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What does it take to go back for a bachelor’s degree?

There are several options to consider when going back to school

By Laura Jeanne Hammond, 8/17/09

Average time to complete: Full-time adult learners with transfer credits typically take two years. Part-time adult learners with transfer credits may take four years to complete.

How to start: Call the college in which you’re interested to set up an appointment with an adviser. Call any colleges you have previously attended to request your official transcripts. Have the transcripts sent directly to the college at which you have an appointment, or bring the sealed transcripts to your meeting.

Options: As an adult learner, you could apply to college as if you were a freshman or transfer student. You could take classes full or part time during the day with traditional students. But before you do that, consider that colleges are pulling out all the stops to entice adults back to school.

• Accelerated degrees: You can cut the time until graduation by taking CLEP exams, transferring credit from other colleges or getting college credit for on-the-job training or experience. Some colleges also offer accelerated bachelor’s degrees for adults. In an accelerated degree program, full-time students take shorter, intense courses each semester.

• Flexible classes: Participation in online discussions may be one component of your on-campus classes, or you may have a class (or an entire degree) conducted completely online. Also look for night and weekend classes.
• Independent learning: In an independent learning model, adult learners meet with an academic adviser to develop and complete coursework. Generally, there are no formal classes to attend, which means it’s up to the student to manage their own course load and project deadlines.
• Cohort learning: In cohort learning, a small group of students share the same classes and work toward the same degree. Cohort learning gives you a group of similarly minded students to get to know well throughout your degree program.

Why should you do it? Professional advancement, to fulfill a personal goal, to instigate a career change.

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