Students can learn or advance a career through an accelerated program.
A graduate degree can often lead to better job opportunities, career advancement and even higher paycheck. If you have a bachelor's degree and are ready to either start a new career or gain valuable professional expertise in an area in which you work, earning a graduate degree may be the way to go. For a quicker path to an advanced education students may opt for an accelerated graduate program.
How It Works
Accelerated graduate degree programs are advanced educational programs that move at a fast pace over a short period of time. Although an accelerated program is technically shorter than a traditional graduate program, this 'quick' degree may still take a year or more to complete depending on the program you choose. This is in contrast to a traditional graduate degree, which typically takes at least two years or more. These programs immerse students in the subject matter during short, in-depth courses. Students often participate in hands-on projects and experiential learning type activities more than lectures or presentation-style instruction during the course of an accelerated learning plan.
Types
There are several different types of accelerated graduate degree programs, some of which cater to the non-professional student who has recently finished college. Other programs target career workers who are looking for specialized professional knowledge or job advancement. Although you may find an accelerated graduate program at the doctoral level, most schools offer these degrees at the master's level. Master's level degree opportunities exist in many different fields that range from nursing to business and beyond. These include Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd) and other similar degrees.
Schools
Many major universities offer accelerated programs at this level. Additionally, online universities and distance learning programs from brick and mortar schools provide students with this fast track option. For example, California's Pepperdine University offers a one-year full-time accelerated MBA program directly at the school while Post University provides MBA and MEd students with an online fast track learning option.
Bachelors to Masters
With the current trend towards obtaining an advanced degree, many universities are offering an accelerated graduate program in conjunction with a traditional college degree. These programs allow students to begin graduate course work while still working on upper-level bachelor's-level classes. Instead of completing a bachelor's degree in four years, applying to graduate school and then taking an added three or more years to complete a master's program, these accelerated options condense the academic experience into an average of five years total. For example, Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University's accelerated graduate programs in Information Sciences allow undergraduates to to complete a master's degree in as little as two additional semesters.
Tags: graduate degree, graduate program, accelerated graduate, accelerated graduate program, accelerated program