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Earning your first bachelor鈥檚 degree can help you qualify for more roles, earn a higher salary, and strengthen your knowledge about a subject. After graduation, bachelor鈥檚 degree holders pursue many paths: some enter the workforce, others pursue advanced education, like a master鈥檚 degree, if they intend to study a similar subject, and still others seek out supplementary education, like a certificate, to help them gain specific career skills.听

However, there may be times when earning a second bachelor鈥檚 degree鈥攁nother full bachelor鈥檚 degree you pursue after earning your first鈥攎akes more sense. In this article, we鈥檒l discuss what it takes to earn a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, reasons why you might want to acquire one, and other education options to consider.

Learn more: Is a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Worth It?

5 reasons for earning a second bachelor鈥檚 degree聽

Pursuing a second bachelor鈥檚 often depends on specific circumstances. Here are five instances where it may be beneficial:聽

1. To start a new career聽

Many jobs require a bachelor鈥檚 degree. While employers often state a preference for one subject area, they may be flexible if you demonstrate significant experience or skills related to the work. However, when you鈥檙e interested in changing careers to a more specialized type of work, such as nursing or engineering, it may be necessary to go back and earn your bachelor鈥檚 degree if you studied something unrelated to that field.听聽

Before deciding whether a second bachelor鈥檚 degree is the best use of your resources, think about what transferable skills you have that could apply to a career change. It can also help to explore what a career change cover letter looks like.

2. To strengthen your subject knowledge聽

A second bachelor鈥檚 degree isn鈥檛 a requirement for advancement, but it can help strengthen your subject knowledge and experience. It may even show employers your commitment to learning more about your field and bolstering your related skills.听

However, since second bachelor鈥檚 degree majors are more limited, you should take time to research the programs available to you. If you can鈥檛 find what you鈥檙e looking for, exploring master鈥檚 degrees in your field may be beneficial. Many people pursue a graduate degree when they鈥檙e looking to advance their career in some way.听聽

3. To begin working after a significant break聽

People take time off work for many reasons. If you鈥檝e been out of the workforce for several years or even several decades, you may benefit from earning a second bachelor鈥檚 degree to reinforce your subject knowledge while learning about new developments in your field. Reentering the workforce after a significant break is also an opportunity to think about a career change, which may necessitate a second degree.听聽

4. To contribute to your personal growth聽

While the reasons we鈥檝e listed above have to do with professional development, you may find that you want to return to school to learn about a subject that interests you and continue investing in your education. In that case, perhaps the advanced coursework鈥攐r cost鈥攐f a master鈥檚 degree or some other type of education doesn鈥檛 fit your goals or resources, and a second bachelor鈥檚 degree would be a better option.听

5. To raise your GPA

If the GPA from your first bachelor鈥檚 degree is keeping you from qualifying for graduate programs or pursuing other opportunities, then you may want to return to school and work on getting your second bachelor鈥檚 degree. The GPA you earn for your second bachelor鈥檚 degree won鈥檛 supplement or erase your first bachelor鈥檚 GPA, but if you do well, it can signal to academic programs and employers that you worked hard to improve.听

Learn more: Should You Go Back to School: 7 Things to Consider

What does it take to earn a second bachelor鈥檚?聽聽

Earning your second bachelor鈥檚 degree typically takes less time than your first because it often doesn鈥檛 require finishing the general education credits that comprise half of the 120 credits needed to graduate. However, not every college or university offers the chance to get a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, and those that do have limited majors. Let鈥檚 go over other important details about a second degree.听

Less time to complete聽

An initial bachelor鈥檚 degree generally takes between four and five years to earn because you must first complete around two years of general education courses before moving on to your major and elective courses. With a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, however, you likely won鈥檛 have to complete as many credits because you can transfer a good deal of what you鈥檝e already earned toward your second degree.听

Second bachelor鈥檚 degrees take around two or three years to earn, but that timeline can move faster or slower depending on your part-time or full-time student status.听

Focus on major coursework

Every school is different, but usually, those that offer second bachelor鈥檚 degrees allow you to you completed for your first bachelor鈥檚. The remaining credits you鈥檒l need to fulfill tend to focus more on major coursework.听

That being said, some schools allow you to transfer some of your major credits from your first bachelor鈥檚 to your second, which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your new degree. As you research potential programs, reach out to college advisors to learn more about the specific requirements so you fully understand your coursework and timeline to graduation.听

Limited majors聽

Not every major is available as a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, and not every school offers second degrees. It鈥檚 best to check with the schools you鈥檙e interested in attending to see if they offer a second bachelor鈥檚 and which areas you can study.听

Restricted financial aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps determine your eligibility for financial assistance. But once you earn one bachelor鈥檚 degree and have used up your 12 semesters of eligibility, you will no longer qualify for federal grants. However, you may still receive scholarships, work-study options, and student loans.听

Alternatives to a second bachelor鈥檚 degree

Returning to school to earn your second bachelor鈥檚 degree isn鈥檛 your only option. Below, we鈥檝e compiled alternatives worth exploring as you determine what kind of education is best for your goals.听

Double major聽

When you鈥檙e in school, think about completing a double major rather than a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, which you鈥檇 need to apply for and enroll in after graduating. Often, completing two majors doesn鈥檛 take much longer than completing one, and you can list both majors on your resume to show employers the extra steps you took to learn complementary subjects.听

Dual degree聽

Certain schools offer dual degree programs to students enrolled in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program. One extra year of study, on average, may be all it takes to earn two bachelor鈥檚 degrees in related subjects, such as business administration and marketing. There are also programs designed to streamline the time it takes to earn a bachelor鈥檚 and a master鈥檚, such as the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work.听

Learn more: Double Major vs. Dual Degree: What鈥檚 the Difference?

Master鈥檚 degree

A master鈥檚 degree is a graduate degree that deepens your knowledge of a subject鈥攐ften one you studied for your bachelor鈥檚 degree. They usually take two to three years to complete and can often lead to more senior roles and higher salaries. Because of the advanced nature of the degree, master鈥檚 coursework may be more difficult than the coursework for a second bachelor鈥檚 degree and is often a consideration for students deciding between the two.听聽

Professional certificate聽

A professional certificate can teach you job-ready skills that supplement the academic education you received through your first bachelor鈥檚 degree program. They are often designed to take far less time (several months up to one year) than a second bachelor鈥檚 or graduate degree program and are useful credentials to feature on your resume.听

Professional development聽

Professional development tends to refer to courses, workshops, or conferences you can take in order to strengthen your professional skill set. While less official than a professional certificate, each field has many options to help you gain career-relevant skills and experience in areas like management, leadership, or communication.听

Personal development

Oftentimes, a company wants some kind of proof, like a portfolio, to verify that you have a specific skill set. Increasingly, people are leveraging independent projects to create a portfolio and enter a new career path without formal education. Learn through free courses and guided projects, such as the ones on 糖心vlog官网观看, and build a project or portfolio you can showcase during interviews. 聽

Is a second bachelor鈥檚 degree right for you?

To determine the answer to that question, first ask yourself another: what do you want to do with your second bachelor鈥檚 degree? If you have a clear goal for earning one, such as a career change, then getting a second bachelor鈥檚 as opposed to another type of education may be a good option for you.听

Given the time and expense of a second bachelor鈥檚 degree, it鈥檚 best to research and consider all of your options鈥攁nd the potential outcome of each. Is it common for people to earn a second bachelor鈥檚 in your field? If you are switching careers, do you need a bachelor鈥檚 in the new subject, or can you find ways to learn about it that augment your first bachelor鈥檚 degree? Ultimately, you are the only one who can determine whether a second bachelor鈥檚 degree is right for you.听聽

Learn more: How to Create a Goal-Oriented Career Development Plan (Template + Tips)

Explore further聽

There are several bachelor鈥檚 degree programs available in in-demand areas, such as computer science and marketing, from leading universities on 糖心vlog官网观看. Learn at your own pace from anywhere there鈥檚 internet access.听