Typically, most students just beginning their educational journey have good intentions. They start out excited about their on-campus college experience or look forward to completing an online distance learning degree program, but then life happens. For various reasons, students sometimes are not in the position to finish their degree program, and sometimes… from no fault of their own. Occasionally, students get burnt out on school, or perhaps, they are homesick and want to go home. More often than not, financial responsibility is a prominent reason for not completing their degree program.
Check out our “Frequently Asked Questions” section below!
- What is a degree program? How long will it take to complete?
- What are my options if I start a degree program and can not finish it?
- What are degree completion programs?
- Are degree completion programs available at all degree levels?
- What are the drawbacks of degree completion programs?
- Can “employment experience” translate into credits earned toward my degree completion program?
- How does an undergraduate degree completion program online work exactly?
- What are the advantages of a degree completion program?
If you got to a certain point within your bachelor’s program but had to quit, never fear, not all is lost. A degree completion program is a unique program developed for students who have started an undergraduate degree in a four-year school but did not finish their degree. Online degree completion programs allow the student to complete the required classes to earn their degree. To qualify, you must have met the minimum number of academic credits before you apply.
Now, here is an essential component of the degree completion program and it is advisable to consider this from the onset of exploring your post-secondary options. You will want the previous credits you’ve already earned to be from an accredited school, as well as, the ones obtained through your online undergraduate degree completion program.
Students who are inspired to go back to school to finish their degree program, often work full-time jobs, and have other family obligations. Online degree completion programs are offered on many topics, although, most students opt for a broad major, such as a Bachelor of Arts degree in the fields of finance, education, or biology, among others. Students will be responsible for completing coursework and taking standardized tests to complete their degrees.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a degree program? How long will it take to complete?
Are you thinking about earning a college degree? It can be overwhelming, in fact, many wonder what does “degree program” mean? In simple terms, a degree is the accolade you earn after completing a course of study in a particular topic. In some instances, you may be asked to pursue a specialization or concentration as a major or minor. Core classes will be required, too. If attending college may or not be your thing, taking it one step at a time is the best way to go!
Typically, depending on your end goals, you will need to, at the very least, sign on to an associate degree program to begin your educational journey. An associate degree takes two years to complete.
If you decide to earn your bachelor’s degree, you will need to transfer your credits into a bachelor’s degree program. This process will take another two years to complete as well.
To continue, earning a master’s degree generally takes two more years, and the doctoral degree completion time can range from four to six years or more to complete, depending on topic and personal dedication to the program.
What are my options if I start a degree program and can not finish it?
Good news… if you can’t complete your degree, check out some of the best online bachelor degree completion programs you can find! They will easily help you complete your degree!
What are degree completion programs?
Are you a member of the “degree not completed” club? If life got in the way while you were attempting to earn your undergraduate degree, fear not… you can always go back to complete your degree. However, careful research must be done to find a program that will “take up where you left off.” Often, the Bachelor of Arts degree is the most likely degree to finish up through the degree completion program. Finding a bachelor completion degree program to fit your specific needs is essential.
Need a few suggestions? If so, check this out: Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs
Are degree completion programs available at all degree levels?
Degree completion programs are primarily offered for those interested in completing their bachelor’s degree.
What are the drawbacks of degree completion programs?
If you intend to finish your degree later through an online degree completion program, you may find that a limited amount of earned credits can be transferred into your completion program. In addition, some bachelor completion degree programs set a time limit on how recently you completed your previously earned credits.
The length of your completion degree program will, of course, depend on your previously earned credits as well. For example, if you are only lacking the last 30 credits of coursework, you can perhaps complete your degree in a year or less.
Can “employment experience” translate into credits earned toward my degree completion program?
Perhaps you were not able to complete your bachelor’s degree program due to financial woes that required you to go to work… at least long enough to get by for a bit. If you would like to now regroup and continue your education, a degree completion program is made with you in mind.
Occasionally, you can find degree completion programs that allow your valuable work/learning experience to translate into earned credits. This process is often referred to as “prior learning credits.”
In addition, professional certifications or creative portfolios of your work may be considered as well.
How does an undergraduate degree completion program online work exactly?
After your transferred degree credits are determined, you can continue earning your degree as planned. Many completion degree programs are offered through an online distance learning format. This allows students to perhaps continue to work while completing their degree.
What are the advantages of a degree completion program?
What’s not to love? A degree completion program allows students to:
- Transfer previously earned credits,
- Fulfill their dreams of being a college graduate,
- Continue working while completing your degree,
- Attend college with like-minded individuals who have also faced adversity in earning their degree,
- Save money… instead of starting over,
- Readily available through online, on-campus, or hybrid formats,
- Use work experience as “learning credits,” depending on school.