The new school year is approaching and for many, this means making some tough decisions. After your first or second year of undergraduate study, if you’re unhappy with your school or the trajectory of your classes, it might be a good idea to consider transferring. But, what major should you pursue?
Students who want to make a difference may find themselves drawn to career paths in the service of their community. These majors may include social work or Criminal Justice. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider transferring into a Criminal Justice program.
Top Reasons You Might Want to Transfer Schools
Making the choice to transfer colleges should be preceded by careful thought and consideration. After all, transferring means starting something new. If you’re on the fence, here are some very good reasons why you might want to transfer schools:
- You want to change majors
- You don’t like the location of your school
- Your current school is too expensive
- You want flexible study options (e.g. online or hybrid classes)
- You want to work with faculty members elsewhere
Why Transfer into a Criminal Justice Program?
Suppose you’re considering transferring schools because you’re unhappy with your current major. In that case, you may be wondering what degree you should pursue as an alternative. You may be seeking a major that will position you to make a real and positive impact on the lives of your community members. That is where Criminal Justice comes in. Criminal Justice is a versatile degree that can open you up to a wide variety of career pathways, ranging from law enforcement to corrections, and forensic science to criminal defense.
Many choose to major in Criminal Justice because there is a current need for qualified, educated, and socially-conscious law enforcement workers. For example, the BLS predicts that, between 2020 and 2030, there will be 67,100 job openings available for aspiring police officers and investigators. Plus, for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, higher-paying career paths may be available. (Consider this: detectives in Connecticut earn an average annual salary of over $94,000, which is higher than the national average).
What Can You Expect From a Criminal Justice Program?
If law enforcement or Criminal Justice interests you, then a bachelor’s degree can make career advancement a very real possibility for you. A bachelor’s degree will provide you with a deep and thorough understanding of topics ranging from victimology to human behavior to public policy. It can prepare you for careers as an FBI or DEA agent, a U.S. Marshall or Coast Guard Officer, and many more exciting job titles.
If you are looking for a unique and exciting field to break into, a Criminal Justice program can get you there. However, there are some things you must consider as a transfer student. These are detailed below.
Online Criminal Justice Program vs. Traditional
Some colleges, University of Bridgeport included, offer students the opportunity to earn their Criminal Justice degree online. This option is ideal for students who need the flexibility that virtual learning can afford them. The online route is also preferred among students who wish for a faster-paced, accelerated class schedule. At UB, online Criminal Justice students can complete their bachelor’s degree in half the time of traditional students, due to seven-week semesters.
If you’re transferring schools and need the time to work or raise a family, or simply wish to complete your degree fast, the online degree option can make all the difference. Traditional degree programs, by contrast, require students to complete their studies on a stricter timeline and mostly (if not entirely) in the confines of the classroom. Online Criminal Justice majors can complete their coursework when and where they’d like, and though classes are taken online, online students are still able to pursue in-person internships in a variety of settings, such as law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and law firms. At University of Bridgeport, Criminal Justice transfer students have the option to complete their degree online or on-campus.
Admission Requirements
As you consider the type of Criminal Justice program you wish to pursue, be sure to research the admissions requirements. Transfer students wishing to transfer into the online Criminal Justice degree will have slightly different admission requirements than traditional students. At University of Bridgeport, transfer students are asked to submit official college transcripts from all previous institutions of higher education attended as well as proof of high school graduation. Students are not required to submit letters of recommendation, though it is recommended. Similarly, most majors do not require a statement of purpose but it is encouraged. Additionally, students must complete and submit an application for admission through the school’s online application portal.
Criminal Justice Curriculum
The curriculum that students in an online Criminal Justice program are expected to complete varies by school. However, at University of Bridgeport, students will be required to complete a total of 120 credit hours prior to graduation, 39 of which will be in the Criminal Justice program core. Program core courses include:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- American Government
- Human Security
- Sociology of Deviance
- Criminal Investigations
- U.S. Legal System
- Law Enforcement and Society
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Criminology
- Race and Ethnicity
- Research Methods
- Homeland Security and Terrorism
Additionally, students can select a concentration in one of three areas: Human Security, Comparative Justice, or Criminology. These areas of concentration will determine what other classes and electives students can and must take.
Time Commitment
As noted above, transfer students in the online Criminal Justice program can complete their degree in a more flexible schedule. University of Bridgeport offers students six potential start dates, which is ideal for students transferring into this program. Additionally, coursework is completed in a seven-week, accelerated online semester format, meaning that students who have begun their degree elsewhere can take comfort in the fact that they won’t need to extend their undergraduate studies due to transferring.
Earning an online Criminal Justice degree provides students with the opportunity to earn their degree at a pace that fits their lifestyle, without losing out on any of the opportunities that an in-person degree can provide. In many ways, the online Criminal Justice program is ideal for transfer students who are looking to change majors, take control of their education, and eventually, enter a career path that serves their community. Are you ready to make a change? Consider University of Bridgeport’s online Criminal Justice degree.
Ready to earn your BS Criminal Justice online? Learn more about University of Bridgeport’s program by requesting more information, here.