The First 3-Year Degree Programs Win Approval

[Ares]

The First 3-Year Degree Programs Win Approval (Inside Higher Ed)

Three-year bachelor’s degrees are coming to Brigham Young University–Idaho and affiliated Ensign College next year [2024], following approval of the truncated programs by an accrediting body. By eliminating electives, BYU-Idaho will bring five three-year programs online in April: applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health, and professional studies. Ensign will offer two such programs: communication and information technology. [...]

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities approved the seven programs—each of which requires between 90 and 94 credit hours instead of the standard 120—at its June meeting and sent a formal approval letter late last month.

I have not heard much about this discussed here and it is already being advertised by BYU Pathway Worldwide for April 2024. Thoughts?

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I also found this press release from APU about their own 3-year bachelor's program.

American Public University System Launches Accelerated Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity as Part of "College in 3" Initiative

American Public University System (APUS) today announced it will offer an accelerated Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity, in connection with the College in 3 Exchange. Students can register for the three-year bachelor's degree starting in April 2024. [...]

"We are excited to be among the first universities to offer a 90-credit bachelor's degree under this innovative approach with the College in 3 Exchange," said Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, [...]

The accelerated degree has been approved by both the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. [...]

Under the accelerated program, students will take the same required cybersecurity courses they would in a traditional program – with the same program outcomes. Only electives have been eliminated from the three-year, 90-credit program.  

Eliminating electives makes sense if you want to realistically accelerate it and if more colleges move to this style of degree that is only 30 more credits instead of 60 needed to finish past an associate's degree.

[smartdegree]

Interesting. However, the 90 credit requirement will likely make graduates of these 3-year degrees ineligible for masters admissions. Athabasca U (Canadian school with US accreditation) has offered 90 credit degrees for many years and these are primarily for employment and not for graduate study.

[Airamb]

https://www.byupathway.edu/degree-in-three

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FAQ
"Do these degrees have the same credentials as other degrees? Will graduate schools recognize them?
Yes, the new three-year bachelor’s degrees are offered by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College, institutions accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Graduate programs focus on the regional accreditation of bachelor's degrees, not the number of credits required in the degree"

[bjcheung77]

Here's an older thread, https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ad-Options

[ss20ts]

https://www.byupathway.edu/degree-in-three

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FAQ
"Do these degrees have the same credentials as other degrees? Will graduate schools recognize them?
Yes, the new three-year bachelor’s degrees are offered by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College, institutions accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Graduate programs focus on the regional accreditation of bachelor's degrees, not the number of credits required in the degree"

That's only 1 of the accreditation boards though. And there are grad programs that do require 120 undergrad credits. Some schools are super picky and some grad programs are even pickier.

[NotJoeBiden]

I would rather see BYU create an integrated 4 year BA-MA or BS-MS in those fields rather than a 3 year BA or BS. That would be much more valuable and well respected in academia and industry.

[Ares]

https://www.byupathway.edu/degree-in-three

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FAQ
"Do these degrees have the same credentials as other degrees? Will graduate schools recognize them?
Yes, the new three-year bachelor’s degrees are offered by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College, institutions accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Graduate programs focus on the regional accreditation of bachelor's degrees, not the number of credits required in the degree"

That's only 1 of the accreditation boards though. And there are grad programs that do require 120 undergrad credits. Some schools are super picky and some grad programs are even pickier.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities overseas 163 institutions in 7 U.S. states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) and 1 Canadian province (British Columbia), 79 of which offer graduate degrees. That is not that bad but you would definitely want to check first.

[ss20ts]

https://www.byupathway.edu/degree-in-three

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FAQ
"Do these degrees have the same credentials as other degrees? Will graduate schools recognize them?
Yes, the new three-year bachelor’s degrees are offered by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College, institutions accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Graduate programs focus on the regional accreditation of bachelor's degrees, not the number of credits required in the degree"

That's only 1 of the accreditation boards though. And there are grad programs that do require 120 undergrad credits. Some schools are super picky and some grad programs are even pickier.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities overseas 163 institutions in 7 U.S. states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) and 1 Canadian province (British Columbia), 79 of which offer graduate degrees. That is not that bad but you would definitely want to check first.

That leaves 43 other states and thousands of colleges.

[NotJoeBiden]

https://www.byupathway.edu/degree-in-three

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FAQ
"Do these degrees have the same credentials as other degrees? Will graduate schools recognize them?
Yes, the new three-year bachelor’s degrees are offered by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College, institutions accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Graduate programs focus on the regional accreditation of bachelor's degrees, not the number of credits required in the degree"

That's only 1 of the accreditation boards though. And there are grad programs that do require 120 undergrad credits. Some schools are super picky and some grad programs are even pickier.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities overseas 163 institutions in 7 U.S. states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) and 1 Canadian province (British Columbia), 79 of which offer graduate degrees. That is not that bad but you would definitely want to check first.

About 5% of regionally accredited colleges in the US…


-
Joe

[Ares]

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities overseas 163 institutions in 7 U.S. states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) and 1 Canadian province (British Columbia), 79 of which offer graduate degrees. That is not that bad but you would definitely want to check first.

That leaves 43 other states and thousands of colleges.

As cited in the original post, APU is also offering a 3 year bachelors degree and it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission which accredits approximately 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 U.S. states (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).

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The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities overseas 163 institutions in 7 U.S. states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) and 1 Canadian province (British Columbia), 79 of which offer graduate degrees. That is not that bad but you would definitely want to check first.

About 5% of regionally accredited colleges in the US…

That is more than the 0.1% usually recommended in this forum.