Earn your criminal justice certificate online from MSC Southeast to discover career opportunities in the criminal justice field. With a criminal justice certificate from Minnesota State College Southeast online degree program, you'll learn the skills to serve your community in criminal justice entry level positions.
Major Details
Are you motivated to serve your community? Do you have a strong sense of justice? Are you curious about what goes on behind the scenes in law enforcement, the courts, and corrections facilities? Minnesota State College Southeast's Criminal Justice certificate program is an excellent place to start your education.
If you're considering entry level positions or careers in the criminal justice field, the 16-credit certificate in Criminal Justice is a good place to start. This program includes two liberal arts classes and three classes directly related to criminal justice, plus a 1-credit class in Career and Education planning.
The Criminal Justice majors at MSC Southeast provide students with varying levels of education. While some positions require an associate degree or higher, the knowledge and skills attained through a criminal justice certificate or diploma is preferred for nearly all entry level jobs. After you gain the certificate, you can add on additional coursework to earn the diploma or associate of applied science degree in Criminal Justice.
For maximum flexibility, all Criminal Justice coursework is available 100% online, so you can plan your education around the work and family commitments in your life.
Every faculty member in MSC Southeast's Criminal Justice program has working experience in the criminal justice profession, totaling over 150 years of experience. Additionally, all faculty have post-graduate degrees. This combination of expertise in the profession coupled with commitment to higher education is a testimony to the depth and knowledge of MSC Southeast's Criminal Justice Program.
Please note:
The majors in the Criminal Justice program do not lead directly to a professional license. Additional education and training is required to meet the standards established by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board for employment as a peace/law enforcement officer.
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Download the Program Plan
Courses
1) 1000 level (minimum) General Education courses required unless specified.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
HUMA1125
Moral Problems
An introduction to ethical principles as applied to the moral issues and challenges individuals encounter in everyday life. Emphasis will be given to the analysis and development of ethical views and decision making. A broad variety of topics will be explored, including personal moral character, medical, religious, racial, and cultural issues. (Fulfills MnTC Goals 6 & 9) (Prerequisite: None) (3 credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
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3 cr
CJSP1102
Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course provides an overview of the philosophical and historical background of the components and policies that make-up the criminal justice system and their interrelationships in our diverse society. It examines deviant behavior in our society and the roles of law enforcement, courts, corrections and community corrections agencies. (Prerequisite: None) (3 Credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
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3 cr
CJSP1220
Police and Community
The objective of the course is to provide an overview of the evolution and history of police to include how society has influenced policing. Examination of the operational structure of law enforcement agencies will enhance the students understanding of the complexity of policing and recognize the challenges with community policing. Understanding topics such as the nature of police work, recruit selection, enforcement of the law, police discretion, community relations, trends and social problems will broaden the students' awareness of police work in today's modern society. (Prerequisites: College Writing I and Introduction to Criminal Justice) (3 credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
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3 cr
CJSP1230
Introduction to Corrections
This course provides an overview of the historical development of the current correctional system. Students will examine the various components of corrections such as theories of punishment, jails and prisons, offenders, institutional security measures, treatment programming, institutional management and community re-entry programming. (3 Credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
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3 cr
Total Credits Required for this Major: 16 Credits
Estimated Costs for this Major
| Approximate Tuition/Fees: | $3,370 |
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| Minimum Tool Cost: | N/A |
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| Books/Supplies: | $325 |
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| Estimated Total: | $3,695 |
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Career Opportunities
- Corrections Officers
- Probation Officers
- Local Police Departments
- State and Federal Agencies
- Correctional Treatment Specialist
- Security Officers
- Gaming Surveillance Officers
Career Information
Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.
Outcomes
Criminal Justice Program Outcomes:
- Understand how the criminal justice system works and how public opinion influences policies for responding to crime
- Understand the numerous components of criminal justice system
- Understand the causation of friction between community and police such as political influence, corruption, policy/law discretion, and discriminatory acts
- Understand the sociological, psychological and biological perspectives on the causation of crime and criminal behavior
- Understand hiring practices, training evolutions, subcultures, attitudes and orientation of criminal justice professionals
Highlights
- Explore the roles of law enforcement, courts, corrections and community corrections agencies
- Learn about ethical principles as applied to the moral issues and challenges individuals encounter in everyday life
- Understand the complexity of policing and recognize the challenges with community policing
- Create a personal career plan for successful college completion
Instructors
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Gregory Cady
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M.S., Criminal Justice, St. Cloud State University
B.E.S., Sociology and Criminal Justice, St. Cloud State University
Greg Cady began teaching at MSC Southeast as an adjunct instructor in 2004, moving to a full-time tenure track position in 2007. Prior to joining the teaching team, he dedicated 18 years in various positions within the criminal justice profession in California and Minnesota. Greg is a retired commissioned officer from the U.S. Navy with 30 years of service.
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Tamra Graham
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J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
B.A., Music, University of Alaska-Anchorage
Tamra Graham was a President's Scholar at William Mitchell College of Law. She has worked in both the public and private legal sectors. Since 2005, she has taught political science, philosophy, and criminal justice courses MSC Southeast. She was raised in Alaska and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and many outdoor activities, including geocaching.
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Travis Volkman
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Travis Volkman began teaching at MSC Southeast in 2013 as an adjunct instructor. Travis brings with him over 14 years of law enforcement experience in the criminal justice system; currently employed with the Goodview Police Department and assigned as an Investigator and Computer Forensics Examiner with the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. In addition to providing presentations about internet crimes against children, Travis teaches an online child exploitation class at Winona State University. Travis is the Field Training Program Coordinator for the Goodview, MN Police Department after having been employed in various rolls of the criminal justice system.
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Tammy Wherley
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M.A., Health and Human Services Administration, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
B.A., Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Tammy Wherley has been an adjunct instructor at MSC Southeast for more than 5 years. She began her career at the in 1997 as a Correctional Officer at Minnesota Correctional
Facility-Red Wing, Minnesota's only state operated juvenile facility. She held various positions from Case Manager to Associate Warden of Administration at MCF-Oak Park Heights, MCF-Lino Lakes,
and MCF-Stillwater, then returned to MCF-Red Wing as the Associate Warden of Operations in 2017.
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Amy Whitcomb
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M.S., Psychology, Western Illinois University
B.A., Psychology, Iowa Wesleyan College
A.A., Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, Iowa
An Iowa native, Amy Whitcomb has been teaching psychology since 1999, and began teaching at MSC Southeast in the fall of 2010. In the past, she has done counseling and social work, but decided she loved teaching far more than trying to save the world. While she is interested in most areas of psychology and criminal justice, social psychology and criminology are her favorites. In her spare time, she likes reading true crime accounts, watching true crime shows, listening to opera and classic rock, and spending time with her children. She has become an excellent cook, but remains unfulfilled by it.