Associate's versus Bachelor's Degree

Re: Another question/comment.

Without looking at the specifics of the courses on your transcript and comparing them to the requirements for the B.S. at SUNY, it is difficult, if not impossible, to give you a definitive answer.

On possible explanation for your predicament, however, is that the BS may require that certain core requirements be upper division courses, while the courses taken at a Community College (in spite of perhaps having the same course titles) are considered lower division courses.

 

Funny you should say that....

Because in fact it's surprising quite the opposite.

About half of my existing cj creds from community have not only the same course name, same credits, but are also the same level. If one is upper level, say a CJ3XX class at Community, it's also a upperl level CJ3XX at state...If it's a lower 1XX at Comm. it's a 1XX at state...

Of the rest remaining, get this, if they were 1XX at Comm, they are a 2XX at state, a 2XX at Comm, it's a 3XX at state.. ONLY TWO of my credits considered upper level at Comm are considered lower level at State.

My degree, the AAS, is technically called AAS Police Science. It really isn't considered "Criminal Justice" per se. Now, keeping that in mind...

Checking the Alumni pages for this State, Those who hold the CRJ BS from State call it Bachelors of Police Science. They don't call it, Bachelors of Criminal Justice. They call it POLICE SCIENCE!

NOW, Had I gone to one of the other Comm in my surrounding counties, and driven 1+ hours there and back to attend classes, as a single mother on welfare at the time, I would have gotten an AS. These colleges do not offer an AAS option. Only the AA and AS (Which is why, if your intention is to be a police officer, your best choice is the Comm I went too and get the AAS, which we remember was in fact, my intention). And had I graduated from one of these other County Comm's with the AS, there would be ABSOLUTELY no arguement about my transfer creds. Also, Keep in mind that the Comm I went to and graduated from is in the same county, in fact the same city, as the State college in question here. There is a metro bus that runs exclusively between the state and the three campuses of the Comm. And both are SUNY. And have transfer agreements with each other, not just Comm to State, but State to Comm as well. In other words, had I started at State as freshman, gone as far acceptance into the CJ program, and then decided to Comm and get only the Assoc. instead... Comm would ACCEPT EVERY SINGLE ONE of CJ classes into the degree, even though the State courses would have been lower level than they would have been at Comm. In fact, a friend of mine did this, and only had to take ONE class at Comm before graduating. Of course the reason he stopped going to State was because he joined the army and was in for 7 years. When he got out he had a family and didn't have the time to finish the 4 year so he transfered his credit to comm. So that situation might have something to do with it.

It doesn't make any sense, does it?. Or am I just not getting something here.
I'm beginning to think there was some RIFF between the schools, or this State is trying to milk some more money.

I don't know, all I know is, I'm looking into other states in the area, we have a few, and some privates to see if I can't get a better transfer. If not, well then, really, who cares what this state wants, I want the degree, and if I have to do it their way, I will, but not before contesting the transfers.

 

Re: Funny you should say that....

Being that I am not familiar with the particular institutions in question, I cannot comment on the specifics of the transfer process. However, typically, community colleges, as two-year institutions, by definition, do not offer courses that most four-year institutions consider “upper division.” This would hold true regardless of if your degree was an AA, AS, or AAS.

 

This doesn't sound right. SUNY is supposed to honor the courses across campuses if the courses are the same.

Dutchess Community College offers both an AAs and an AS in Criminal Justice and the CJ courses are from the same pool of courses.

 

I know...

This is what my beef is about...

They are supposed to do that. And it doesn't make sense that the State College isn't doing that.

And Dutchess county is on the way opposite side of the state from me.

You're right, Typically community collage courses are supposed be lower level than 4 year, But again, the best explanation I can get out of either the Comm or the State colleges are that my degree was an AAS, and the requirements for that degree are stiffer than your usual AA or AS. The courses required for the AAS are upper level because they have to be because they are designed for immediate entrace(at least for the cj degree) into the police force. The courses required by the AAS at this Comm. are offered at most 4 year, but not as requirements but as electives for persons Majoring CJ with a "concentration" in Police Sciences.

I know, I know, I have to be either missing something, somebody is mistaken in the information they are giving me, I'm just not understanding them, or flat out, they are violating the SUNY agreement. All of which are possible.

Like I said, in the end, it doesn't really matter. If I want the degree that bad, it doesn't matter what this or any college will accept or not. Just Do it, Right???? Besides, I may have found a better deal with a private college offering a BA. I'm tired of being on the phone trying to get an "english" translation, rather than their "academic-ese" they like to speak in. I guess they think it makes them sound just that much more educated. Well, they are, but they have to remember, those wanting to take the class they teach are not as educated or experienced in the "lingo" as they are. In my world, It's a "report on file", not an "accusatory instrument." It's a "registration" not a "license plate." It's a "10-7", not a "break." It's "posting-up" not "hiding somewhere and sleeping on the job."

It's like trying to have conversation with a Carnie... We speak different languages. So, I'm probably just not understanding them correctly.