EACC students now have the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice without leaving the EACC campus or the area through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Students may complete the first two years of lower division coursework at EACC by completing the Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice (AS-CJ). After completion, EACC courses will be accepted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) and applied to the bachelor’s degree requirements. UAFS will offer the remaining Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program requirements to EACC students through online courses.

The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree is designed to meet the needs of those currently employed in criminal justice or related fields or those desiring training prior to entering the profession.  The program includes state general education core curriculum and criminal justice courses for the required 60-61 credit hours, and can be completed in two years. Students have the opportunity to complete more than half of the UAFS bachelor’s degree requirements with EACC courses. 

“We are so proud to offer the new 2+2 Criminal Justice program. UAFS has been wonderful to work with, and they have been very complimentary of our students, said Dr. Cathie Cline, Associate Vice President for General Studies.  “Approximately 57% of the degree can be comprised of EACC courses, which presents a significant cost savings to our students,” she added.  “Being able to provide a bachelor’s degree program to criminal justice professionals that allows them to remain in the area is a wonderful contribution to our community, and the employment outlook for this field is high as criminal justice professionals continue to be in demand in our area,” said Cline.

New students and those who have previously taken criminal justice college courses or earned a criminal justice degree or certificate are encouraged to contact EACC for more information about the 2+2 program.

In addition to the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree, EACC offers the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice (AAS-CJ), the Technical Certificate in Criminal Justice (TC-CJ), and the Certificate of Proficiency in Criminal Justice (CP-CJ).

The Certificate of Proficiency in Criminal Justice (CP-CJ) is for the individual seeking to develop a foundation in law enforcement for employment in the criminal justice field. Emphasis is on basic law enforcement principles and practices needed for success in criminal justice employment. The Certificate of Proficiency in Criminal Justice is a 15-credit-hour program designed to be completed in as little as one semester. It is comprised entirely of professional criminal justice courses and contains no general education courses.

The Technical Certificate in Criminal Justice (TC-CJ) is designed to upgrade the working officer’s practical knowledge of the administration and operation of a modern police department, to help the officer understand his or her place in professional law enforcement, and to improve the functions the officer performs in his or her department. The 33-credit-hour program may be completed in as little as one year.

The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice (AAS-CJ) encompasses the study of criminals, crime as a social phenomenon, and the criminal justice system as an interrelated whole. The goals of the program are to upgrade area law enforcement in helping to meet the minimum standards to be established by the Advisory and Executive Commission on Officer Standards for the State of Arkansas, and to develop a professional attitude toward law enforcement. The AAS-CJ requires 60-61 credit hours and is designed to be completed in approximately two years.

For more information about the 2+2 program and Criminal Justice degrees and certificates offered at EACC or to register for online criminal justice courses, contact Dr. Cathie Cline at ccline@eacc.edu or Preston Koelling at pkoelling@eacc.edu or call 870-633-4480 ext. 244.