Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

www.sou.edu/abp
Curtis J. Bacon, 541-552-6487, bacon@sou.edu, Program Director
Mary Ann Wright, 541-552-8109 or 541-552-6141, Program Administrative Assistant

The Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program enables students to customize their academic pursuits based on their individual strengths and goals. The following areas participate in the program: anthropology, business, communication, computer science, criminology and criminal justice, economics, elementary education, English and writing, foreign languages and literatures, health and physical education, history, international studies, mathematics, physics, and sociology.

To complete the program in three years, students average 16 credits a quarter in a focused program that reduces coursework by up to 24 University Studies and 21 elective credits. To ensure success in this compressed program of study, students should be self-disciplined, highly motivated, and committed to their major.

The Accelerated Baccalaureate Committee reviews application portfolios and recommends students for this program to the major department. Faculty members from each participating department serve as academic advisors for program participants. Students must begin the Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program during their first quarter at the University; they typically submit applications for this program when applying for admission to SOU.

Applicants must have at least a 3.4 cumulative high school GPA, 1150 SAT I score, or 25 ACT score to be considered for the program. Additional information and applications are available on the Web at www.sou.edu/abp.

Program Requirements

1.

First-year students are required to attend an orientation at the beginning of their first term and mid-quarter meetings through their first year. Mid-quarter meetings are optional for second- and third-year students.

2.

First-year students are required to respond to “questions-of-the-week” throughout their first year. Student responses are distributed anonymously to the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program Committee and are used for evaluating the program and student progress.

3.

Third-year students are required to participate in an exit interview during their last quarter at SOU.

4.

All students are required to take 135 to 151 credits. Specific course requirements are determined after extensive reviews of application portfolios. College credits earned prior to admission to the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program (including AP, Advanced Southern Credit, and community college credits) are normally used to determine the credit reduction and may not also be counted toward the Accelerated Baccalaureate graduate requirements. Therefore, students with several transfer credits are encouraged to explore other options before applying to the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program.

5.

All students meet regularly with their advisors to develop and maintain a yearly contract that ensures normal progress toward the degree. Students who do not maintain normal progress are required to switch to a 180-credit, four-year degree program.