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Bellarmine University is unveiling a new Degree Completion Program that will help people navigate the rapidly changing labor market and more successfully transition to better, higher paying jobs.

Bellarmine’s Degree Completion Program is designed for adult students with some prior college credit who are looking for a convenient and affordable path to finishing their bachelor’s degree. Classes are offered online in 7-week blocks and allow students to learn at their own pace.

"Bellarmine has been monitoring the pandemic era workforce, carefully assessing what skills and credentials Kentuckians may need to move their careers forward in this shifting labor market," said Laura Hartford, associate dean of Bellarmine’s College of Arts and Sciences. "Our Degree Completion Program is meant to help adults who have some college and life experience finish their degrees so they can obtain desirable new job opportunities or advance in their current place of employment."

Hartford said the case for returning to complete a college degree has never been stronger. According to KentuckianaWorks, Louisville’s median wage for someone with a bachelor's degree is about $50,000. For someone with only a high school degree, it's about half of that. Wage increases, along with healthcare and other benefits that come with higher quality jobs, are in demand in Kentucky. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Commonwealth leads the country in workers leaving their jobs in a national trend known as the Great Resignation.

Degree completion students can choose between two paths to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies to advance their careers:

•             The Organizational Leadership track offers training in communication, management and understanding of human behavior. This degree prepares students for careers as effective and ethical leaders to help organizations succeed.

•             The Information Technology track gives students the practical skills they need to understand and manage today's computer-based information systems. This track includes courses in computer science, data management and business administration, with a core grounded in the humanities and social sciences.

Each new student works one-on-one with dedicated advisors to develop a personalized academic plan, taking into account their prior credit, along with their goals after graduation. Academic credit can also be granted for prior learning outside the classroom through professional, military, volunteer, training and other life experiences.

Bellarmine’s degree completion program was also designed with veterans in mind, through consultation with the university’s Office of Veteran and Military Services. Bellarmine is the only private university in Kentucky to receive the Military Support Colleges of Distinction recognition, and it was named one of the best colleges for veterans among Southern universities by U.S. News & World Report.

The program is competitively priced, at $500 per credit hour, with textbooks included and no hidden fees. Financial aid plans are available for most students.

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