Can I do a degree in 2 years? (A guide)

In this brief guide we are going to answer the question ‘’Can I do a degree in 2 years?” and we will point out the techniques to advance and finish the degree in less time.

Can I do a degree in 2 years?

Yes, you can do a degree in two years. Colleges offer a 2-year degree completion program. To do this, you must accumulate credits by taking exams, advancing classes in the summer and requesting extra credits.

Finishing college in less time is a goal that many young people set for themselves, either because they want to study more university degrees, because it’s a way to save money or because they want to find work quickly. No matter what the case is, the tips we share below will help you.

Set goals

Although your main goal when entering your college will be to finish a university degree, it’s important that you define more specific objectives that guide you there little by little.

In this way, you will have a much better chance of staying on the right track and achieving what you have in mind.

To achieve this, the first thing you will have to do is identify what steps will lead you to obtain a professional degree. Some of these are: passing the exams each semester, presenting a thesis project and obtaining good results in your projects and assignments.

If during your undergraduate degree, you pay close attention to achieving each of your specific goals, without a doubt, you will be successful and finish a university degree without any problem.

Strive from the start

If you want to graduate from college early, you can’t neglect a subject. You might be surprised at how test percentages move and how easily carelessness can make you fail. Failing a subject is a huge waste of time.

Don’t skip the subjects thinking that you can pass them later. In the long run, the accumulation of classes neglected by that conviction will be too many and later it will be a great burden to become a professional.

Just imagine that the teacher gives you more weight than you expected for an exam that you don’t feel ready for. The content of a subject is studied in its entirety, if you study for some things and not for others, you can be unlucky in the higher weight assessments.

1. Enroll in an accelerated program

Go to a school that offers accelerated degree programs. Some colleges and universities offer accelerated degree programs. You will be able to complete the common accelerated degree in 2-3 years.

Accelerated technical degree programs are designed to be completed in just one year. Search the internet for colleges and universities that offer accelerated degree programs in the field that interests you.

• Most of them will be very structured, which means that you will not be able to choose the courses you want to take.
• Some of these programs offer additional guidance and support to ensure that students are able to complete them successfully in the allotted time.

Find out if you qualify for an accelerated degree program

To enter an accelerated degree program, you may need to meet certain requirements.

Often, programs require that you have a specific grade point average. Some also request that you live with a tutor to cover the expenses.

Find a program that matches your needs

Many of the programs are designed for traditional students, but there are also options for people trying to balance their studies with work and family, etc. They could also offer short-form courses that only last 5-8 weeks.

They are generally very flexible, including options to attend courses on campus or online. 

Consider getting a technical degree instead of a bachelor’s degree

Conventional technical degree programs can be completed in 2 years, while some accelerated programs will only last one year. Also, technical degree programs tend to cost less than bachelor’s. You can get a low-cost one at most community schools and many online institutes.

Many employers will apply for a bachelor’s degree, but there are many viable professions that you can pursue with a technical degree. Do some research to see what kind of work is viable with a technical degree. There are many options, such as occupational therapist, engineering, etc.

In the US, most technical degree programs require completion of a number of courses equal to 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (about 20 classes).

Equivalences: Some colleges will accept a technical degree as part of the credits required to complete a bachelor’s program.

Study the curriculum of the program

The curriculum is the set of subjects or subjects that you will see in your career and that are distributed in trimesters, semesters or years. When studying your curriculum you will notice the subjects that have the greatest academic weight and those that cannot be taken without having previously seen one.

You can even search for universities based on this criterion, since there are institutions that design several curricula precisely so that you can finish university in less time, so that they don’t include classes that unnecessarily extend the duration of your university studies.

If you see it from this perspective, you can finish your career faster depending on the university where you study. For this reason, we recommend that you analyze the academic plans of the institutions where you plan to study.

Take advantage of all your credits

Depending on the academic periods that the university of your interest develops (years, semester, quarterly), you are allowed to use a certain number of credits, which are associated with the classes you take. 

If you want to finish college in less time, complete as many credits as possible. The faster you complete your credits, the less time you will spend in college.

Most colleges and universities allow their students to enroll for a maximum number of credits per cycle. However, you can generally obtain authorization to take a number of courses greater than the maximum allowed. This will be a way to get through the requirements more quickly.

Of course, this alternative means more dedication to your studies and, therefore, you will have to spend more hours at the university, but it’s an option that is worth taking. After all, you will notice how much time has been saved.

Summer classes

Summer classes tend to be a shorter period than regular classes, so consider preparing yourself for intensive learning and a faster pace.

Summer will be a great time to complete 1 or 2 required courses, so you don’t have to worry about them during the academic year. Take advantage of this opportunity to take electives and simpler subjects. Accumulate credits and reduce the load of subjects when the regular class period begins.

Of course, summer classes have a cost, so you should check how much the subject costs and if they accept credits, don’t hesitate to consult an academic advisor.

One way to finish college in two years is to take advantage of each semester, including the summer. Take as many subjects as possible during the summer, fall, and winter. Don’t forget about evening classes.

Some high schools allow you to do advanced internships while you are still in high school, which gives you college credit up front. Talk to your academic advisor for information on advanced practices.

Apply to proficiency exams

There are classes that offer the possibility of taking an exam so that you don’t have to take it completely. This is convenient, because if you master a subject through a course or previous knowledge, you can save yourself from taking that subject.

This will help you advance faster, since passing classes practically without receiving them will allow you to advance other subjects.

To apply to the proficiency exams, it’s essential that you have a perfect master of the subject, so that it doesn’t affect your academic average.Use this option only if you really have mastered the subject.

Get CLEP credits

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will allow you to earn college credit for the knowledge you already have. This could consist of what you have learned in high school, in your work experience, or studying on your own. To obtain these credits, you will have to take a CLEP exam.

You must pay to present the CLEP, which has an approximate amount of $ 85. There are courses that prepare you to pass the CLEP exams.

Check it with your high school counselor on how to take these tests, or visit the CLEP website. 

Don’t forget the electives

Many universities require their students to take electives, that is, subjects of free choice that are necessary for the accumulation of credits.

If you leave the electives last, the numbers may not give you enough to register your community service, internships and the preliminary degree project.

Organize your time

Practice memorization and study techniques to take advantage of your time and achieve your goal that is none other than to finish the career in the shortest possible time. In this it helps a lot to “keep update” with the different topics that are being dealt with in each subject.

If you can afford it, don’t work. Focus exclusively on studying. You will have a hard time balancing work and study, and this can slow down your progress through college. College clubs and organizations can be stimulating, but think about whether you will have time for them.

So, it is possible to get a degree in two years?

As you can see, following many of these steps takes effort and discipline, but it’s definitely worth it. After finishing a university degree, in addition to aspiring to better job opportunities, you can propose to live unforgettable experiences, such as traveling or starting a business related to your field of expertise.

On the other hand, keep in mind that there are already study modalities specially designed for people who work during the day, so it’s not necessary that you make a superhuman effort to complete the degree.

Some programs have flexible hours and have a modular academic program, which means that you only have to take a couple of subjects at a time to facilitate your success in your career.

So if you’re ready to access better opportunities and build a better lifestyle, it’s time to choose your profession!

FAQS: Can I do a degree in 2 years?

In this brief guide we answered the question ‘’Can I do a degree in 2 years?” and we pointed out the techniques to advance and finish the degree in less time.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know.

References

Contributor. (2016). Five tips to get through college faster. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from The Sundial website: https://sundial.csun.edu/109744/opinions/five-tips-to-get-through-college-faster/

Delece Smith-Barrow. (2014). Consider Attending Community College While at a 4-Year School. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from US News & World Report website: https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2014/07/17/consider-taking-community-college-classes-while-at-a-4-year-school

‌What is Concurrent Enrollment – National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. (2020). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from Nacep.org website: http://www.nacep.org/about-nacep/what-is-concurrent-enrollment/