Degree Completion

Finish Your Degree at Bellarmine.

Career success requires preparation to encounter the unexpected, see the familiar in new ways, and address problems with creativity. Bellarmine's offers Bachelor's degrees in Communication or Organizational Leadership.

Designed for adult students with some prior college credit who are looking for an accelerated online path. To qualify for the program, students should meet one or more of the following life criteria.

You may be eligible if:

  • You are 24 or older, or:
  • Have professional work experience
  • Are a veteran, reserve, or active-duty member of the U.S. military
  • Are married or care for one or more dependents, including children or parents
  • Have completed an associate degree
  • Have been out of college for 2 or more years

2BU Partnership

Bellarmine University and Jefferson Community and Technical College have launched an affordable college transfer option called 2BU that allows Jefferson students to easily transfer their credits to Bellarmine with no application fee.

Your dedicated 2BU advisor will answer any questions you have about taking your next step with Bellarmine.

Student Support and Services

You can do this, and we’ll be there to help you each step of the way! Whether you enroll full-time or simply take a class, degree completion students receive all of the benefits of joining the Bellarmine Community:

  • Through our OnCourse program, the cost of textbooks and most class materials is included in tuition
  • Personalized and professional advising to help you map out your individual academic plan.
  • An online orientation experience to help you explore campus resources, meet faculty and learn successful strategies to balance your return to college with your busy life.
  • Academic support through the Student Success Center including tutoring and writing centers.
  • Free counseling and health services with flexible hours, face-to-face and online, including free 24/7 health care video visits with Norton Healthcare
  • Access to all campus resources such as the SuRF Recreational Center, Library, Office of Health Services and Accessibility Resource Center.
  • Exceptional professional development services through the Career Development Center, including personal career counseling; one-on-one and group information sessions; a robust Alumni mentorship program; and access to employers through job listings, career fairs, internships and other opportunities.
  • A dedicated Office of Military and Veteran Services ranked among the best in the region.
  • Free Microsoft Office accounts: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others
  • A one-credit hour, tuition-free course to help you start earning credit and prepare for your successful return to college. This free class is a perfect way to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to start you back on your path to a four-year degree.

Credit for Prior Learning

Bellarmine values the life experience you bring to our university. You can earn up to 60 credit hours for prior and experiential learning. There are many Prior Learning credit options, in addition to any transfer and dual credit you may have earned.

Standardized Exams: Bellarmine offers up to 36 credit hours for successful scores on external exams including AP, IB, Cambridge AICE, CLEP, DANTES DSST, and FLATS, among others. Test score requirements can be found here or discussed with your advisor.

Prior Learning Portfolios: You may be able to earn up to 30 credits for learning you’ve developed through professional, military, volunteer, training and other life experiences. We offer Degree Completion students a course to help with portfolio development.

What will I be studying?

Degree completion students can choose one of three tracks within the Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies. Rooted in the liberal arts tradition of examining the world from diverse perspectives, Bellarmine's Integrated Studies degree draws from a variety of disciplines to form a comprehensive course of study that prepares students for successful career advancement. Students can choose from two tracks within the major: Communication and Organizational Leadership.