Welcome
SCC’s Criminal Justice program prepares students for a variety of careers in the criminal justice field through classroom theory and hands-on experience.
You're a Good Fit for this program because . . .
Overview
The program leads to a versatile, comprehensive degree that can be completed in six to eight quarters. It prepares students for careers as:
- Corrections officer
- Police officer
- Technical support within local, state and federal law enforcement programs
- Criminal intelligence analyst
- Forensic technician
- Transportation and Security Administration screening officer
- Victim advocate
- Private investigator
- Court administration technician
- Property and evidence technician
- Pre-law preparation
- Gaming security
- Juvenile Specialist
- Drug Court Technician
Criminal Justice focus
In the Criminal Justice focus, students will receive comprehensive educational experiences through both theory and hands-on. Students work together as they process mock crime scenes to collect and preserve evidence. In other classes, students will utilize critical thinking skills as they study the law and ethical and contemporary issues in criminal justice.
Nebraska Law Enforcement focus
The Nebraska Law Enforcement focus is for students who want to go into city, county, state or federal law enforcement. This focus is streamlined to help students get the most out of their education and assist them when they are ready to go into the law enforcement field. Students will learn theory, laws and gain hands-on experience. Students in this focus will complete an internship where they will work alongside professionals in the law enforcement field. Students who want to work in federal law enforcement will need to continue to a 4-yr college after SCC since a 4-yr degree is required at the federal level.
Corrections focus
The AAS in criminal justice corrections focus prepares graduates for immediate entry into the corrections work force. It prepares students for a multitude of jobs in correctional facilities ranging from least restrictive settings, such as group homes, to highly restrictive maximum-security prisons. Students will learn about the corrections systems and gain hands-on experience. Students also will complete an internship where they will work alongside professionals in the corrections field.
Community-Based Corrections & Juvenile Services focus
This focus is designed for use by students who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree as most of the jobs in the field of juvenile services require a minimum of a B.A. / B.S. Also, probation and parole officers will need a four-year degree. This focus is an exciting start to this career field. Students interested in becoming juvenile detention technicians, mentors, or probation trackers within the criminal justice system should follow the Community-Based Corrections & Juvenile Services career plan. In addition to the criminal justice related classes, required courses place an emphasis on the social and behavioral sciences and delinquent behaviors. This combination provides the student with a strong theoretical foundation for successful personal and social interventions in their chosen profession. Students also will complete an internship where they will work alongside professionals in the community-based corrections & juvenile services field.
Homeland Security focus
The Homeland Security focus prepares students for careers in entry-level employment in governmental and private security agencies and provide a pathway to specialized careers. This focus will prepare students for the growing field of safety, security and emergency management. Homeland security jobs are expected to remain in high demand; national security is among the highest priorities of our government and private agencies.
As a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution, we are unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following states/areas: California and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Credit toward bachelor's degree
SCC's program also provides advanced placement into a bachelor's degree program. This degree can be used for seeking immediate employment in the criminal justice field. SCC also offers an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in the Academic Transfer program with an emphasis in criminal justice. Most federal agency forensic crime labs, crime scene investigator and probation officer positions require a bachelor's degree. Each four-year college or university accepts different courses to fulfill their requirements. The student is responsible to check with their receiving institution to know what credits will transfer. Please work closely with an SCC advisor or Criminal Justice advisor when enrolling in courses that transfer.
Note: Academic Transfer students may take some Criminal Justice courses as electives that will satisfy their degree requirements.
Mission
The mission of the Criminal Justice program is to offer students broad-based, practitioner-oriented instruction designed to provide the necessary skills for becoming an entry-level professional or to continue academic pursuits.Employment Outlook
Concern about personal and public safety and crime rates have led to an increased demand for law enforcement professionals. Also, the demand for correctional officers is expected to grow 9 percent until 2018. The fastest-growing careers in criminal justice are:
- Correctional officer
- Court reporter
- Crime scene examiner
- Detective
- Fish and game warden
- Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Police officer
- Private investigator
- Probation officer
Graduates report an average starting wage of $18.05 per hour.
Starting Terms
All Quarters. Take CRIM-1010 CRIM-1020 CRIM-1030 CRIM-2000 CRIM-2030 CRIM-2080 CRIM-2100 CRIM-2200 CRIM-2240 CRIM-2265 CRIM-2270 CRIM-2290 CRIM-2340 CRIM-2400 and Take 9 advisor approved electives--any Criminal Justice course not listed above or any advisor approved elective.
Take SPCH-1090
Take ENGL-1010
Take SOCI-1020
Take 2 classes from the following areas. Take ARTS-1010 ARTS-1050 ARTS-1060 ARTS-2650 ARTS-2750 BIOS-1010 BIOS-1090 BIOS-1140 BIOS-2130 BIOS-2460 BIOS-2250 BIOS-2260 CHEM-1050 CHEM-1090 ENGL-1010 ECON-2110 ECON-2120 GEOG-1420 GEOL-1060 HIST-1000 HIST-1010 HIST-2010 HIST-2020 HIST-2100 HIST-2110 HIST-2960 HUMS-1100 HUMS-1200 MATH-1040 MATH-1050 MATH-1400 MATH-1600 MATH-2030 MATH-2170 BSAD-2170 MUSC-1010 MUSC-2750 MUSC-2800 MUSC-2870 PHIL-1010 PHIL-1060 PHIL-2610 RELS-2610 PSYC-1810 PHYS-1017 PHYS-1030 PHYS-1100 PHYS-1150 PHYS-1410 PHYS-2110 POLS-1000 POLS-1040 POLS-1080 POLS-1600 SOCI-1010 SOCI-1020 or SOCI-2150; Take ANTH-1120 BIOS-1010 BIOS-1090 BIOS-1140 BIOS-2130 BIOS-2460 BIOS-2250 BIOS-2260 CHEM-1050 CHEM-1090 ECON-1200 ECON-2110 ECON-2120 FSDT-1350 GEOG-1000 GIST-1000 GEOL-1010 GEOL-1060 MATH-1040 MATH-1050 MATH-1100 MATH-1150 MATH-1200 MATH-1300 MATH-1400 MATH-1600 MATH-2170 BSAD-2170 PHYS-1017 PHYS-1030 PHYS-1100 PHYS-1150 PHYS-1410 or PHYS-2110; Take BSAD-1010 ECON-1200 ECON-2110 ECON-2120 ENGL-1110 FSDT-1350 GERM-1010 MATH-1040 MATH-1200 MATH-2030 PHIL-2610 RELS-2610 PHIL-1060 PSYC-1250 PSYC-1810 POLS-1000 SPAN-1010 SPCH-2810 THEA-1010 or THEA-1140;
Program Requirements & Student Responsibilities
- Complete and submit an Application for Admission form and return it to the Lincoln or Beatrice campuses.
- All applicants are responsible for taking the COMPASS test. SAT scores may be accepted. The SCC Campus Assessment Office may be of assistance, 402-437-2715 or 800-642-4075, ext. 2715.
- For questions regarding admissions, please call the Lincoln Campus Admissions Office, 402-437-2600 or 800-642-4075, ext. 2600, or the Beatrice Campus Admissions Office, 402-228-8214 or 800-233-5027 ext. 1214.
- The Criminal Justice Office is located in the Education Square Building at 1111 O St. in downtown Lincoln, (402) 323-3459 or 800-642-4075, ext. 3459, or call the Beatrice Campus at 800-233-5027 ext. 1214.
Criminal Justice Degree:
CRIM 2900 Criminal Justice Internship is required for this degree in the Nebraska Law Enforcement, Corrections and Community-Based Corrections & Juvenile Services focuses. It is based upon 180 contact hours within the criminal justice field. Students are required to complete this class for graduation. Most students will be with criminal justice professionals on average of 18 hours per week during one quarter.
Criminal Background Check
A criminal background check will be required of each student in this program. Based on the outcome of the background check, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed for this CBC.