<p>I was pretty dead set on becoming a Pennsylvania state cop and got my 2 year degree in criminal justice. I have 8 months before I'm 21 and old enough to apply for the job. However, I've been thinking about taking more of a science route while still utilizing my degree. Would it be possible for me to go to a 4 year school majoring in life science or something related to the position of a conservation officer. Since I'm sure I already have some of the core classes I would think I'd be done a bit earlier than 4 years. Another 2 years would be perfect but I'm not quite sure if that's possible. Is it? Even though I'm a college graduate, I'm still undereducated on how all of the paperwork is going to work. Can I go for another 2 years on top of my associates and get a bachelor in a different major? Thanks</p>
<p>Yes, and yes :)</p>
<p>An associate's degree most definitely does not prevent you from transferring your credit to a four-year institution and using that as a springboard to a bachelor's degree. Nor does your associate degree's major have to have anything to do with your intended bachelor's degree major.</p>
<p>Generally, people looking at game warden careers major in some sort of resource management/wildlife-related field. Check your potential agencies for the sort of degrees they require, and then match that up with available degree programs at the universities you intend to apply to.</p>
<p>Edit: I can't find requirements for Pennsylvania, but here are California DFG's:</p>
<p>EDUCATION: Equivalent to completion of two years (60 semester units) of college with 18
semester units in the biological sciences, police science or law enforcement, natural resources
conservation, ecology or related fields. (Students who have 30 semester units of college, and
have 18 semester units completed in the required or related fields, will be admitted to the
examination, but must produce evidence of completion of 60 semester units before they can be
considered eligible for appointment.) </p>
<p>The Department has determined that “related fields” are but are not limited to: Animal Science,
botany, chemistry, conservation, ecology, entomology, environmental management,
environmental science, environmental studies, fisheries or wildlife management, forestry,
geography, geology, herpetology, life science, mammalogy, marine biology, natural resources,
oceanography, ornithology, physics, psychology, plant taxonomy, water quality management,
wilderness survival and zoology. See paragraph below for more information.</p>
<p>You should start with a visit to the Transfer Office at the place where you earned your associates degree. They can tell you which universities they have transfer agreements with, and what courses you would need to have to qualify for an automatic transfer to each of those schools and programs. If you don't qualify for an automatic transfer, you can still apply as a regular transfer student.</p>
<p>The advantage of an automatic transfer would be that the receiving university has already agreed to accept all of your AA credits, and the program is set up for you to finish in only two years. If you are a regular transfer student, you may need to take more than two years to finish your final degree.</p>
<p>If for some reason your school doesn't have any transfer agreements, or it is too hard for you to visit, you can make an appointment with the Transfer Admissions office at one of the colleges/universities that interest you as places to finish your degree. Bring your transcripts. They can take a look at your classes so far and help you figure out your options.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>You can also look online - many universities have pre-banked lists posted on the Web, listing the accepted courses from various colleges they've received transfer students from. Often these are called "Transfer Credit Resource Site" or something similar. Look for them to be linked from the transfer student admissions pages.</p>