BUTLER TWP — Criminology students at Butler County Community College can now transfer credits toward a bachelor of arts degree in jurisprudence at California University of Pennsylvania under a new pact between the two schools.

The articulation agreement, which was approved Jan. 9, provides for a “seamless transfer” of credits from one of BC3’s most popular associate degree programs to the bachelor’s program at California University of Pennsylvania, which is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is located in Washington County.

BC3’s criminology degree program, which has 113 majors this spring, is offered at the school’s main campus, as well as its satellite campuses in Cranberry Township, New Castle and Hermitage. The program offers courses in crime and justice systems, juvenile justice and juvenile delinquency, criminal law and criminal procedure, and more.

Under the agreement those courses now count toward Cal U’s 120-credit degree program in jurisprudence, which can be pursued “100 percent” online, according to Christina Toras, an associate professor and chair of Cal U’s Department of Professional Studies. She said most of the program’s graduates go on to find employment as paralegals.

The agreement also allows BC3 students to transfer credits earned in their associate degree in applied science homeland security program to a bachelor’s degree program in the same field at Slippery Rock University; and a partnership that allows BC3 students to attain a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh while remaining on BC3’s campus.