The Program for Adult Learners respects the challenges, rewards, and educational needs of adults who are returning to college. In the Program for Adult Learners, you will find:
- Highly regarded professional degrees
- Classes on evenings, weekends, and online
- Credits for prior learning
- Personal advising and academic support
- Lifelong career development services
- Accelerated paths to graduate study
Small classes taught by distinguished faculty will foster leadership, confidence, vision, and creativity for your professional career.
Degree Requirements
To complete a baccalaureate degree, a student must have met these requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of course work contingent upon requirement of major (the equivalent of four years of full-time study). These hours can include a combination of courses at the University of Saint Joseph or within the Consortium, transfer credit, AP and CLEP exams, and other prior approved credit.
- A minimum GPA of 2.00 (a C average in all work completed). Some majors or programs may require a higher GPA.
- The residency requirement of earning 45 credits from the University of Saint Joseph. Students in the Nursing, B.S. - RN to B.S. Multicultural Health Track (online or on campus) have a residency requirement of 30 credits. 18 of the last 24 credits counted toward a degree must be taken at the University of Saint Joseph. Internships or study undertaken at Consortium institutions are considered part of the residency requirement.
- Completion of a comprehensive examination
- General Education Requirements - Undergraduate - Program for Adult Learner students are waived from the KN general education requirement as well as the FYS (First Year Seminar) requirement.
- Critical Writing and Reasoning Portfolio requirements
Bachelor’s degrees offered in the Program
Accounting, B.S.
Criminal Justice/Restorative Justice, B.S.
Management, B.S.
Nursing, B.S. - RN to B.S. Multicultural Health Track (online or on campus)
Nursing, B.S. - Accelerated Second Degree
Psychology, B.A. (Behavior Analysis/Autism concentration not possible)
Social Work, B.S.
Certificates
Adelante Certificate
Concentrations
Criminal Justice Concentration, Social Work, B.S.
Criminal Justice and Mental Health Concentration, Psychology, B.A.
Latino Community Practice Concentration, Social Work, B.S.
Latino Community Practice Concentration, Nursing, B.S. - RN to B.S. Multicultural Health Track (online or on campus)
Credits for Prior Learning
The Prior Learning Assessment Process allows matriculated students to earn up to 30 credits for college-level knowledge that they have gained through life or work experience. Contact the Program for Adult Learners for more information on prior learning assessment.
Proficiency and CLEP Examinations
College credit may also be awarded to matriculated students for successful completion of proficiency examinations. These examinations may be designed and administered by the faculty of a department for specific courses, or standardized exams such as CLEP (College Level Examination Placement) or DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support). Please see complete list of Proficiency and CLEP Credit exams accepted.
Portfolios
Students in the Program for Adult Learners must satisfactorily complete INTD 115 - Prior Learning Assessment Theory and Practice before submitting a portfolio for prior learning credit. One free portfolio submission is allowed within six months of the start date of the course they are enrolled in. Portfolios contain a single course for up to three credits.
Subsequent assessments are $125 paid directly to the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Submission of portfolio is for transfer credits. There are no guarantees that credit will be awarded.
Contact the Program for Adult Learners for registration approval, portfolio procedures and forms. Contacts: Cindy Dodge, associate director of Program for Adult Learners, cdodge@usj.edu, 860.231.5344
