Speed Up Your Degree: Opt for an Accelerated Program

Faster is better; that's the way we're programmed to think. We heat up dinner in seconds by zapping it in the microwave. High-speed broadband Internet has become the norm. And, today, even education has picked up the pace.

A full-time nurse earned her master's in nursing in 11 months. A recent college grad launched a high-profile career by opting for an intensive one-year master's in communications. And a new father, pressed for time, finished a master's in public administration in just nine months. All three took advantage of accelerated learning programs offered online.

Over the past few years, the growth in accelerated degree programs has enabled learners to earn the degree they've always wanted -- and quickly. More than 190 institutions have developed flexible programs, according to a 2001 study conducted by the Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based research organization focused on higher education These accelerated programs tend to be concentrated in areas such as nursing, criminal justice, business, law and teaching. Projections suggest that within 10 years, approximately 20 percent of all adult college students will be enrolled in an accelerated program.

Accelerated degree programs compress the workload into a shorter period of time, with courses spanning, on average, 20 hours of class-time in just five weeks as opposed to more than 40 hours over 16 weeks. Many of these programs are offered online, increasing their flexibility. "If a program is online, there's a greater likelihood that it's accelerated," says Sean Gallagher, program director and senior research analyst for Eduventures, a research firm devoted to studying education.

Set Your Own Pace
More than 53 percent of adult learners are very likely or likely to enroll in an accelerated program, according to a November 2006 national survey of 26,000 Americans, conducted by Eduventures.

"It's becoming so popular that many colleges that didn't offer accelerated programs are now doing so," says Gallagher. "Overall, the opinion [in academia] is that seat-time is less important in education. More colleges are comfortable with the fact that there's no difference in outcome with accelerated learning."

For Lynne Kennedy, an online accelerated degree program was appealing since it offered a flexible and faster route to her goal.

While working full-time, Kennedy earned her master's in nursing from American Sentinel University in May 2006. The online accelerated program took her only 11 months, about a year-and-a-half shorter than traditional nursing programs.

"I have moved around the country a great deal in my career and I never would have finished my degree without an online option," says Kennedy, who now lives in Virginia. "The option to work at my own pace was also a motivator. I work full-time and needed to fit my work to the schedule I keep."

Her packed schedule demanded a true commitment to her studies.

"I gave every waking hour not at my job to reading and researching for my papers and assignments," Kennedy says. "It was not easy, but I learned a great deal, quickly."

Her accelerated studies also allowed for more individual contact with professors by e-mail and phone than she would have gotten in a crowded classroom. Weekly phone conferences with her professors were like personal office hours.

"For the right student, accelerated is better because you can focus your attention on one subject intensely for a short amount of time and that may make it easier to learn," says Mary Adams, president of American Sentinel University chair of the Distance Education and Training Council Research and Education Standards Committee. The school currently offers 16 degree programs, which students can accelerate to fit their needs. With terms starting every two weeks, students can set their own pace, completing a course in as little as a month if they have the necessary time to devote to their studies.

Not for the Faint-Hearted
Jessica Donnelly completed six years' worth of degrees in only four years.

"I did this partially to challenge myself and partially because financially it made more sense," says Donnelly, who received her B.A. from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. in just three years, resulting in fewer tuition payments. She then enrolled in an accelerated one-year master's in organizational communication and leadership from Marist College's online division.

Though the degrees came quickly, they weren't necessarily easy.

"It was very fast-paced and demanding," she says. "It requires a lot of your time. I didn't realize how much time I would have to devote to it."

Accelerated programs often require more of a time commitment than traditional, lengthier programs, says Gallagher. "But these are the same courses, same degrees, same standards," he says. "Colleges are recognizing the need to be more flexible. That's not to say that you spend any less time with the coursework, just that it's compressed, more efficient."

Donnelly's hard work has paid off. While her friends are still pursuing advanced degrees or struggling at entry-level jobs, Donnelly's experience and degrees have helped her land a respectable account executive job at a public relations firm in California. She's young for her position, and some of her underlings are older than she is. But she loves her job and her hard-earned savings have already bought her a silver Mustang convertible.

"It wasn't easy and required extra time between semesters, but it was well worth the career advancement," Donnelly says.

When Family Is a Priority
Just when Jonathan Kraut thought he had completed his general education requirements, the registrar told him that he still needed an additional course. This happened semester after semester, and Kraut was beginning to fear he'd never graduate. At the time, the 26-year-old was working full-time, and had just become a father. "I was never home and wanted to spend more time with my family," he says.

Kraut needed a fast track for getting that degree. He called DeVry University and, with the help of their academic advisors, mapped out a course of study that would allow him to finally graduate -- in only a year.

He's been studying ever since. In just five intensified sessions (which lasted eight weeks instead of the traditional 16-week semester), Kraut earned a master's in public administration in May 2006, also from DeVry. "I was able to obtain a degree while cutting out the commute time," he says.

He's now a law student at the University of LaVerne College of Law. Thanks to the flexibility of online learning, he's also pursuing an MBA from DeVry's Keller School of Management. He expects to finish in January 2008.

Online learning "focuses students on the subject matter rather than allowing for witty banter and other distractions that occur in classroom settings," Kraut says. "If the online program is offering a quality education in a faster time period, then why not?"

Earn Your Degree, Quick
Planning a career in nursing, criminal justice, business, law, or teaching? Take advantage of the growing number of accelerated degree programs offered by online universities in these subject areas. But even if your preferred degree program isn't officially considered an "accelerated program," you can still speed up that degree. Just follow these tips:

· Transfer, Transfer, Transfer: Check with the registrar to see whether previous college courses you have completed can count toward your degree requirement.

· Life Experience Counts: Some degree programs, such as those offered at Western Governors University, grant you credit for knowledge acquired through work experience. Often you'll have to pass an exam indicating your level of expertise and familiarity with the subject matter. This can save you time in the long run.

· Pace Yourself: Create your own accelerated program by devoting yourself to completing course requirements in less time than you are allotted. Look for programs that allow you to pace your studies in sync with your schedule, like bachelor of arts degree completion programs.

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