Requirements for Adults Entering Degree Completion Programs (Accelerated Programs)
Lewis University offers undergraduate accelerated degree programs for working adults. Current programs offered in this delivery format can be found at www.lewisu.edu/academics/spce/
To be admitted, students should be at least 24 years of age; have earned a minimum of 12 semester (18 qtr.) hours of transferable credit at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution; have earned a minimum of a 2.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average based on all transferable courses to be considered for admission; and have at least three years of full-time work experience. Credits earned through Prior Learning Assessment cannot be used to satisfy the transfer credit hour requirement for admission into an accelerated program.
Fire Service Administration: A fire service related associate’s degree or equivalent hours in the fire service field from an accredited college is required.
RN/BSN: A nursing degree completion major must be a registered professional nurse in Illinois; must be a graduate of a state-approved diploma, associate’s degree, or foreign nursing program; must have attained a 2.5 (4.0 scale) cumulative GPA for transfer credits (see specific program information).
The same admission criteria apply to all students who wish to register for an accelerated course offered through SPCE. Students must meet with a academic advisor to complete a form that confirms the request for enrollment into an accelerated course.
To apply for admission, students should complete an Application for Admission through the Office of Graduate and Adult Admission and submit official transcripts from each college/university the student has previously attended. Evaluation of transfer credit is based on the following criteria:
- Credits transfer from schools accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association or another regional accrediting association.
- A maximum of four credit hours will transfer in physical education activity courses.
- “D” grades will be accepted as transfer credit except for courses in the student's major, minor, College Writing I and College Writing II.
- A maximum of 72 semester hours of community college credits (or credits from a two-year school) may be accepted at the time of admission.
- An unlimited number of hours will be accepted from upper division/senior institutions as long as 32 hours, including 12 hours of upper-division major courses and 6 hours of Mission-based courses, are completed at Lewis.
- All transferable prior learning credit earned before enrolling at Lewis, and in combination with community college credit, may not exceed 72 credit hours.
- Developmental and or remedial courses completed at another institution are not transferable.
- There are no time limits with respect to when credits were earned in order to be accepted for transfer.
- Course grades do not transfer.