How long does it take to get a second bachelor's degree?

Answer 1

A bachelor degree is usually a 4 year degree. It can take longer. It is based on how many hours you have completed. It is the hours that determines any degree, not the length of thime it takes.

Answer 2

It depends on what the first degree was in, what the second degree is in, and how many courses from the first degree will be applicable to the second degree. Still, if the two degrees are not totally unrelated, it should not take more than one and a half to two additional years to complete as a full-time student. Thus, as you can see, there are a lot of depends. If you identify the specific degrees and majors, it would be much easier to estimate. In addition, there will most likely be a difference in where you obtained your first degree, and where you intend to take the second degree. Lastly, listed below are some reasons why credits might not transfer.

• Courses were taken at a college or university without the appropriate accreditation.
• Course was not passed with the appropriate grade.
• Course was not equivalent to the receiving institution's credit and/or course content requirements.
• Course does not fit into a student's declared major.
• Course may be antiquated and no longer useful in terms of course content (example, computers)
• Course exceeds the transfer credit limit (not typically the case).

Answer 3

Answer 1: In the United States, a four-year bachelors degree consists of 120 semester credit hours (30 semester credit hours per year). Of those 120 semester credit hours, approximately 45 are used-up by what's called "lower division general education" (LDGE), and then another 30 to 40 are in the major (for a total of 75 to 85 semester credit hours out of the 120), leaving another 35 to 45 semester credit hours for general electives; and either additional courses in the major, or courses in a minor. A minor usually requires around 20 semester credit hours, leaving 15 to 25 for general electives, and at some schools, 15 is barely enough general elective credits. At schools where only 15 would do it, though, then another 10 hours could be devoted to additional courses in either the major, or minor, or both.

If one pursues a second bachelors degree, none of the LDGE, or general elective, or courses in a minor (or additional courses in the first major) need to be re-taken; all of those courses would count toward the 2nd bachelors. Only the courses in the 2nd bachelor's degree's major -- approximately 30 to 40 semester credit hours -- would need to be taken.

So, then, in other words, going full-time, it would only take about a year, or maybe a year and a half (or a year, plus a summer session or two) to get a second bachelors degree.

I could not more strongly recommend against that, though. Once you have a degree at whatever level, always, always, always move on and up. Never hang around at the same level. If you insist on staying at the undergrad level, then don't get a second bachelors. Instead, pursue either a post-baccalaureate certificate, or, better yet, a graduate certificate (assuming the bachelors would be requisite for entry into the latter program).

Even better than either of those, though, would be just going ahead and getting your masters. That, by far, is the best move.

Answer 4

A bachelor's degree in most areas can require between 124 to 128 college credits particular to a specific program of study. This would be based on a college or university that operates on a regular two semester academic year which is the most common. For institutions that operate on a tri-semester or quarter-semester it would be quite different. That being said, the Bachelor's degree - in most cases - is designed as a four year program of study, provided the student is full-time and follows their chosen program of study as prescribed by the college or university, and also provided the individual does not require prerequisite or developmental coursework as a result of basic skills testing. The minimum credit load for a full-time student is no less than 12 credits per semester. However, to complete the degree within the four years, a credit load of approximately 15 to 18 credits is recommended. For individuals who work or who have other responsibilities that would prohibit them from attending full-time, completion of the degree may take twice as long. Still, some of this time can be cut down by attending summer sessions and/or interim sessions. In addition, the bachelors and associate degrees are referred to as undergraduate degrees while the masters and doctorate degrees referred to as graduate degrees.

Answer 5

It depends on the specific major, and the prerequisite coursework required (if any). Typically, it would take and additional year and a half, but without knowing the major of both programs it is difficult to say.