law Enforcement positions)
    Perform the National Fire Fighters Fitness Test (Fire and EMS positions)

  7. Take part in a mock or actual skills assessment or evaluation for public safety applicants.
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill Demonstration
    Criteria
    React to mock stress
    Respond to situations using team building and problem solving techniques

  8. Engage in a real or mock interview panel and Chief’s interview
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill Demonstration- Offsite mock “Chief’s interview” at an agency with a chief, sheriff, or administrator
    Criteria
    You choose clothing that matches intended public safety position
    You meet minimum performance standards as specified on grading rubric
    You prepare and travel to the agency site
    You meet according to the administrator’s availability
    You provide application, resume, essay response, and assessment scores prior to the interview
    Your performance meets minimum guidelines as specified on the scoring rubric