The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
The new online bachelor’s degrees will be offered in the fields of business, technology, communication, health, family services and professional studies.
Beginning in April 2024, BYU–Idaho and Ensign College, with the support of BYU–Pathway Worldwide, will offer 90–96 credit degrees that will allow students to complete an online bachelor’s degree in three years. The new degrees, approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), preserve all required major and general education courses while eliminating elective credits.
BYU–Idaho, Ensign College and BYU–Pathway Worldwide are part of the Church Educational System (CES) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. CES continually seeks to make higher education more accessible to a diverse worldwide audience.
“Providing access to affordable education everywhere the Church is organized is critical to what we do,” said CES Commissioner Elder Clark G. Gilbert. “This optimized degree structure will make completing a degree a possibility for many more people, particularly those who have not felt higher education was a viable option for them.”
Serving nearly 70,000 students in more than 180 countries annually, BYU–Pathway Worldwide provides resources and support to students as they complete online degrees and certificates delivered by BYU–Idaho and Ensign College. The average online student is 33 years old, takes two classes at a time, works full time and supports a family.
The three-year degrees are available to students enrolled in online programs only, offered by BYU–Idaho and Ensign through their partnership with BYU–Pathway Worldwide. Degrees will be offered in the fields of business, technology, communication, health, family services and professional studies. BYU–Idaho and Ensign College will report regularly to NWCCU on the outcomes and progress of students enrolled in the new degrees.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.