3-year college degrees grow more popular in the US, saving time and cash. But critics aren’t sold

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Category: Education/Family

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. daunting / ˈdɑːn t̬ɪŋ / (adj.) – making someone feel worried, nervous, or less confident because a task or situation seems very difficult to complete or handle
    Example:

    Starting a new job in a different city can feel daunting at first.


  2. devalue / diˈvæl ju / (v.) – to make something or someone seem less important or less valuable
    Example:

    Ignoring employee ideas and hard work can devalue their role in the company.


  3. credential / krɪˈdɛn ʃəl / (n.) – an official document that proves someone has the training, skills, or right to do a specific job
    Example:

    Before someone can work as a teacher in a school, he or she must have a teaching credential.


  4. cut corners / kʌt ˈkɔr nərs / (idiom) – to do something in the quickest or cheapest way by doing careless work or not doing important steps
    Example:

    The company tried saving money by cutting corners on employee training, which caused many mistakes.


  5. accelerated / ækˈsɛl əˌreɪ tɪd / (adj.) – created to be finished or completed in a shorter time than usual
    Example:

    An accelerated degree program allows students to graduate six months early.


Article

Read the text below.

Giles Sims, 34, was sick of getting passed over for jobs because he didn’t have a college degree.


But with a wife and a widowed mother to help support, he needed a quick solution. So, the laid-off web developer turned to one of a growing number of three-year degree programs.


“I can’t afford to be out of the workforce for four years. That just seems like forever, and the three-year made it seem less daunting,” said Sims, a student at Ensign College, a private Salt Lake City school that recently changed all its bachelor’s degrees to require fewer classes than a traditional four-year degree.


The condensed programs have exploded in popularity. As of this spring, 26 U.S. states have a college that offers at least one reduced-credit, three-year bachelor’s, according to the nonprofit research group RAND.


Advocates say these programs are a solution to the college affordability crisis and a godsend for non-traditional students like Sims.


Critics, however, worry that they’ll narrow too much what students learn, confuse employers, limit graduate school options, and create headaches in fields that require state licenses.


The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), for one, says the programs devalue the meaning of a college credential. “This is not innovation. This is just cutting corners,” said Todd Wolfson, AAUP’s president.


For decades, colleges have offered accelerated programs that let students finish faster, often by forgoing long summer breaks, maximizing transfer credits, and condensing semester-long courses into shorter, five- to 10-week terms.


But those programs maintained the same course load, measured as credits. The new programs let students finish faster by completing as few as 90 credit hours. That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.


Three-year bachelor’s degrees are common in other countries, including the United Kingdom, India, France, and Italy. But they can create complications for graduates seeking admission to U.S. graduate schools, which sometimes require extra coursework.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Advocates say three-year degrees help students, but AAUP president Todd Wolfson said they are “just cutting corners.” Which of the two statements do you agree with? Why? Discuss.
  • If you were deciding between a three-year and a four-year degree, which path would you prefer for your own education or career goals? How would saving a full year of time and school costs affect your decision? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Many non-traditional students look for accelerated degrees because they cannot afford to stay out of the workforce for four years. In today’s job market in your country, do you think having a formal college degree is still as essential as it used to be, or are skills and practical experience becoming more important? Why do you think so? Discuss.
  • If you were a business owner, who would you choose to hire: someone with a traditional four-year degree but no work experience, or someone with a three-year degree who already has practical skills and experience? Why? What qualities matter most to you when picking a staff member? Discuss.