Our program is a direct route to a rewarding career in law enforcement. We offer excellent courses that will give you hands-on skills for entry-level jobs such as police officer, deputy sheriff, corrections officer, or highway patrol officer.
Is This Program Right for Me?
To succeed in this field, you need strong written and verbal communications skills; critical thinking and problem-solving skills; social perceptiveness; strong cognitive skills to understand laws and court cases; and the ability to make quick, rational decisions.
We also provide a great overview of other careers in the criminal justice system—like probation and parole, juvenile justice, law, jail and prison corrections, agency administration, victim advocacy, emergency communications, and forensic investigations. Completion of the AAS requirements will prepare you to enter a law-enforcement training academy for Missouri police officers.
If you plan to earn a bachelor’s degree, SFCC’s Associate of Arts (AA) degree will prepare you for transfer to a four-year college. You also can earn a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Central Methodist University on the SFCC-Sedalia, Clinton and Lake of the Ozarks campuses.
Occupational Outlook
Criminal justice careers with good pay and job security are available at the local, state and federal levels, both in government and the private sector. Salaries range from $19,500 to $62,900 and increase with specialization and experience.
Data Sources – The website mynextmove.org, which is developed and maintained by the National Center for O*NET Development, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC).
- The AAS program is offered at the Sedalia, Clinton and Lake of the Ozarks campuses.
