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Southwestern Michigan College and Western Michigan University Feb. 12 signed an articulation agreement establishing a direct transfer pathway from SMC’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice to WMU’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

In addition, SMC approved a Certificate in Criminal Justice, endorsed by the Curriculum and Instruction Committee for inclusion in the 2026–2027 College Catalog.

The Western agreement allows students to complete 60-61 credits at SMC and transfer those to WMU, with both general education and major-specific criminal justice courses applying directly toward the bachelor’s degree.

Students can begin at SMC knowing exactly how coursework will transfer and how it will count toward a bachelor’s degree.

The agreement reflects close collaboration between faculty leaders at both institutions, including Criminal Justice Director Dr. Don Ricker at SMC; Dr. David Hartmann, chair of the Department of Sociology at WMU; and Dr. Zoann Snyder, WMU associate professor of criminal justice.

The support and guidance of Megan Kupres, WMU transfer recruitment manager, were invaluable throughout this process.

“Western has become the school of choice for our CJ students,” Ricker said.

Designed to support both career readiness and continued education, the program prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, courts, juvenile justice and related public-service fields, while also supporting transfer to four-year institutions.

Under Ricker’s leadership, students engage deeply with core areas such as criminal law, policing, corrections, juvenile justice and the U.S. legal system, while developing critical thinking, communication and analytical skills.

In addition to teaching and mentoring, Ricker is starting chapter three of a nine-chapter, college-level textbook on serial killers with Kendall-Hunt Publishing, bringing current scholarship directly into the classroom.

SMC criminal justice students consistently demonstrate success beyond the classroom, including medal-winning performances at SkillsUSA competitions. Students have earned gold, silver and bronze medals by applying technical knowledge, teamwork and problem-solving skills in highly competitive, real-world scenarios.

“The certificate in criminal justice was something I had been thinking about for a while,” Ricker said. “When I presented the idea to Mikki Spagnoli of Heritage Southwest, she really liked it. Another reason was many police agencies in the area, such as Grand Rapids and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, lowered the minimum age to apply to 18. The contact hours they earn from the certificate will help them significantly should they decide to begin a career in law enforcement and enter a police academy at 18.

“Another factor was our dual-enrolled students,” Ricker said, “as they will be able to earn the certificate prior to finishing high school.”

“The certificate program has strong value,” said Sean Harris, Elkhart County chief deputy for more than 15 years.

“Many individuals begin careers in these fields without a baseline understanding of legal standards, inmate or offender management, report writing and the broader complexities of the criminal justice system. As a result, agencies must invest significant time and resources in training these fundamentals. This certificate helps bridge that gap.”

“Our agency utilizes a points-based system that rewards education at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels,” said Harris, who teaches Criminal Justice Supervision, Juvenile Delinquency and Sociology 201 for SMC.

“There are absolutely employment opportunities available with one year of study, particularly in corrections, which often serves as an entry point into the profession,” Harris said.

The certificate consists of 24–25 credits drawn directly from the existing AAS in Criminal Justice curriculum. Courses included in the certificate are offered in both online and in-seat formats at the Dowagiac and Niles campuses.