Adults going back to school face some unique challenges. For starters, they're often balancing a multitude of different responsibilities, which means they can't just drop everything to focus on their studies.
Accelerated degree programs were designed with students like this in mind — hardworking professionals who are looking for affordable and effective ways to earn their degrees quickly. A core part of Bellevue University's accelerated programs is the cohort learning model.
But what is a cohort model, and what advantages does it offer adult learners? Read on to learn more about this streamlined degree process and explore the benefits of learning in a cohort.
What is an accelerated degree program?
For self-motivated learners who are looking to expedite their journey toward earning a degree, an accelerated program could be the perfect fit. Bellevue University designed its accelerated degree programs around the understanding that time and budget constraints often hold working professionals back from furthering their education.
That's why Bellevue has streamlined our course work to cover the same level of learning over a shortened period of time. Accelerated degrees allow students to fit their learning into their schedules, focusing on just a couple courses at a time.
The calendars behind these degree programs have been reimagined to fit the lives of students who don't have the ability to let school dictate the rest of their lives. Bellevue University's transfer-friendly policy allows students to transfer in an entire associate's degree, which can also help expedite your time to completion.
What is a cohort learning model? 4 Benefits that might surprise you
Many fear that accelerated online degree programs will come at the cost of peer collaboration. But the cohort learning model at Bellevue University ensures that valuable interaction is not only preserved — it's amplified.
When you enroll in an accelerated program, you'll join a cohort of classmates who are pursuing the same degree track as you are. You'll then be able to progress through your entire major course by course with that same supportive community of peers in a highly interactive learning environment.
The advantages of this process are numerous. Consider the following:
1. The process is streamlined to save you time
At Bellevue University, students who have already earned an associate's degree are given the opportunity to transfer the entirety of those exiting credits to advance into one of more than 25 in-demand cohort bachelor's degree programs, including majors in computer sciences, business, criminal justice, psychology, and healthcare. Graduate-level cohort programs are also available.
Different schools will structure their programs in their own ways, but at Bellevue University, students register for all their classes at the onset of the program. They then move from one course to the next with their cohort, enjoying short breaks between sessions. All students are assigned an advisor who will check in regularly to ensure they're on track to complete their accelerated program on time.
Undergraduate cohort programs take place over a 72-week time span, during which students complete 49 credit hours toward their degree. The timeline for master's degree cohorts will be more dependent on the specific program.
2. You can benefit from the support and real-world experiences of your peers
Bellevue University's cohort learning model offers you the advantage of gleaning valuable insight from a group of professionals with experiences that may differ from yours. Students are also able to benefit from the tight-knit support system that's fostered by learning in a cohort.
“I really liked the idea of the cohort where I was with the same group of students all the way through,” recalls Bellevue University alumna Cheryl Havermann. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management in 2013, and she found the cohort experience to be invaluable.
“It was a much smaller group. It just really made us feel like we could reach out to each other, ask questions, and bounce ideas off each other,” Havermann explains. “We all came from different backgrounds. We all had the same question to answer, but we all applied it to our current situations just a little bit differently.”
3. You can build the foundation for a robust professional network
The immediate support and wisdom offered by the students in your cohort while you're actively pursuing your degree will be key in helping you progress through your program. But the benefits of a cohort learning model don't stop once you and your peers graduate.
Your classmates are likely to be fellow working adults who are chasing similar career pursuits. Knowing this, your experience in an accelerated degree program could result in networking relationships that can have a long-term impact on your career.
James Clemens, a 2021 Bellevue University graduate, was uncertain about returning to the classroom after more than two decades. He was equally hesitant about the idea of studying online, but his fears quickly dissipated once he discovered just how much he could learn from not only his professor but from the other students in his cohort.
“Being part of the cohort program was excellent,” Clemons reminisces. “The professor was with us from start to finish, I was in a class with peers from my [industry], and the connections we made lasted long after graduating from college.”
4. It's designed to help you truly focus on the material
The accelerated degree programs at Bellevue University are built so that cohorts progress through their course work one or two classes at a time. While this creates space for adult students to fit their schoolwork into their busy schedules, it also presents a unique opportunity to do a deep dive into just a couple topics at a time.
The expedited coursework in accelerated programs can be somewhat rigorous, so the ability to focus on the material in this way can be a notable advantage. And because students enroll in all their courses upon entering the program, your courses will run consecutively without you having to take the time to re-register after each term.
Bellevue University student Megan Purvis is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics Management. She notes that the cohort learning model allows for an optimal learning experience. “Having the same professor and classmates all the way through the cohort helps [us] to not lose any ground,” Purvis says. She adds that it allows students to see and appreciate each other's growth, learning from each other as they progress.
Learn more about what you should be looking for by reviewing our article “How to Find the Best Online Colleges for Working Adults.”
Experience the benefits of a cohort learning model
As you seek to advance your education and achieve new goals in your professional life, you'll need a program that's been designed with adult students like you in mind — and the advantages of a cohort learning model are hard to ignore.
If you're looking to gain real-world expertise, build your network, and save time in pursuit of your degree, it may be time to look into accelerated degree programs. You can learn more about the opportunities that await by visiting Bellevue University's Accelerated Programs information page.
For more helpful information, visit our Adult Student Resource Hub.
