Bachelor's Degree Completion Programs
Finishing a Baccalaureate Degree Can be Quick
© John Wu
Jun 4, 2009
The choice of school, transfer credit policy, and choice of major all play an important role in determining how long it takes to complete the bachelor's degree. By taking all of those factors into account, a good choice can be made as to where to finish the four year college degree.
Choice of Major
The choice of major sometimes changes every six months for college-aged students. The same is true for returning adult students wanting to finish their bachelor degree. If the original major was political science and the returning student wants to major in nursing, it may take three additional years to get the bachelor's degree, even if the student already has four years worth of college credit.
If the returning student sticks with the same major as before, the current major requirements may be very similar to the original requirements. In some cases, the true goal for a returning student may be a master’s program which requires a baccalaureate degree in any subject. In that case, staying with the same major as before is the quickest route to graduate school.
Bachelor's Degree Completion Elsewhere
If the original college doesn’t have the right online courses, or interferes with the returning student’s work schedule, it may be impossible to finish the bachelor's degree at the original school. In those cases, the bachelor's degree needs to be finished elsewhere. There are many online universities and distance learning programs that can fit a work schedule. But make sure the school is accredited by checking with the Department of Education.
Transfer Policy
When a bachelor's degree completion program is not completed at the student's original school, the existing college credits have to be evaluated at the new school for acceptability. If past college credits do not resemble the new school’s current courses, some of the existing college credits may not be accepted, thus lengthening the time to graduation.
College Residency Requirements
Almost every school has a residency requirement that requires a certain number of credits be completed at the new school, especially with respect to the last 30 semester credits completed. Normally, residency is 30 or 45 semester credits. This means it is rare for any accredited school to offer a bachelor's degree completion program that lasts less than a year.
Bachelor's Degree Completion at the Original College
The advantage of returning to the original college is that a higher proportion of college credit will still be valid versus transferring the college credits somewhere else. Residence will be much less of an issue. If the original college offers distance learning or evening courses compatible with a returning student’s schedule, it may be quite feasible to do the bachelor's degree completion program from the school where it all started from. Otherwise, it is best to look elsewhere.
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