Excelsior University 3+1 Program

Complete a bachelor’s degree in areas such as business, technology, liberal arts, health sciences, public service, and nursing with Excelsior University’s 3+1 program. This unique pathway helps you save on the cost of earning your bachelor’s.

4 Easy Steps

  1. Earn an associate degree at a community
    college (usually around 60 credits).
  2. Talk to an Excelsior admissions counselor
    to determine credit requirements.
  3. Start on a bachelor’s degree by taking
    additional courses—up to 30 credits—at
    your community college, at your community
    college’s tuition rates.
  4. Earn a minimum of 30 upper-level credits
    with Excelsior via online courses or through
    independent study for credit by exam to
    complete a bachelor’s degree.

3+1 Snapshot

Transfer Guide Example

The program plan below outlines how students might transfer credits from a community college liberal arts degree program to Excelsior University’s BS in Liberal Arts program. Upon completion of the associate degree, credit shown below will apply to the BS in Liberal Arts.

How to Earn up to 90 Credits
First Two Years Community College Credits Semester Hours
Written English 6
Ethics Requirement 3
Humanities
Art, music, literature, foreign language, philosophy, religion, speech, communications, or creative/advanced writing
6
Social Sciences/History
Anthropology, criminal justice, economics, geography, government, history, political science, psychology, or sociology
9
Natural Sciences Requirements
Biology, chemistry, geology, or physics
3
Mathematics Requirement
College algebra, college math, trigonometry, precalculus, or calculus
3
Natural Science/Mathematics
Biology, chemistry, geology, physics, college math, college algebra, trigonometry, precalsulus, or calculus
3
Electives
(Applied Professional)
21
Arts & Sciences Electives 6
Total Credits Required for Associate Degree 60
Third Year Community College Credits Semester Hours
Remaining Arts & Sciences or Applied Professional coursework to meet remaining requirements at lower level 29
Total Additional Credit 29
How to Earn Your Remaining Credits
Fourth Year Excelsior University Credits Semester Hours
IND 301 Cornerstone B (Pathways) 3
INL 102 Information Literacy 1
Upper-Level Electives
(18 Credits of Arts & Sciences and 9 credits of Art & Sciences or Applied Professional)
24
Capstone Requirements 3
Total Additional Credits 31