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  • Law Enforcement Homeland Security Program
    93% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-three percent of SCC's 2022 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Graduate Report
    Law Enforcement Homeland Security Program
    93% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-three percent of SCC's 2022 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Graduate Report
    Law Enforcement Homeland Security Program
    93% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-three percent of SCC's 2022 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Graduate Report
     

Law Enforcement & Homeland Security

  •  Estimated Cost: $9,057

    Program Length: 4 semesters

    Locations: Online / ESQ

    Start Term(s): Fall / Spring

    Awards Offered: AAS

    Program Description

    Our Law Enforcement & Homeland Security program is designed to prepare you to serve your community and its citizens as a law enforcement officer or in a government agency. This program provides you educational and internship experiences to help you succeed and advance in your criminal justice career. You will receive an overview of the criminal justice system while focusing on the elements of criminal investigations, crisis management, communications and reporting techniques.

    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 Applied Science (A.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 Law Enforcement & Homeland Security 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.

    Our Law Enforcement & Homeland Security program prepares you for a successful law enforcement career. Recent graduates reported an average salary of $37,981*. Career options include:

    • Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service
    • Border Patrol Agent
    • Coast Guard
    • Crime Statistics Analyst
    • Criminal Investigator
    • Deportation and Detention Officer
    • Deportation Officer
    • Emergency Management Specialist
    • FEMA Specialist
    • Immigration and Customs Agent
    • K-9 Officer
    • Private Security Officer
    • Railroad Police
    • Security Analyst
    • TSA Specialist

    *No data for graduate salary. Estimated salaries are based on the 25th percentile earnings for SCC’s 15-county area for all occupations relevant to the program of study. (EMSI data)

    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.