Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Legal Studies Department
General Information
Have You Received All Possible Transfer Credits? (Credits From Other Colleges; Nontraditional Training Credits; AP and CLEP Examinations; Challenge Examinations; Prior Learning Assessment Network; Tech Prep Programs, including College and Career Transitions Institute Program, offered in designated high schools)
Students may be awarded credit for prior educational experiences in which college-level learning may be verified either through documentation or through assessment. A maximum of 45 credit hours may be transferred for any one degree—of which not more than 30 credits may have been earned through nontraditional or noncollegiate sources.
These may include:
- transfer of credits from other colleges or universities (301-322-0803);
- nontraditional credits for various educational and training activities conducted by such noncollegiate organizations as the military, businesses and government agencies, and proprietary schools (301-322-0803);
- credit through examinations: College Board’s Advance Placement Program (AP) available to high school students as well as College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) available to adults with expertise in a subject matter area (301-322-0803);
- challenge examinations or students’ prior mastery of the content of certain courses as tested and graded by college faculty members and administered by the Testing Center (301-322-0652);
- Prior Learning Assessment Network (PLAN) by portfolio or evidence of adult learners’ personal and professional experiences that reflect a mastery of college-level subjects (301-322-0437); and
- Tech Prep Programs (including College and Career Transitions Institute Program) or county high school students’ successful completion of articulated tech prep programs while in high school (301-322-0803).
Tips for Success
If You Want a Career in Administration of Justice or a Related Field, Then…
- Learn about the career by
- reading Career Fields and Required Degrees and Transfer Colleges and Universities (under Program Specific Information);
- checking the list of Web Sites (under Program Specific Information); and
- contacting agencies in the geographical area in which you want to work to inquire about minimum requirements, job descriptions, and openings.
- Prepare for the career by
- completing the degree in the appropriate curriculum in Administration of Justice (Curricula and Courses under Program Specific Information);
- reading Professional Journals (under Program Specific Information) and other publications in the college library;
- participating in Service Learning Classes (under Program Specific Information) and Enrichment Activities and Cooperative Education and Internships;
- joining Professional Associations (under Program Specific Information)--some of which accept student members;
- making certain that you can pass a background check when required for the career position; and
- transferring to a four-year college or university (Transfer Colleges and Universities under Program Specific Information) before, if necessary, or after you are employed in your career field.
- Apply for the career by
- creating a resume and obtaining applications from agencies; and
- visiting the Career Center (Marlboro Hall, Room 2102) to utilize their wide range of services, including counseling, assessments, and job placement.
Educational Goals (Articulation Agreements; Additional Degrees; Transfer Day)
Although you could transfer to a four-year college or university before earning a degree from Prince George’s Community College, this generally would prove unwise.
The choice of earning a degree would ensure the following:
- a seamless transfer* of an Associate’s degree to a four-year college or university where you could either pursue the same program of study--or major in another related program, thus converting courses from your PGCC major to a minor or electives;
- the pursuit of a career in your program of study while, during the years ahead, you could continue your education while working;
- by spending another semester or two at PGCC, you could earn a second degree** in a related program (for example, Criminal Justice and Paralegal degrees or Criminal Justice and Forensic Science degrees or Forensic Science and Paralegal degrees).
Your ultimate goal should be to broaden your programs of study so that you can qualify for a variety of employment options. By earning a degree rather than transferring without a degree, you can provide a stronger application or resume to a potential employer.
*Associate’s degrees from PGCC in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Paralegal Studies, and Pre-Law are transferable.
**The requirements for additional Associate’s degrees, earned either by concurrent completion of the requirements of the two degrees or by subsequent study after the first degree is received, are as follows:
- complete all requirements of each program of study, including general education requirements;
- earn a minimum of 15 credit hours at the college, in addition to those required for the initial degree, for each additional degree; and
- maintain a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 for all courses completed in addition to the initial degree.
Transfer Day
Location: Bladen Hall, Room 125
Telephone: 301-322-0151
Transfer Day in which representatives from various four-year colleges and universities provide information about their programs of study is offered once a semester. Contact the above office to ascertain the date, time, and location of this event.