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Hannah
Student
Saint Petersburg, Florida
1
Question
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Best college program as a double-major undergrad transfer student?
I’m currently a third-year undergrad student, double majoring in Criminology & Film. I currently have 90 out of 120 credits to graduate at my current university but I have to withdraw and find a new school for personal reasons. I'm currently double-majoring in both Criminology and Film. My criminology degree falls under my university's “Justice & Law” degree, criminology being one of the concentrations (“International Terrorism” & “Legal Studies” being the other two). My film major falls under their School of Communication, as a degree in “Film & Media studies”. I was wondering if someone out there could help me find a school with classes most similar to what I’ve been studying already. I'm looking for a school that offers a Bachelor's in both Criminology & Film or something similar. I feel very overhwled! The best case scenario would be to find a school that will let me retake the least amount of courses/credits in order to graduate, since most transfer students are required to take extra courses that extend their graduation date. Any help is appreciated!
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1698
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Hannah !
Even though I am someone who advises not to double major because it's not really necessary when one can Major and Minor and finish in four years, I would like to give you some advice.
Something like Film is an all encompassing major and Criminology is a pretty busy major, too. The best way you will solve your inquiry would be, and it will take a lot of reading, I know, to explore colleges. It will take a lot of time. You can start by looking at colleges that are not too far from the city you have already been studying in. Sometimes colleges have what they call "sister colleges" which means that they readily accept students between themselves and their credits are readily accepted. Programs may be similar, too. But then you will have to see how doable the double major will be at the next college you go to. It's really something that the next college will have to discuss and inform you about.
What I would suggest, and it's just a thought and you don't have to do it, is focus totally on Film going forward. Then when you graduate, take a certification in a segment of Criminology or go to become a Paralegal. You could also consider becoming a parole or probation officer, that's if you want to give up a career in film. This may be a good time to focus on exactly what career you may want and then let that guide you as to how to take your academic path. I do not recommend at all rushing it or bunching up studies because it is a lot of work and can be very distracting so that one doesn't get the most out of their education and training.
It's just going to be a matter of going to the next college and visiting their academic counseling office. Bring your current college transcripts with you and they will go over the courses and inform you about which ones transfer and which ones do not. Discuss how double majoring works at their school, how much that costs and remember that this cannot be generalized, you have to get specific information to assure that your credits will transfer and only the actual college can tell you because they make the decision. Perhaps your current academic counselor can go over it with you and tell you which nearby colleges will accept all of your credits.
Names of majors do vary at colleges, so for Film, the majors are usually Film, Communications Studies or Mass Media (which I think is an old school defunct term for a major, not sure). For criminology, it is usually called Administration Of Justice or Criminology. Like I said before, it's going to take a lot of first hand reading on your part, but if you have to transfer for personal reasons, then you will have to take the steps to be well informed about the best path to take.
I wish you all the best moving forward and I hope you find a college that works out well for you !
Even though I am someone who advises not to double major because it's not really necessary when one can Major and Minor and finish in four years, I would like to give you some advice.
Something like Film is an all encompassing major and Criminology is a pretty busy major, too. The best way you will solve your inquiry would be, and it will take a lot of reading, I know, to explore colleges. It will take a lot of time. You can start by looking at colleges that are not too far from the city you have already been studying in. Sometimes colleges have what they call "sister colleges" which means that they readily accept students between themselves and their credits are readily accepted. Programs may be similar, too. But then you will have to see how doable the double major will be at the next college you go to. It's really something that the next college will have to discuss and inform you about.
What I would suggest, and it's just a thought and you don't have to do it, is focus totally on Film going forward. Then when you graduate, take a certification in a segment of Criminology or go to become a Paralegal. You could also consider becoming a parole or probation officer, that's if you want to give up a career in film. This may be a good time to focus on exactly what career you may want and then let that guide you as to how to take your academic path. I do not recommend at all rushing it or bunching up studies because it is a lot of work and can be very distracting so that one doesn't get the most out of their education and training.
It's just going to be a matter of going to the next college and visiting their academic counseling office. Bring your current college transcripts with you and they will go over the courses and inform you about which ones transfer and which ones do not. Discuss how double majoring works at their school, how much that costs and remember that this cannot be generalized, you have to get specific information to assure that your credits will transfer and only the actual college can tell you because they make the decision. Perhaps your current academic counselor can go over it with you and tell you which nearby colleges will accept all of your credits.
Names of majors do vary at colleges, so for Film, the majors are usually Film, Communications Studies or Mass Media (which I think is an old school defunct term for a major, not sure). For criminology, it is usually called Administration Of Justice or Criminology. Like I said before, it's going to take a lot of first hand reading on your part, but if you have to transfer for personal reasons, then you will have to take the steps to be well informed about the best path to take.
I wish you all the best moving forward and I hope you find a college that works out well for you !
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
350
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Hannah,
I understand that you are feeling overwhelmed! Transferring schools with a double major can be tricky, but there are definitely ways to minimize the delay in graduation. Here's how you can find the best college program for you:
Focus on Schools with Similar Programs:
Search for "Justice Studies" or "Criminal Justice" programs: Since Criminology falls under your "Justice & Law" degree, look for schools with similar programs. Many universities offer these within their Social Sciences or Public Affairs departments.
Look for "Film Studies" or "Media Production" programs: These programs will likely have a lot of overlap with your Film & Media studies major. They might be offered under the School of Communication, Arts, or Humanities.
Utilize Transfer Credit Resources:
College Transfer Websites: Use resources like the National Transfer Credit Database (https://nc-sara.org/about-nc-sara) or individual college transfer equivalency tools to see which credits transfer to your target schools.
Contact Admissions Offices: Reach out to the admissions offices of the schools you're interested in. Explain your situation and ask about their transfer credit policies, specifically for your Criminology and Film courses. They can give you a preliminary estimate of how many credits will transfer.
Double Major Considerations:
Double Major vs. Minor: Some schools might offer a Film Studies minor within a Justice Studies major. This could be a good option if a full double major isn't feasible due to credit limitations.
Combined Majors: Some universities offer combined majors like "Media & Justice" or "Criminology & Media Studies". Explore these options to see if they align with your interests.
Reduce Graduation Delay:
Summer Courses: If you have some flexibility, consider taking summer courses at your new school to catch up on any lost credits.
CLEP Exams: Explore College Board's CLEP exams (https://clep.collegeboard.org/) to see if you can earn credit by demonstrating your knowledge in specific subjects.
Remember: It's important to find a school that's a good fit for you academically and personally. Don't just focus solely on credit transfer.
Additional Tip: Look for schools with dedicated transfer student advisors. They can guide you through the transfer process and help you maximize your transferred credits.
Best wishes!
I understand that you are feeling overwhelmed! Transferring schools with a double major can be tricky, but there are definitely ways to minimize the delay in graduation. Here's how you can find the best college program for you:
Focus on Schools with Similar Programs:
Search for "Justice Studies" or "Criminal Justice" programs: Since Criminology falls under your "Justice & Law" degree, look for schools with similar programs. Many universities offer these within their Social Sciences or Public Affairs departments.
Look for "Film Studies" or "Media Production" programs: These programs will likely have a lot of overlap with your Film & Media studies major. They might be offered under the School of Communication, Arts, or Humanities.
Utilize Transfer Credit Resources:
College Transfer Websites: Use resources like the National Transfer Credit Database (https://nc-sara.org/about-nc-sara) or individual college transfer equivalency tools to see which credits transfer to your target schools.
Contact Admissions Offices: Reach out to the admissions offices of the schools you're interested in. Explain your situation and ask about their transfer credit policies, specifically for your Criminology and Film courses. They can give you a preliminary estimate of how many credits will transfer.
Double Major Considerations:
Double Major vs. Minor: Some schools might offer a Film Studies minor within a Justice Studies major. This could be a good option if a full double major isn't feasible due to credit limitations.
Combined Majors: Some universities offer combined majors like "Media & Justice" or "Criminology & Media Studies". Explore these options to see if they align with your interests.
Reduce Graduation Delay:
Summer Courses: If you have some flexibility, consider taking summer courses at your new school to catch up on any lost credits.
CLEP Exams: Explore College Board's CLEP exams (https://clep.collegeboard.org/) to see if you can earn credit by demonstrating your knowledge in specific subjects.
Remember: It's important to find a school that's a good fit for you academically and personally. Don't just focus solely on credit transfer.
Additional Tip: Look for schools with dedicated transfer student advisors. They can guide you through the transfer process and help you maximize your transferred credits.
Best wishes!