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Law Enforcement Leadership & Practice Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Leadership & Practice is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of current law enforcement professionals to meet the complexities of modern policing. This comprehensive program emphasizes leadership, cultural intelligence, mental health awareness, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based practices. Through a robust curriculum blending theory and practical application, students develop the skills to lead with integrity, adapt to evolving challenges, and foster trust within their communities. The program culminates in a capstone experience, allowing students to synthesize their knowledge and propose innovative solutions to real-world issues. 

Required Courses
CRIM 330SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHOD5
CRIM 340ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE5
CRIM 382CRIMINAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION5
LEAD 312COMMUNICATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS5
LEAD 313PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT5
LEAD 314STRESS MANAGEMENT AND OFFICER WELLNESS5
LEAD 410POLICING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY5
LEAD 411COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGIES5
LEAD 412CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND CIVIL LIABILITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT5
LEAD 413CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT5
LEAD 414MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE STRATEGIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT5
LEAD 450DATA-DRIVEN POLICING5
LEAD 451EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING STRATEGIES5
PSYC 302ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY5
PSYC 323DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR5
Required Senior Capstone
LEAD 490ASENIOR CAPSTONE: STRATEGIC INTEGRATION AND LEADERSHIP IN LAW ENFORCEMENT5
Total Credits80

Plan of Study

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015Social Science BACR 2 (recommend CMST 208)15
MATH 1075Humanities & Arts BACR 1 (recommend PHIL 210)15Social Science BACR 2 (recommend CMST 208)15
Social Science BACR 1 (recommend CYBR 101)15Elective - minor, or general elective5Natural Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Natural Science BACR 215CRIM 3305CRIM 3405
Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5LEAD 3145
Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5Diversity - graduation requirement (recommend ADST 308)15
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PSYC 3025LEAD 3125LEAD 4115
Global Studies - graduation requirement (recommend ANTR 310)15LEAD 4505LEAD 4145
Elective - minor, or general elective5PSYC 3235LEAD 4515
 15 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CRIM 3825LEAD 3135LEAD 490A (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement )5
LEAD 4105LEAD 4125Elective - minor, or general elective5
Elective - minor, or general elective5LEAD 4135Elective - minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB


General Education Requirements (GER)
  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences


University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List


Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BS in Law Enforcement Leadership & Practice from EWU should be able to:​​
  • demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills to enhance organizational effectiveness within law enforcement teams;
  • apply ethical principles to propose solutions for complex law enforcement scenarios;
  • develop strategies to improve police-community relationships through effective law enforcement practices;
  • use research and data to develop actionable solutions for challenges in law enforcement operations;
  • interpret constitutional principles to ensure lawful and ethical law enforcement practices;
  • develop wellness plans that address stress management and support officer well-being;
  • create initiatives to build trust and enhance collaboration with diverse populations;
  • demonstrate advanced communication skills to effectively engage stakeholders in a variety of law enforcement contexts.