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An agreement between Ozarks Technical College and Missouri Southern State University makes it easier for students to study criminal justice.
The presidents from the two institutions signed an articulation agreement Tuesday.
KSMU's Christy Hendricks reports.
Students studying criminal justice in the Ozarks will now be able to obtain a degree easier than before.
Ozarks Technical College in Springfield and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin signed an articulation agreement today that offers credit transfer and degree completion opportunities for students seeking degrees in criminal justice.
Joel Doepker is the Director of Public Relations and Communications at Ozarks Technical College.
Randy Humphrey is the Vice President of Academic Affairs at OTC.
He says this collaboration is a great opportunity for criminal justice students transferring from OTC.
Julio Leon is the President of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
He says criminal justice education is a focus at Missouri Southern.
Leon says students will not have to travel to Joplin in order to receive a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice.
Mike Robertson is the sheriff for Christian County.
He says he is excited about this degree agreement between the two institutions.
Lieutenant Terry Moore with the Missouri State Highway Patrol says the articulation agreement will help with recruitment.
The articulation agreement goes into effect immediately.
This agreement allows students graduating from Ozarks Technical College with an associate's degree in criminal justice to transfer to Missouri Southern for a Bachelor's degree in that area.