For students who begin an associate or bachelor's degree program and don't finish, online degree completion programs can be a useful way to achieve their educational goals and graduate.
Earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree can be beneficial. Not only can it give you an advantage when it comes to the types of jobs you qualify for, but it鈥檚 also been shown to lead to higher earning potential and lower unemployment rates []. Plus, occupations in the US that require more education are expected to grow, which can lead to more opportunities and even job stability over time [闭.听
There may be circumstances where you start a bachelor鈥檚 degree program鈥攐r even an associate degree program with the intention of continuing on to your bachelor鈥檚鈥攁nd find that you鈥檙e unable to finish because of work commitments, family responsibilities, finances, or personal reasons. In those instances, an online degree completion program may be useful to consider if you don鈥檛 want to start over.聽
Explore more about online degree completion programs, how they can help you finish your degree, the benefits of signing up, and possible costs to consider.聽
Online degree completion programs are bachelor鈥檚 degree programs that take your prior learning into account. They are intended for adult and returning students who began a degree program and could not finish.聽
Online degree completion programs often allow you to transfer some or all of the previous college credits you鈥檝e earned, so you don鈥檛 have to start from the beginning. Instead, in many instances, you can pick up where you left off and earn your bachelor鈥檚 degree quickly.聽
As the name suggests, you鈥檒l take your classes entirely online鈥攅ither synchronously or asynchronously鈥攁nd work to complete the remaining credits needed to graduate. Universities and colleges design these programs to support you in completing your degree in a flexible way around other commitments.聽
Online degree completion programs are for students who have acquired some college credit but have not earned a formal bachelor鈥檚 degree. In other words, they are usually a good fit for students who have taken time away from their learning and who have earned some college credit, including up to an associate degree. 聽
The program ultimately aims to assist adult and returning students in completing their bachelor鈥檚 degree. You can transfer your previously earned credits to the online completion program, though the number of credits will depend on the online completion program you鈥檙e interested in.聽
Typically, when you enroll in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program, you鈥檒l select a subject matter to major in. Some majors, like computer science or journalism, may even require that you formally apply because the departments housing these majors have limited spots available and cannot accommodate all interested students.聽
In a bachelor鈥檚 completion program, you may not have access to the same volume of majors. Instead, you often either choose from a general studies or liberal arts degree, bolstering your knowledge about a wide range of subjects, or you鈥檒l choose a concentration from one of a few select areas, which tend to be practical and applicable to a wide range of careers.聽
Examples of completion degree concentrations include:聽
Leadership and management
Social science
Health care management
Early childhood studies
Business studies
Cybersecurity analysis
Information technology
Criminal justice
Psychology
Sociology
Marketing
A bachelor鈥檚 degree typically takes 120 credits or between four and five years to earn. The length of time it takes to earn your bachelor鈥檚 completion degree will be shorter but will ultimately depend on the number of credits you transfer. Some programs also stipulate minimum transfer credit requirements, so it鈥檚 a good idea to review each online completion program for specifics.聽聽
Earning your bachelor鈥檚 degree through an online degree completion program has many benefits. Let鈥檚 review some of them.聽
Online degree completion programs appeal to returning students because of their flexibility. Unlike in-person programs that require you to be on campus for set times, you can take your coursework online around your other commitments.聽
Also, in many instances, you can complete your education anywhere without being required to relocate鈥攐r restricted to the place you started.聽
Online study is accommodating, allowing you to study anywhere without relocating or leaving home. Online degrees also incorporate a range of learning materials and styles, including live and recorded lectures, workshops, presentations, and feedback. Plus, there are still opportunities to communicate and network with your peers and faculty members.聽
Degree completion programs offer a range of practical concentrations, making it possible to complete your bachelor鈥檚 degree in an in-demand subject and gain specialized knowledge to benefit your career.聽
Rather than starting over, you may find that you can graduate within two or three years (depending on how many credits you鈥檙e able to transfer), thereby speeding up the time it takes to finish your bachelor鈥檚 degree.聽
While there are a number of benefits to finishing your degree, it鈥檚 also important to consider the following factors.聽
Having a bachelor鈥檚 degree can be useful, but you also want to make sure what you鈥檙e learning will be beneficial for your personal growth and professional career. Conduct an internet search for bachelor鈥檚 completion programs and make a list of the ones that seem like good fits鈥攂oth in terms of their credit transfer policy and the concentrations they offer.聽
You may have started a degree that you can鈥檛 find listed as a completion program. Can you find a concentration that鈥檚 close to what you鈥檇 like to study? If not, applying as a transfer student to a four-year college may open up your choices, but you may have to retake some of your coursework or complete certain general education requirements.聽
Each school will have its own requirements for an online degree completion course, specifically around credit transfers. Some institutions will transfer up to 90 credits (out of the full 120 for a bachelor鈥檚 degree), while others will only transfer between 45 and 60 [, ]. As you research programs, pay attention to the requirements around transferring credits so you can maximize your learning鈥攁nd accelerate your time to completion.聽
If you鈥檙e returning to a degree program after being out of school for some time, it鈥檚 important to pay attention to the level of support available to you. Look at individual programs to see what kind of resources are available, including admissions counselors, office hours, career placement services, alumni networks, and more.聽
Unless you plan to pause your other responsibilities and return to school, juggling a career, family, and a degree requires excellent time management. Make sure you have systems in place to allow you to set realistic goals and create a study-focused environment. Ensure you have a supportive network and are honest with your employer about the extra time a degree will take.
Learn more: 13 Tips for Working Full-Time and Going to School
To find relevant online degree programs, begin by conducting an internet search. You can start with a general query like 鈥渂achelor鈥檚 completion programs鈥 or get more specific if you know you want to study a certain subject.聽
Begin a list of programs that seem like a good fit, paying attention to their concentrations offered, transfer credit policy, and support. Many online completion programs hold information sessions, webinars, or provide admissions counseling to prospective students, and you may want to take advantage of these resources as you set about deciding which one will work best for your needs.聽
Once you decide on the program you鈥檇 like to start, review their admissions criteria. Some require a formal application, which will detail what you need to apply鈥攍ike previous transcripts (so the program can evaluate what credits you鈥檝e earned), letters of recommendation, and more.聽
Completing your degree can be fulfilling on a personal and professional level. You鈥檒l find bachelor鈥檚 completion programs available through 糖心vlog官网观看, like the University of North Texas鈥 Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) or Illinois Tech鈥檚 Bachelor of Information Technology. Both offer flexible learning options and in-demand concentrations to make completing your degree more career-forward.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.