Cal State may soon offer degrees that take just 3 years to finish. Work experience counts, too

California State University (Cal State) trustees unanimously approved a policy allowing campuses to create three new bachelor’s degree types designed for faster completion. The degrees—Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Professional Studies, and Bachelor of Applied Studies—target aspiring teachers, career professionals seeking managerial roles, and students with vocational training, respectively. These programs require a minimum of 90 units, typically completed in three years, compared to the standard 120-unit four-year degree. The policy aims to address enrollment declines across Cal State campuses, with ten schools reporting double-digit percentage drops since 2020. Nathan Evans, Cal State’s associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, emphasized the degrees will ‘reduce the time required for students to earn a degree’ and provide ‘immediate access to economic and social mobility.’ The move also positions Cal State to compete with for-profit and online colleges offering quicker but costlier programs. Students transferring from community colleges could complete a bachelor’s in one year instead of two, while working adults may convert job experience into degree credits. Evans noted the degrees could appeal to fields facing labor shortages, such as Hollywood set workers. Campuses adopting these programs may pair them with accelerated master’s pathways. The policy does not mandate campuses to create these degrees, leaving adoption voluntary. Cal State officials cited examples like Cornell University’s Bachelor of Professional Studies and the University of Kansas’s similar program as precedents. Meanwhile, the University of California has promoted three-year graduation tracks in disciplines like economics and math at campuses such as UC Santa Cruz. The new degrees align with broader efforts to address financial strain from declining enrollments, which have reduced tuition revenue. Evans stated the changes will help Cal State attract students eager to balance education with work or family commitments while lowering overall costs.