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Lead with confidence. Command with purpose.

Develop the leadership and management skills needed to advance into command-level positions in law enforcement. This 12-week, 480-hour in-residence program – offered continuously since 1951 – provides accredited, college-level instruction in law enforcement administration, diagnostic problem solving and administrative law. Participants earn 12 credit hours toward an undergraduate or graduate certificate through the University of Louisville.

Upcoming AOC dates

Application procedures for Administrative Officers Course

The Southern Police Institute selects mid-level officers to attend a 12-week Administrative Officer's Course offered twice a year.  Preference is granted to applicants holding command, supervisory, or administrative positions in their agency. A high school diploma ordinarily will be a prerequisite for acceptance and applicants must take a placement test which will be administered by the Testing Service of the University of Louisville. The application process works as follows:

1

Complete the AOC Application

Please check upcoming AOC dates for the application deadline.

AOC Application about

2

Take the required Entrance Exam

Entrance Exam Instructions about

3

Have the AOC Application and Entrance Exam completed and submitted by the deadline for the AOC you are applying for. 

No further action is needed until you receive notification of your acceptance to the program.

4

Selection Committee meets and reviews the applications and test scores

You will be notified of your acceptance to the program after the Selection Committee meets and reviews the applications and test scores.

5

Enroll at the University of Louisville

After acceptance to the AOC you will receive further instructions on how to enroll at the University of Louisville to complete the program.

Undergraduate Curriculum

Curriculum I: Administrative Course Program - Undergraduate Certification 12 Credit Hours

CJ 471 Law Enforcement Administration

The focus of this course is the theory, practice and concepts associated with the administration of a law enforcement agency.  This course is approached from the perspective of the police executive and command staff.  Instruction includes contemporary practice, theory, administrative and leadership concepts.

CJ 576 Managing Organizational Performance

This course is designed to help participants develop conceptual, diagnostic and problem-solving skills required of strategic managers in contemporary law enforcement organizations.  Students’ participation and decisional practice in class discussions is based upon foundational and current police research.

CJ 577-01 Trauma Informed Policing 

Trauma informed policing focuses on how law enforcement can improve police community interactions, service to the public and internal operations through adopting a trauma informed approach. This course will discuss evidence-based methods to recognize, understand and appropriately respond to trauma experienced by victims, offenders and police officers.

CJ 578 Criminal Justice Leadership

Through the use of lectures and case studies (films), participants will be provided with a cognitive understanding of leadership that emphasizes the study of leadership models and theories.  This course focuses on the study and evaluations of various leadership styles and processes.

Graduate Curriculum

Curriculum II: Administrative Course Program - Graduate Certificate 12 Credit Hours

CJ 576 Managing Organizational Performance

This course is designed to help participants develop conceptual, diagnostic and problem-solving skills required of strategic managers in contemporary law enforcement organizations.  Students’ participation and decisional practice in class discussions is based upon foundational and current police research.

CJ 577-01 Trauma Informed Policing 

Trauma informed policing focuses on how law enforcement can improve police community interactions, service to the public and internal operations through adopting a trauma informed approach. This course will discuss evidence-based methods to recognize, understand and appropriately respond to trauma experienced by victims, offenders and police officers.

CJ 578 Criminal Justice Leadership

Through the use of lectures and case studies (films), participants will be provided with a cognitive understanding of leadership that emphasizes the study of leadership models and theories.  This course focuses on the study and evaluations of various leadership styles and processes.

CJ 612 Law Enforcement Administration

The focus of this course is the theory, practice and concepts associated with the administration of a law enforcement agency.  This course is approached from the perspective of the police executive and command staff.  Instruction includes contemporary practice, theory, administrative and leadership concepts.

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