Accelerated Degree Programs Online Bachelor's to Master's

If you’re planning a future beyond your bachelor's, this degree option can help prepare you for your next step.

"Most Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidates are required to have 150 credits to sit for the CPA exam, based on state requirements," said Ann McLaughlin, associate dean of business at SNHU. "The best option is pursuing a graduate degree for additional courses and credit hours." 

This could mean your goal of becoming a CPA Certified Public Accountant is even closer than you think.

Graduate courses that can be taken during your accounting bachelor's degree:

• ACC-550: Cost Accounting: This course provides a comprehensive study of the concepts, procedures and practices of accounting systems that record, classify and report cost data. These systems are designed to aid in the cost-effective operation of organizations. You'll focus on budgeting, cost data analysis and accounting tools for planning and control. Additional focus will be placed on relevant cost data analysis for strategic decision making at the executive level of an organization.
• ACC-640: Auditing: This course examines the various aspects of completing an engagement for an audit. You'll apply industry frameworks and governing standards to the audit planning process. In addition, you'll apply audit strategies considering risk assessments/internal controls and prepare standard audit reports based on substantive testing, fieldwork and evidence that meets regulatory compliance standards.
• ACC-645: Advanced Auditing: In this course, you'll advance your knowledge of auditing topics and apply Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) to specialized engagements. You'll also analyze various attestation reports for compliance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs) and describe the ethical and behavioral considerations applicable to auditors.
• TAX-655: Federal Income Tax of Corporations and Partnerships: This course explores taxation regulations, legislature and procedures specific to corporations and partnerships. You'll analyze the fiscal impact tax laws and incentives have on organizations and prepare income tax returns for business entities that adhere to tax laws and codes. You'll also recommend optimal tax planning strategies that improve the future tax consequences of corporations and partnerships.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for undergraduate students to partake in one or more graduate-level courses at the undergraduate tuition rate," said Karen Wilkinson, associate dean of communication. "They can experience the graduate program prior to fully committing. This immersive experience counts toward their undergrad degree and allows students to have a strong foundation and graduate course credit in place as they transition into the MA COM degree program."

A master's in communication (MA COM) degree can help you develop high-demand skills that apply to a variety of industries, including business administration, radio and television, digital media, marketing, public relations, advertising and government and public affairs.

With such a wide range of job options after graduation, choosing a master's in communication sets you on a path toward your ideal career.

Graduate courses that can be taken during your communication bachelor's degree:

• COM-500: Communication, Media & Society: This course can be taken as one of your communication electives. You'll have the opportunity to fully examine the early foundations of the communication discipline by focusing intently on the ways in which media and modern-day technology have impacted the study of culture, relationships and messages.
• COM-510: The Vantage Point: Knowledge & New Media: This course is another option in your communication electives that can help you move forward faster in your master's program. It focuses on strategies for independent online research – including processes for identifying, vetting and citing appropriate sources of information – as well as best practices for writing in the online environment.
• OL-501: Business Foundations: This course is one you can choose to take as an undergraduate communication elective, however, it does not count toward the MA in Communication. (If you decide to enroll in a business master's degree program, it may count toward that.) The course is designed to give students with little or no business background the exposure and acumen necessary for advanced coursework in business-related topics and to appreciate the complex interactions of markets and firms.

One of the benefits of taking graduate-level coursework during your finance bachelor's program is that you can highlight it when applying for a job or promotion.

"These four master's courses build upon what students learn in the BS Finance program," said Kristin Regis, associate dean of business, speaking to the ability to add it to your resume before completing your graduate degree.

Plus, if you're interested in the bachelor's-to-master's pathway in finance, taking these 4 classes as electives could save you over $7,000 throughout your degrees.

Graduate courses that can be taken during your finance bachelor's degree:

• FIN-550: Corporate Financial Management: This course can replace an undergraduate finance elective in your BS program. You'll study finance from a corporate perspective including investments, capital structure and restructuring, budgeting, financial markets, policy and portfolio management.
• FIN-640: Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management: Switch out an undergraduate finance elective for this master's-level course. Here you'll learn the techniques used to assess the value of securities and the methods used in the management of investment portfolios.
• FIN-685: Risk Management: Here's another graduate course that you could use toward your bachelor's degree. You'll evaluate corporate investments, diversification and portfolios using current industry tools and strategies to manage both risk and return.
• INT-620: Global Corporate Finance: This internationally focused course can also be used toward your undergraduate finance degree as an elective. You'll discuss corporations’ exposures to financial risks in global markets and how they address these risks and global funding strategies.

The accelerated pathway in marketing lets you take up to two graduate-level marketing courses (6 credits) during your bachelor's program at the online undergraduate tuition rate.

"These courses were selected as they give a good introduction into the type of coursework students will take at the graduate level," said Michael Newhouse-Bailey, associate dean for business. It is foundational knowledge that will support your graduate development."

The two master's courses you can take during your marketing bachelor's degree:

• MKT-500: Marketing Strategies: You can take this course during your bachelor's program and apply it toward you MS in marketing. In this course, you'll learn about selecting a target market, conducting marketing research, and designing product, price, promotional and distribution strategies through the development of a marketing plan.
• INT-640: Multinational Market Strategies: This is the second course you can take as part of the accelerated option. In this course, you'll develop practical managerial skills in multinational market research, branding, consumer behavior, sales, and product development in a global market. 

If you're a registered nurse looking to fill a leadership role, the RN-to-MSN accelerated pathway could be the right choice for you.

The BLS reports overall employment of nurses with advanced degrees is projected to grow 40% from 2021 to 2031, equaling about 30,200 openings over the decade.¹

You'll first complete your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) where you can take 2 graduate-level and later apply them toward your master's degree. When you begin the MSN program, one additional course will be waived, saving you up to 2.5 months of time and close to $2,000 in tuition.

In the RN-to-MSN accelerated pathway, you can choose from 2 specialty tracks designed to fit your career goals – nursing education or population healthcare.

Graduate courses that can be taken during your nursing bachelor's degree:

• NUR-540: Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Life Span: Analyze the relationships between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by injury and disease. You'll determine the developmental, genetic, environmental influences and clinical manifestations of health problems across the lifespan.
• NUR-545: Advanced Health and Literacy Assessment: Learn to master health assessment skills and communication strategies. You'll conduct assessments encompassing environmental, genetic, multicultural, ethnic and socioeconomic factors. And you'll use simulations to practice knowledge and skill acquisition. (There may be additional costs for practice simulation software.)

Earning a master’s degree can set you apart in this competitive field and prepare you for top sports jobs. Our accelerated BS-to-MS pathway lets you apply your graduate credits to your master's in sports management to complete your program in as fast as one year.

"The accelerated pathway saves you money and gets you a master’s degree quicker," said Michael Newhouse-Bailey, associate dean for business. "Many jobs in sport require a master’s degree for promotions."

Graduate courses that can be taken during your sport management bachelor's degree:

• SPT 565: Internationalization of Sport Business: This course was selected as it is a good challenge for students wanting to experience the graduate curriculum and graduate-level writing. It also introduces some good research foundations.
• SPT-501: Research Methods in Sport Management: Take this course in place of one of your sport management electives. You'll examine research methods and techniques used in sport management and the sport industry. You'll cover the basic aspects of reading, evaluating, and writing research, and explore concepts developed in relevant literature as they apply to sport management.
• SPT-600: Management of Sport Organizations: This graduate-level course focuses on the application of management concepts and theories to sports organizations and the sports industry. It includes issues of organizational design, public policy, labor relations, collective bargaining, ethical issues in sport and the globalization of the sports industry.

True to its name, an accelerated degree is one that can help you reach your educational goals faster.

At SNHU, accelerated degree programs provide affordable pathways to earn a master's degree in less time. Our accelerated programs allow you to incorporate graduate-level courses into your undergraduate studies for the price of an undergraduate course, saving you almost $1,000 per course.

Each accelerated course you take with this program can save you up to 10 weeks of time in earning your master's degree. The overall time savings will vary slightly depending on the number of graduate-level courses offered in the major you choose.

For business majors, an accelerated pathway can reduce your graduate degree by almost a year. For nursing majors, an accelerated pathway can reduce your MSN by almost six months.

It's certainly possible. One key factor may be transfer credits. If you already have an associate degree, for example, and the universality you apply to accepts transfer credits, you'll already be halfway to your bachelor's degree.

SNHU offers generous transfer credit policies where students can transfer up to 45 credits toward an associate degree and up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree. For nursing students, your unencumbered nursing license is worth 45 credits and you can achieve up to 45 more credits through prior course work.

For an associate degree, students must complete their final 15 credits at SNHU, with three of those classes (nine credits) within your major. For a bachelor's degree, students must complete 30 credits at SNHU with four of those classes (12 credits) within your major.

At SNHU, students can pursue degrees part-time or full-time for the same price. That way you can earn your degree at a pace that works for you without affecting the cost. And with 6 term starts a year, you won't have to wait till spring or fall to begin your academic journey. Taking two 3-credit courses per term could mean completing 30 credits in as little as one year.

There are plenty of factors that can help you earn a degree faster – and taking classes online could possibly be one of them.

Here are a few ways you can get a degree faster online:

• Save time by skipping the commute and logging in from wherever you are. By doing classwork on your schedule, you set yourself up to cross the finish line each term – and do it successfully.
• Shorter terms can mean you rack up the credits faster. And many online colleges have more terms per year than their traditional counterparts. Southern New Hampshire University, for example, has 6 online undergraduate and 5 online graduate terms each year. It just feels good to see progress, doesn't it?
• And by having so many terms with an online college, you can start school when you want. You're not stuck waiting months to get going when you want to begin now. That can help you graduate that many months faster.
• Online colleges are often more affordable, meaning that finances are less likely to stand in your way. SNHU is one of the most affordable online schools in the country, and it aims to help remove the blockers that may be in your way.
• And online colleges can also accept transfer credits. (Oftentimes, they'll even accept more than in-person colleges.) At SNHU, whether you're taking classes online or on campus, up to 90 of your previously earned credits can be put toward your bachelor's degree – 75% of your degree!

Want to learn just how quickly you could finish an online degree at SNHU? Fill out our 5-minute application today.

The degree that will be most convenient for you is usually the one you can obtain the fastest. While accelerated degree programs are fast, there are other options.

Some undergraduate students find it easier to start with an associate degree and build their way up to a bachelor's degree. An associate degree, normally completed in two years, can stack into a bachelor's degree, which can be completed in four. It's important to note that students at SNHU can transfer in up to 90 credits, and we do not require an application fee.

We offer associate to bachelor's degree paths including the online associate degree in marketing, online associate degree in business and our online associate degree in IT program.

Accelerated degrees are great for getting a fully accredited degree program in a shorter amount of time.

For those students that can take extra classes or enroll in their degree program full time, an accelerated program allows them to earn two degrees in the time it may take some students to complete one.

Earning a master's degree is an excellent way to increase your credibility and improve your career options. There are fields where a master's degree is needed for career advancement, and earning your degree at a faster rate and lower cost can make pursuing your master's degree even more worthwhile.

Yes, accelerated master's programs are certainly worth it – if you'd like to improve your career options at a faster rate and lower cost.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs that require a master’s degree at an entry level are projected to grow at nearly 14% by 2031.¹ And 33% of employers surveyed by CareerBuilder raised educational requirements across the board: They're now hiring workers with a master's degree for positions previously held by someone with a 4-year degree.²

In an effort to cut your higher education costs, SNHU allows you to take up to 4 graduate-level courses at the undergraduate rate. Even better? Once you've completed your bachelor's degree, those graduate-level courses can be applied toward your master's degree at SNHU to speed up the overall process.

The speed at which you can earn a master's degree online is dependent upon which program you're enrolled in and how many transferrable credits you've previously earned.

SNHU offers accelerated options in 6 fields (accounting, communication, finance, marketing, nursing and sport management), so you can be on your way to earning your master's degree in a growing industry faster – and for less money.

With the online accelerated option, you can take up to 4 graduate-level courses at the undergraduate tuition rate during your bachelor's degree program. Once you've completed your bachelor's degree, those graduate-level courses can be applied toward your master's degree at SNHU.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Outlook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-summary.htm (viewed Dec. 19, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2022/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (viewed Dec. 19, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (viewed Dec. 19, 2022)

²CareerBuilder survey data, on the internet, at https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/employers-looking-for-more-educated-workers (viewed Dec. 19, 2022).