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 →District of ColumbiaPublic safety
Which online credits can end up on an accredited college transcript
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
MPD asks for 45 semester hours from an accredited college or university. Online courses taken at such 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 MPD recruiting in writing whether it would count them.
What MPD's rule actually says
MPD's police officer page asks for at least 45 semester hours of college credit from an accredited college or university. It does not say whether courses must be in person or online, and it sets no subject.
So the transcript is the test. A credit on an accredited college's transcript matches the wording. A course certificate on its own does not.
MPD also says foreign degrees or credits need an evaluation from a member of NACES or AICE. That rule shows how MPD reads credit: through a recognised record, not a certificate. Outside courses follow the same logic, reaching MPD through a college transcript.
Three kinds of online credit
Online credit reaches a transcript in different ways.
| 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 it, 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 MPD 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 MPD 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 MPD recruiting: would you count credits posted on that college's transcript toward the 45?
- To MPD recruiting: must the credits be on the transcript by Prospect Day?
Common mistakes
The first 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 MPD. Recruiting decides how its rule applies to your transcript, and a short written answer settles that before you spend money.
Keeping your records in order
Keep a simple file for every course: the 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 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.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask MPD recruiting in writing whether credits posted on a partner college's transcript would count toward its 45-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
Does MPD accept online college credits?
MPD asks for credits from an accredited college or university and does not mention format. Online courses taken at such a college fit that wording. For any other source, ask MPD recruiting in writing whether it would count the credit before you enrol.
Are NCCRS-recommended courses college credit?
Not on their own. NCCRS 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 that transcript is what MPD reads.
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 Prospect Day.
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 MPD recruiting in writing first, then start with Criminology, Psychology and English Composition.
Sources
- Join MPD: Police Officer (official)One of: 45 semester hours of college credit from an accredited college or university; two years of active duty (Reserves or National Guard included), honorable discharge if separated; three years full-duty with a full-service US police department. US citizen or permanent resident; 20 years 6 months to apply; valid driver's license. UDC partnership: 15 credits for completing the Academy, toward 60. Foreign credentials evaluated by a NACES or AICE member. Tuition reimbursement up to $4,800 a year. Starting salary $75,433. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.