Transfer question?

Question

I go to a technical school and in the process of almost completing my associate's degree in criminal justice. I want to transfer to a four year school, and i asked my tech school about transferring to complete my Bachelor's and basically they said it was up to the school whether or not my credits/degree would transfer? and the problem wouldn't be the fundamental classes, but rather the "core" classes. can someone explain this to me? is this how all colleges are, it's up to them to accept the credit/transfer?

My tech school said it was up to the OTHER school whether my credits/degree would transfer

Answer 1

Hi, I am currently working on my Associates degree and the University that I will transfer to told me that they automatically accept anyone with an Associates degree and I thought that was how all Universities were. I figured if you have your Associates degree and you transfer, then that University can't take away any of your credits because you have your degree (if they wouldn't transfer your credits that would mean that they would be taking away they credits that gave you your degree, and that is impossible because you can't have credits taken away after you get your degree), right? As soon as I transfer, I will begin working on my Bachelor's degree. I don't know, this may just be the University that I am going to transfer, but I think all Universities should be like this. Just call information at the University you want to attend and ask them, only they can be sure! Hope this helps and wasn't too confusing.

Answer 2

Every college or university has a 'mandate' to educate, not just offer classes. THis is how they get "acredited". In order to do this, they require a series of "core" classes to fill in your education. These are classes outside your own major like History, English, Literature, Science and even Music Appreciation and the like. A person majoring in Science wouldn't have to take the Science Credit as their regular clases would fulfill this requirement, and the same for a Major in Music for the Music Requirement.

Now, each university or college has thier own idea of what constitutes CREDIT for these core classes (as well as classes for your Major). One college may require a semester of English where another requires a full year of english. What you took at your last college may not completely cover the requirement at the new college, regardless of whether it is a community college or another 4 year school. Each Class and each Student's transcript is taken on a case by case basis. Some maybe accepted, and others are not.

Lastly, the way in which your classes are taken can ALSO explain how your credits transfer over. Some schools have 2 semesters per year, where others have 3 or 4 'terms' of 9-12 weeks each. A class taken for a single term at one college may not be given credit against a class which at the new school is taken for a semester (and visa versa). In addition, some colleges feel that certain core classes can ONLY be taken 'in house' and credits cannot be tranferred in. It's up to the NEW College to accept or deny these credits, of course, because it's the NEW College which will be issuing your new credits and possibly your degree.

Answer 3

Yes it is. I went to a community college and earned my Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. Then I transferred to a four-year state college, and switched my major to Political Science (with a concentration in International Relations). It was up to the four-year institution to accept what credits will transfer to their institution, assuming if it is transferable. It's transferable when they have the equivalentcy of a course that you took in your previous institution. Here is an example list of courses that transferred from my previous college to my current college.

Previous college >>>>>>>>>> Current college

Intro to Astronomy; Intro to Astronomy
Intro to Criminal Justice; Intro to Criminal Justice
Criminal Law; Courts and Criminal Law
Report Writing and Info Sys; Report Writing and Info Sys
Law Enforcement Manangement; Law Enforcement Management;
Police and Community Relations; Police, Community, and Society
Criminology; Criminology
Criminal Investigation; Criminal Investigation
Criminal Procedure; Criminal Procedure
Intro to Criminalistics; Intro to Criminalistics
College Writing; Writing I
Intro to Literature; Writing II
Urban Gov & Politics; Urban Politics
US History to 1877; US History & Const to 1865
US History from 1877; US History & Const since 1865
Fundamental Statistics; Elementary Statistics
General Psychology; Introductory Psychology
Principles of Sociology; Human Communication Skills
Technology & Society; Technology & Society

It's best to check with your college and a college that you would like to transfer to, if both colleges has some kind of Joint Admissions program. This will benefit you in many ways, such as a possible reduction in tuition costs (for your next college), and often many of your college credits will transfer. No matter what, your degree should transfer to any college/university, assuming if the Criminal Justice program is a currently accredited program at your school. Surely, all or at least most of your core courses should transfer to your next college/university. When you go to your next college/university, it's best to take up at least five courses a semester to finish on time (within two years) with your bachelor's degree. Just do make sure all the courses that you take are mandatory, such as a General Requirement course and/or for your program of study. Do make sure what kind of graduation requirements, and General Requirements, your next college does have, because it can be such a hassle. If you have any more questions, do make an appointment with your 'transfer counselor' or something of the equivalent, at your current college and at any of the colleges/universities that you plan to transfer to. I hope that any of this will help but good luck!

Answer 4

Yah, I am a transfer student and it is up to the University you transfer to on whether or not the credits transfer, but they are going to try their best to make sure all of them do transfer. I had no problem with my core classes. I only had one problem with one of my Education major classes but they just put that in place of one of my extra classes so I would still get the credits. Good luck!! :)