Savannah Technical College President Kathy Love and Armstrong Atlantic State University President Linda Bleicken signed an agreement Thursday to ensure a seamless educational pathway for criminal justice students between the two institutions.
The agreement lays the foundation for students to complete a new 65-credit hour associate of science in criminal justice at Savannah Tech and be able to transfer their coursework in its entirety to Armstrong toward the bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.
“We are pleased to announce the beginning of an important partnership between our institutions,” Love said.
Bleicken said the agreement advances Armstrong’s efforts to partner with its higher education neighbors in Savannah.
“Through the effort, our goal is to give more students of all ages seamless access to programs that will best prepare them for the workforce,” Bleicken said.
The agreement next goes to the governing boards of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and the Georgia Board of the Technical College System of Georgia for endorsement. If the boards approve, Savannah Tech will be one of the first technical colleges to offer an associate of science in criminal justice.
In addition to general core courses, the program will feature 18 semester hours in criminal justice-related coursework, including introduction to criminal justice, principals of law enforcement, ethics and cultural perspectives, corrections, criminal law and constitutional law.
The Department of Criminal Justice, Social and Political Science at Armstrong offers the bachelor of science in criminal justice.
The degree consists of core courses in the administration of justice, criminology, ethics and criminal procedure coupled with a concentration in juvenile justice, law enforcement, research methods, penology and law.
