Jump-start your career faster with an accelerated degree.
Several accelerated baccalaureate degree programs exist for working adults who want to advance professionally, and for young adults who wish to start their careers as soon as possible. Some programs allow you to apply prior course work or life experience as course credit toward degree requirements. Though accelerated baccalaureate degree programs exist in different forms, most offer you the opportunity to complete your degree requirements within three years.
Accelerated Degree Programs
Some baccalaureate degree programs allow you to take more courses in a shorter length of time in order to graduate in three years. Summer course work is required to meet credit hour requirements for graduation. Acceptance into these programs can require students to meet a set of minimum criteria, including exceptional scores on standardized tests and a minimum high school grade point average.
Work and Life Experience Bachelor Degree Programs
Obtaining a baccalaureate degree at some colleges can be made easier through work and life experience credit. Some institutions offer the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for adults who have been in the workforce for a period of time but have not obtained a baccalaureate degree. Work experience, on-the-job training, independent study and prior college courses taken can be applied to meet degree requirements. The college course credit and minimum qualification requirements vary by institution, but literature, writing, government, management and psychology are just a few of the courses where credit can be given.
Advance Placement
Universities often offer course credit toward a bachelor's degree for advance placement or college credit courses taken in high school. These classes substitute for college credit and help you reach your degree faster. The advance placement courses are most commonly applied at the freshman level required courses. The amount of course credit and application to a baccalaureate degree depend on the specific institution and the scores received on high school advance placement testing.
Competency-Based Programs
Competency-based programs are designed for working adults without the time to attend regularly scheduled college classes. The course work is centered around students studying the knowledge and core competencies included in their area of expertise. Competency-based programs allow students to accelerate the degree process by demonstrating their competency in subject areas through assessment. The curriculum of a competency-based program includes experience-based education, role playing and other application of knowledge and experience through demonstration. Students may be assessed through completing assignments, writing papers or passing online exams.
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