Beyond the Badge: TAMU-CC Opens Pathway toward Bachelor’s Degree for Police Academy Graduates

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Years of patrol work, crisis response, and academy training may now count toward a college degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where police academy credentials are now accepted as transferable credit toward a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Criminal Justice.

Officers who complete a Texas police academy receive a record through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) which documents their training and certifications. The university now evaluates that record to award up to 33 credits toward a BAAS degree, including course equivalencies for introductory criminal justice courses which satisfy core requirements.

The program offers fully online and hybrid course options to accommodate students’ schedules. Currently 80% of the program can be completed online, with a few upper division courses only offered in-person.

“Our BAAS program is designed with flexibility in mind for professionals who are already working in criminal justice or have significant field experience,” said Janie Villanueva, BAAS Program Coordinator.

William Gardner ’28, a Rockport resident, spent 11 years in the U.S. Air Force as a combat arms instructor before attending the Del Mar Regional Police Academy. His law enforcement career has taken him from the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office to the district courts of San Patricio County.

“I hadn’t really thought of going for a bachelor’s degree,” Gardner said. “Then, I saw that I could apply what I’ve already done at the academy and in the field — it just made sense.”

Gardner, who holds two associate degrees and had completed his basic coursework before enlisting, estimates his academy credits alone save him roughly two years of classes. He’s currently taking two online courses per semester and expects to begin working through his remaining criminal justice curriculum once his electives are behind him.

“It’s a game changer having almost everything online,” Gardner said. “It wouldn’t work for me if I had to get off shift at 6 a.m. and then drive to campus for class.”

Corpus Christi Police Officer Rhiannon Wallace ’27, who already held an associate degree and an additional year of college credits, quickly did the math — between her existing coursework and the academy credits, the TAMU-CC program puts her close to the finish line.

For Wallace, finishing her bachelor’s degree is more than a personal milestone — it’s a career requirement.

“You have to have a bachelor’s degree to be promoted to captain,” said Wallace, who is currently a senior officer. “I’d like to get that and eventually become chief of a small-town department.”

Wallace, who is from Austin and earned her associate degree in Kansas before relocating to Corpus Christi, will be the first woman in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. She plans to take a full course load online starting in the fall while working full-time and raising her two daughters.

“My mom and grandmother both only graduated from high school but earning a 4-year degree is something I’ve always wanted,” Wallace said. “I’ve already started talking about college with my 13-year-old. I think seeing me taking classes will help put it in perspective for her.”

The BAAS program has long accepted vocational, technical, and military credits — a distinction which sets it apart from traditional degree tracks. Police training completed through a TCOLE-recognized academy qualifies under the same framework, and because some of those hours map directly to criminal justice curriculum, officers can earn both vocational and core credits simultaneously. The program accepts up to 42 vocational credits in total, meaning officers who completed community college coursework, trade school programs, or military training may apply even more toward their degree.

Applicants are encouraged to investigate if their workplace offers tuition assistance and a state law also provides additional support for peace officers pursuing criminal justice or related coursework.

Prospective students can email baas@tamucc.edu for a meeting to review transcripts and determine how credits apply or visit the university’s BAAS Course Sequencing page for a full breakdown of the degree plan.