{"id":36271,"date":"2023-01-15T18:16:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T18:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=36271"},"modified":"2023-01-15T18:16:53","modified_gmt":"2023-01-15T18:16:53","slug":"at-msc-southeast-the-focus-in-criminal-justice-is-on-understanding-human-behavior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/15\/at-msc-southeast-the-focus-in-criminal-justice-is-on-understanding-human-behavior\/","title":{"rendered":"At MSC Southeast, the focus in criminal justice is on understanding human behavior"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n Minnesota State College Southeast
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When you think about the term \u201ccriminal justice,\u201d perhaps a TV show like \u201cCops\u201d or a police car chase scene in a movie comes to mind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But Minnesota State College Southeast instructor Greg Cady sees the field in an entirely different light.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCriminal justice is a human services profession, and the main focus in our program is on understanding human behavior,\u201d Greg explained. \u201cWe teach our students about ethics, diversity, moral issues and the challenges individuals encounter in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Minnesota State College Southeast has offered a two-year criminal justice degree since 2009. One of the signatures of the program is the number of faculty who are working in the field as criminal justice professionals and have master\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Greg believes this combination of expertise in the profession coupled with commitment to higher education is a testimony to the depth the college\u2019s program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOur instructors are leaders within their organizations who expect everyone within their organization to treat those they encounter with equality and respect,\u201d he stated. \u201cWe have a diverse faculty pool and a strong emphasis on human behavior through the lens of equity, and we have built upon it throughout the last 15 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The goal of the criminal justice program is to help students gain meaningful employment that provides them with a livable wage. But it can be challenging to stop everything and go to college for two years to earn a 60-credit degree.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIf you\u2019re going to school part time, that will take even longer \u2014 it can seem like an eternity,\u201d Greg noted. \u201cThat\u2019s why our team came up with the concept of stackable credentials. You can start with a certificate, then add on courses for a diploma, and then take more classes over time to earn an associate degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There are no repeated courses; each credential leads to the next, and since all classes are available online, students can work and meet family needs while advancing their education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe stackable credentials are empowering,\u201d Greg said. \u201cFor someone who is coming back to college, being able to start with a certificate and continue from there is a great way to start.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Initially students may start with the certificate or diploma to see if criminal justice or a related field is something they want to pursue as a career. A two-year associate degree is the next step. But to advance to a higher-level position within their agency, a bachelor\u2019s degree may be required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s why we are excited to announce that MSC Southeast has developed a new Criminal Justice Transfer Pathway,\u201d Greg said. \u201cIt\u2019s a direct route to getting your four-year degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The coursework in the Criminal Justice Transfer Pathway is specifically designed for smooth transfer to a corresponding bachelor\u2019s degree at any of the seven Minnesota State universities, including Winona State University. Students who complete the transfer pathway enter the university with junior-year status.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou may not realize it until you\u2019ve been working for 5-10 years, but getting that higher degree is key to advancing in your career,\u201d Greg said. \u201cPlus, many careers in rehabilitation, counseling and human services require at least a bachelor\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Either the Criminal Justice Transfer Pathway or the Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science degree can lead to a law enforcement career, such as police officer or deputy sheriff. Additional skills training at another college is required to meet the standards established by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board for employment as a peace\/law enforcement officer. Depending on the program, this can take from 10 weeks to two semesters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Greg stated that only a small percentage of Southeast students go on to become police officers. \u201cOur graduates serve in corrections, work in group homes or work behind the scenes in court services. I know of grads with successful careers in human resources, nursing, government records and working with at-risk youth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He added, \u201cWe now have four criminal justice options to provide students with great choices \u2014 it comes down to early and robust advising. At MSC Southeast, we get to know each student personally and will help them discover the route that works best for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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