Perhaps you started taking college courses at your local community college or university and decided to take a break to start your career. Maybe you needed to take some time off to help out a family member or stay home with a child. After a few semesters or years, though, you’ve decided it’s time to return to college.
It may have been a while since you’ve been enrolled in college classes and maybe you’re not entirely sure what to expect. You might not even be sure if you want to finish the degree you started or change majors. Wherever you may be in your educational journey, here are some tips for you as you’re considering returning to college as an adult.
What Options Do Adults Returning to College Have?
You have valuable life and work experiences you can bring to your studies as an adult. It’s important to choose a program that will build upon your foundation of knowledge and further cultivate your skillset. Since your original college credits may no longer count toward the bachelor’s degree you started working on, choosing a specialized program might be the best choice for you.
Point Loma Nazarene University offers an Accelerated Undergraduate program with a variety of degree options for adults returning to college. Depending on how many credits you’ve already completed, you could graduate from the degree completion program in as few as 15 months. Through PLNU’s program, you’ll have the opportunity to complete most of your coursework online. Classes typically meet in person one night each week, to establish a sense of community while accommodating your busy work schedule.
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It’s not too late to start your journey.
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
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Degrees for Adult Learners at PLNU
Now that you know going back to college as an adult is possible, you may be wondering what degree options PLNU offers for adult learners. Here are a few:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA): Maybe you’ve been working in the business field already or you’re looking to start a career in business. Earning your BBA can help you learn how to make savvy business decisions, understand marketing trends, implement different business strategies, and take on a leadership role in your company. With this degree option, you can also earn a concentration in marketing or management.
- Child Development: If you’ve worked in childhood education, psychology, or sociology, you might be interested in earning a B.A. in Child Development. You’ll be able to work with children and their families as an early childhood educator, child psychologist, or counselor.
- Organizational Leadership: Whether you’re looking to pursue a management career in business, finance, education, healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, or another field, earning a bachelor’s in organizational leadership can help you develop the management competencies to help you be successful in your industry.
- Computer Information Technology: If you’re interested in business and information technology and already have some experience in the field, a B.A. in Computer Information Technology might be the perfect fit for you.
- RN to BSN: If you’ve earned an associate degree in nursing, earned college credits toward a nursing degree, or have worked as a registered nurse (RN) for a while, completing your bachelor’s degree in an RN to BSN program can open up your job prospects as well as potentially increase your salary earnings.
- Criminal Justice: Whether you’re interested in law enforcement or defending the rights of individuals from marginalized backgrounds, a criminal justice degree might be a good fit for you. You can consider pursuing a career as a police officer, correctional officer, forensic psychologist, or lawyer, among other careers.
- Integrated Studies with an Emphasis in Education: If you’ve been working in the field of education but want to become an elementary, middle, or high school teacher, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies with an Emphasis in Education can be an important career move.
Click Here to Explore Accelerated Undergraduate Programs at PLNU
Why Is Going Back to College Important?
Even if you’ve found a program that sparks excitement, you may be worried about the practical aspects of returning to college as an adult. You may feel as if your time being a college student is over and you’re not young enough; however, about 7.5 million adults over 25 attended college in 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Many of the students you’ll take courses within an Accelerated Undergraduate Program will be working adults who are over 25 years old and you’ll fit right in!
Going back to college can benefit your life in many ways. Perhaps you never wanted to stop college but needed to take a break for a variety of valid reasons. Going back to school can help reignite your passion for learning. You can develop new skills related to trends or technological advancements in your industry.
Going back to college can benefit your life in many ways. Perhaps you never wanted to stop college but needed to take a break for a variety of valid reasons. Going back to school can help reignite your passion for learning. You can develop new skills related to trends or technological advancements in your industry.
By learning more practical tools or developing stronger business strategies, you can enhance your value in the workplace. Additionally, as you obtain higher credentials, you can increase your salary earnings and discover more promotion opportunities.
Earn Your Degree in San Diego
PLNU offers multiple degree options — online and at different campuses across San Diego County — through the Accelerated Undergraduate program. Whether you’re interested in becoming a teacher, nurse, business manager, or IT specialist, PLNU has a degree that’s the right fit for you, your schedule, and your vocation.
Whether you’re interested in becoming a teacher, nurse, business manager, or IT specialist, PLNU has a degree that’s the right fit for you, your schedule, and your vocation.
Learn more about the program by exploring our site, connecting with a counselor, or attending an information event. If you’re ready to take the next step in your academic journey, apply today.
About the Author
McKenna Themm is a poet who has her BA in Literature and Writing and is earning her MFA in Creative Writing. She is a freelance writer for PLNU, a Content Strategist at Circa Interactive, and the Managing Editor at The Los Angeles Review.