307-12 - Degree/Certificate Time to Completion
| Title: |
Degree/Certificate Time to Completion |
| Owner: |
Office of the Provost and College Deans |
| Last Updated/Revised: |
01/06/2026 |
Policy: Students must complete their program within a designated time to ensure that the skills, knowledge and abilities they acquire remain current in their field of study. Time-to-degree begins with their first course of study as listed on their degree plan including any transferred courses.
Students who withdraw from the university will be reviewed for eligibility to return. Those who have exceeded or will exceed the program’s time-to-completion requirement must submit an exception request to be considered for readmission. Eligibility considerations include, but are not limited to, the feasibility of completing the program within the required timeframe and whether significant revisions have been made to program objectives. Students may be required to retake courses. Refer to Transfer Credit Policy for additional information regarding transfer of credits.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
|
Degree/Certificate
|
Program Length
|
Time to Degree
|
Time to Completion Program Limit
|
|
Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
|
1 Year
|
1.5 Times of Program Length
|
18 Months
|
|
Master of Science in Nursing
|
24 months
|
2.5 Times of Program Length
|
60 Months
|
|
Doctor of Nursing Practice
|
24 months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
48 Months
|
College of Education
|
Degree/Certificate
|
Program Length
|
Time to Degree
|
Time to Completion Program Limit
|
|
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
|
40 months
|
1.5 Times of Program Length
|
60 Months
|
|
Master of Arts in Education
|
20 months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
40 Months
|
|
Master of Arts in Teaching
|
24 months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
48 Months
|
|
Master of Arts in Teaching - Internship Option
|
28 Months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
56 Months
|
|
Teacher Credentialing Preparation Program
|
12 Months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
24 Months
|
|
Teacher Credentialing Preparation Program - Internship option
|
16 Months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
32 Months
|
|
Doctor of Education
|
40 Months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
80 Months
|
College Business and Technology
|
Degree/Certificate
|
Program Length
|
Time to Degree
|
Time to Completion Program Limit
|
|
Master of Business of Administration
|
20 Months
|
2 Times of Program Length
|
40 Months
|
|
Doctor of Business Administration
|
22 Months
|
2.5 Times of Program Length
|
55 Months
|
Purpose: To ensure that students are completing their degree plans within a reasonable amount of time.
Procedures: Students exceeding their time to degree completion or wishing to re-enroll after their time to degree completion must file a policy exception request to be reviewed by the dean and the provost.
Scope: All programs offered at United States University.
Documents and Forms: Time to Completion Policy Form