Wichita State University has entered into an articulation agreement with Butler Community College that would allow students getting their Associate Degree in Homeland Security from Butler to then work toward completing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at WSU.

Butler Community College students are eligible once they complete the Associate Degree in Homeland Security.

"This partnership forged by Wichita State University and Butler Community College is designed to provide students with the academic advantages of both institutions through a consistent pathway for earning degrees in homeland security and criminal justice," said Miles Erpelding, professor of criminal justice, Butler Community College.

With this in place, Butler and Wichita State worked to solidify the partnership so that students can complete their associate degree and transition seamlessly into the bachelor's program without leaving the region.

"This creates much less confusion on the student's end," said Michael Birzer, professor and director of Wichita State's School of Community Affairs. "They know exactly what they have to do to graduate with a minimum amount of time."

To be eligible, students must complete:

• 30 credit hours of homeland security courses taken at Butler.
• 18 credit hours of criminal justice courses taken at WSU.
• Six credit hours of correlate core courses taken at WSU.

Students must also satisfy the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' and the university's requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree, including foreign language.

Birzer said agreements such as this are a benefit for WSU.

"Community colleges offer us the opportunity to attract some very bright students to WSU," he said.

WSU's criminal justice program offers a variety of optional online courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. Criminal justice graduate students can complete more than half of the program online, and the goal is to have a fully online option within the next two years.