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  • Criminal Justice Program.
    Prepare to be - Amazed
    SCC's Criminal Justice program will lay the groundwork for an exciting career.
    Graduate Report
    Criminal Justice Program.
    Prepare to be - Amazed
    SCC's Criminal Justice program will lay the groundwork for an exciting career.
    Graduate Report
    Criminal Justice Program.
    Prepare to be - Amazed
    SCC's Criminal Justice program will lay the groundwork for an exciting career.
    Graduate Report
    Rita Dondlinger.
    Faculty Spotlight - Rita Dondlinger
    Engaging students in lecture, class discussion, group activities, hands-on work and more keys to success.
    More About Rita
     

Criminal Justice

  •  Estimated Cost: $9,057

    Program Length: 4 semesters

    Locations: Beatrice / Online / ESQ

    Start Term(s): Fall / Spring

    Awards Offered: AA / AAS

    Program Description

    You can make a difference with a career in criminal justice. Our hands-on Criminal Justice program focuses on teaching you practitioner-oriented instruction designed to provide the necessary skills for becoming an entry-level professional or to continue academic pursuits. Your educational experience includes theory and working together to process mock crime scenes to collect and preserve evidence.

    In many instances, you can transfer your credits earned toward a criminal justice bachelor’s degree program. We offer criminal justice courses as electives in the Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in the Academic Transfer program if you want to earn a bachelor’s degree. It is your responsibility to check with your transfer institution to find out what credits will transfer. Please work closely with your SCC advisor.

    You will be a good fit for our Criminal Justice program if you:

    • have strong oral and written communication skills as well as excellent listening skills
    • are able to read social cues and body language as well as speak with people from diverse backgrounds
    • can write accurate and grammatically sound reports
    • are able to solve problems using critical thinking and deductive reasoning
    • have the ability to think quickly
    • possess strong ethics and are culturally sensitive
    • are emotionally balanced/even tempered
    • are observant and aware of your surroundings
    • are in excellent physical shape
    • are detail oriented and have the ability to multi-task
    1. Want to learn more about SCC? Come see how SCC will help you achieve Your Path to Possible! Schedule a campus visit!
    2. Need help exploring career opportunities or navigating the admissions process? Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor.
    3. Ready to apply? Complete an Application for Admission.
    4. Submit ACT, SAT, Next Generation Accuplacer, or Accuplacer test scores (reading and math) or official college transcripts showing completion of post-secondary coursework in English and math to the Admissions Office at any SCC location.

    If you’re interested in the fascinating world of law enforcement, our Criminal Justice program will equip you with the skills necessary to start your career. Recent graduates reported an average salary of $40,664*. Career options in Criminal Justice include:

    • Community Service Officer
    • Corporal
    • Corrections Officer
    • Criminal Justice Advocate
    • Officer
    • Patrol Officer
    • Police Officer Recruit
    • Public Safety Dispatcher
    • Relief Specialist
    • Social Worker
    • Security Officer
    • Security Specialist

    *To obtain a sample large enough to report, salary information is based on graduates from 2020 and 2021

    Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    Rita Dondlinger, Program Chair
    Education Square (ESQ)
    Master Forensic Science (MFS), Nebraska Wesleyan University
    B.A. Criminal Justice & Sociology, Kansas Wesleyan University
    Related Work Experience: 19 years
    800-642-4075 ext. 3459
    402-323-3459
    rdondlinger@southeast.edu

    Samuel Bethune, Instructor
    Education Square (ESQ)
    J.D. University of Nebraska College of Law
    B.A. Law Enforcement, Drake University
    Related Work Experience: 26 years
    800-642-4075, ext. 3466
    402-323-3466
    sbethune@southeast.edu

    Brian Gage, Instructor
    Education Square (ESQ)
    Master Public Administration (MPA), Bellevue University
    B.S. Criminal Justice & Sociology, University of Nebraska-Kearney
    Related Work Experience: 34 years
    800-642-4075, ext. 3483
    402-323-3483
    bgage@southeast.edu

    Jason Jolicoeur, Instructor
    Education Square (ESQ)
    Ph.D. University of Missouri-St. Louis
    M.A. Wichita State University
    B.S. Wichita State University
    Related Work Experience: 14 Years
    Related Teaching Experience: 16 years
    402-323-3473
    jjolicoeur@southeast.edu

    Chad Paavola, Instructor
    Education Square (ESQ)
    MA Interdisciplinary Studies (concentration in Criminal Justice and Education), Western New Mexico University
    BAS Criminal Justice, Western New Mexico University
    Related Work Experience: 18 years
    800-642-4075, ext. 4725
    402-325-4725
    cpaavola@southeast.edu

    Kendra Sand, Instructor
    Beatrice
    Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate, Northeast Community College
    B.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice, The University of Nebraska - Lincoln
    M.S. in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Grand Canyon University
    Related work experience: 9 years
    402-228-8161
    kdittbrenner@southeast.edu

    Ronicka Schlottel, Instructor
    The Career Academy (TCA)
    Doctorate of Education (EdD), Doane University
    Master of Criminal Justice (MSCJ), University of Nebraska - Omaha
    Master of Public Administration (MPA), Kansas State University
    Master of Clinical Counseling (in progress), University of Nebraska - Omaha
    Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (#1301)
    Related Work Experience: 16 years
    800-642-4075 ext. 4743 
    402-325-4743
    rschottel@southeast.edu

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    For more information about the post-graduation achievements of SCC Graduates as well as average starting salaries, refer to the annual Graduate Report.

    For information about the methodologies used to gather the post-graduation student achievement data contained in the annual Graduate Report, refer to the Institutional Research page or contact ir@southeast.edu.