Introduction to Sociology
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →DelawarePublic safety
Which online credits can end up on an accredited college transcript
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
The Delaware State Police counts credits from an accredited college or university. Online courses from a college already fit. ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses from other providers count only once a college posts them on its own transcript. Ask the college how it posts them, and ask DSP recruiting in writing whether it would count them.
What the DSP rule actually says
The qualifications page asks for 60 semester credits, or 90 quarter credits, from an accredited college or university. It does not say whether the courses must be taken in person or online, and it sets no subject.
So the key is the transcript. A credit that appears on an accredited college's transcript matches the wording. A course certificate on its own does not.
Three kinds of online credit
Online credit reaches a transcript in different ways. Knowing which kind you are buying saves surprises.
| Kind | Where it starts | How it reaches a transcript |
|---|---|---|
| Online college course | An accredited college | Already on that college's transcript |
| ACE-recommended course | A provider reviewed by ACE | A college reviews it and posts it |
| NCCRS-recommended course | A provider reviewed by NCCRS | A college reviews it and posts it |
How a college posts recommended credit
ACE and NCCRS review courses and recommend a number of credits. They do not run transcripts. A college that considers recommended credit reviews your course record and decides whether to post the credit on its own transcript, often as transfer credit toward one of its degrees.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Each sets its own rules and fees, so read their transfer pages first. The credit then reaches DSP via a college transcript.
- Check the college's transfer page for ACE and NCCRS
- Ask about fees, enrolment and timing
- Ask how the credit will be listed on the transcript
Questions to ask before you enrol
Two offices need to say yes: the college that posts the credit and DSP recruiting. Ask both in writing and keep the replies.
- To the college: would you post these courses on your transcript, and how long does it take?
- To DSP recruiting: would you count credits posted on that college's transcript toward the 60 or 30 credits?
- To DSP recruiting: by what date must the credits appear?
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is counting credits before they are on a transcript. A finished course with a recommendation is not yet college credit. Leave time for the college to review and post it.
The second is buying courses before asking DSP. The page wording is clear, but recruiting decides how it applies to your transcript. A short written answer settles that before you spend money.
Keeping your records in order
Keep a simple file for every course you take. Save the course completion record, the recommendation details and any email from the college about posting the credit. When the college posts the credit, request an unofficial transcript and check that every course appears with the right number of credits.
If something is missing, raise it with the college straight away. Fixing a transcript can take weeks, and DSP reads only what the official transcript shows on the day you apply.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the Delaware State Police Recruiting Unit in writing whether credits posted on a partner college's transcript would count toward its 60- or 30-credit requirement before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Are ACE-recommended courses college credit?
Not on their own. ACE reviews a course and recommends a number of credits. The course becomes college credit only when a college reviews it and posts it on its own transcript, and only that transcript is what an employer such as the Delaware State Police reads.
Does the Delaware State Police accept online college credits?
DSP's page asks for credits from an accredited college or university and does not mention the format. Online courses taken at such a college fit that wording. For any other source, ask the DSP Recruiting Unit in writing whether it would count the credit before you enrol.
How long does it take for a college to post recommended credit?
It depends on the college. Some review records within weeks; others only after you enrol in a degree programme. Ask the college for its timeline in writing, and plan so the credit is on the transcript before your DSP application date.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Ethics in the Social Sciences
Self-paced online Ethics in the Social Sciences course (Social Science 110). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Ask DSP recruiting in writing first, then start with Criminology, Psychology and English Composition.
Sources
- Delaware State Police: Qualifications (official)US citizen; 21 by the end of the Academy and not over 39 on day one; high school diploma or GED plus 60 semester or 90 quarter credits from an accredited college or university, or 30 credits with two years of active-duty military service; 30 credits with two years as a Delaware-certified officer or out-of-state trooper for the accelerated Academy; 60 credits for Sergeant, bachelor's for Lieutenant and above. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.