These Are NOT Your Mother’s Accelerated College Programs

iStock_000046493796_Small Accelerated programs are hardly a passing fad – they’ve been around in one form or another for generations. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which is credit-by-exam, is over 40 years old. However, the number of schools that offer accelerated programs, the ways they are offered, and the number of courses available to credit-by-exam are different now. As a Dylan song said, “The times, they are a-changin’.” Here are some things you should know about today’s accelerated college programs.

There Are More Options

Because a college degree can be expensive, students are more interested than ever in getting their degree quicker to save money. Another reason for an increase in the popularity of accelerated programs is due to the increase of non-traditional students, usually older, who have less interest in the “college experience” and are more interested in saving money and getting quickly into the workplace.

It wasn’t too long ago that the only way for someone who had job or family obligations to go back to school was to go at nights or on weekends. Accelerated college programs are more flexible now, and can fit almost any student’s needs. There are colleges that only offer accelerated programs on campus; however, online programs have become more commonplace. With online options, classes can more easily fit your schedule and are available year round, rather than limited to traditional semesters. For many of today’s generation of students, technology is second nature, so online courses are especially appealing.

Some colleges are accelerating the entire degree process by going from being four year to three year bachelor degree institutions. Most of these are not trying to squeeze four years of classes into three. Instead, they are trimming the hours required for a degree and focusing on courses that are truly needed for the degree. As Royce Ann Collins, an assistant professor in the adult education department at Kansas State, emphasized in a blog for the Commission for Accelerated Programs, it is more important to look at how students learn rather than how long they are in a classroom.

Not only are accelerated programs available as a single degree option, they are options for dual degree students. Combining accelerated study for both a bachelors and a masters, the two degrees can be obtained in as little as 4 years, compared to the traditional 6 or 7 years.

CLEP Is More of an Option than Ever

CLEP was initially designed for non-traditional students as a way for them to get credit for knowledge gained through past experience by “testing out” of classes. Today, CLEP is for any student who would like to save time and money on their college education. You go to a testing center and take a computerized exam. If you pass, you receive credit as if you had gone to a traditional class for an entire semester.

Very limited at first, CLEP now has 33 exams covering 5 different subjects, and is accepted by over 2,900 colleges and universities. This wide acceptance means that you can take CLEP exams at any test center and apply the credits at your school of choice. However, there are differences between colleges as to how many credits are allowed through CLEP, as well as flexibility in how credit is applied, so you will need to research what the policies are for your school of interest.

Achieve Test Prep Can Help You Get Your Degree Faster

At Achieve, our credit-by-exam programs can get you college credit in a fraction of the time of traditional methods. Our number one goal is the success of our students in passing and getting credit – in fact, we guarantee it. We put you first by being flexible to fit your needs. You can take classes on one of our many campuses across the country, or you can choose our virtual live online classes in which you will have the same learning experience you would in a traditional classroom, but with the convenience of being at home.

Contact Achieve Test Prep or visit http://www.achievetestprep.com/bloggd to find out how credit-by-exam can accelerate getting your degree The Rise of Accelerated Degree Programs

Topics: Accelerated College Degree

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