Ivy Tech, Ball State formalize transfer agreement for Criminal Justice degree

MUNCIE, IN - Ivy Tech Community College and Ball State University have formalized a statewide transfer agreement to benefit students who desire to complete a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

A student completing the Associate of Science degree in criminal justice at any Ivy Tech campus offering the degree will receive up to 63 credit hours in transfer with Ball State when admitted to the University with a declared major of Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. 

Ivy Tech has a long-standing relationship with Ball State and has seen more than 2,000 students transfer more than 38,000 credit hours to University since 2002.  Currently, 350 students are in the criminal justice program at Ivy Tech’s Anderson, Muncie and Marion campuses, many of whom are prime to take advantage of the Ball State transfer opportunity, according to Jeff Scott, dean of the East Central Region’s School of Public & Social Services of which the criminal justice is affiliated.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Scott. “Not only do our students have an opportunity to articulate to one of the state’s top criminal justice schools, but they will have the ease of completing a bachelor’s degree close to home, their credits will transfer seamlessly and there will be more flexibility in their career options, all of which will build a strong foundation for success.”

"We are looking forward to working with Ivy Tech and to having their students transfer into our program," said James Hendricks, chair of Ball State's Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. "Through our immersive learning and research opportunities, our students gain a strong understanding of the American criminal justice system, correctional programs and the techniques and theories of law enforcement. This agreement continues a long and productive partnership that continues to open up educational and career options for thousands of Indiana students."

Another benefit of the transfer program for Ivy Tech criminal justice students is the flexibility to take electives in specific concentrations, including homeland security, advanced forensics, and adult and juvenile corrections, said Scott.  For example, a Forensics concentration is now offered as part of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Criminal Justice, said Scott. This degree can assist an individual become a forensic science technician to collect, identify, and analyze physical evidence relation to criminal investigations.  According to Indiana Career Connect, this field is projected to have a faster growth rate than that of all occupations.  Other high demand occupations requiring an associate’s degree are in law enforcement, said Scott. Those occupations include security guards, private investigators, gaming officers, correctional and jail officers.

Ivy Tech and Ball State also recently created an additional statewide transfer agreement between the two institutions’ education programs, bringing to 12 the number of these agreements established by the two institutions since 1997.

For more information about the Criminal Justice transfer program, contact Scott at 765-289-2291 x1101 or email jdscott@ivytech.edu.

 Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 150,000 students enrolled annually.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana.  It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana.  It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.