Bachelor Degree Completion

Finish Your College Education Online

Are You Ready to Finish Your Bachelor’s Degree 100% Online?

Designed for Working Professionals

The Bachelor Degree Completion program is designed to help professionals of all levels and backgrounds complete their college degrees. Students take 1-2 courses per semester and can tailor their degree path with a variety of specializations.

Program Highlights:

  • 100% Online Learning
  • Straightforward Tuition ($317 per credit)
  • Financial Aid Options and Payment Plans
  • Credit for Prior Coursework, Certifications, and More
  • Personal Success Coach and Academic Advisor
  • Tailor Your Degree with 9 Specializations

Asynchronous Online Learning

Convenient No-Lecture Format

This program is eligible for federal financial aid

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED

Bachelor Degree Completion Program

Benefits and Features

Bachelor’s + Master’s

Master’s Tuition Savings
Did you know students who complete their bachelor’s degree at Merrimack can automatically save at least 25% off the total tuition for some online and on-campus master’s degrees at Merrimack?

Two Free Graduate Classes
Additionally, students can register to take up to two free graduate classes during their final two Bachelor Degree Completion Program semesters.

Credit for Prior Learning and Work Experience

You can transfer up to 90 credits of prior college coursework. You need 124 credits to earn your degree. Merrimack’s Admissions Team can help secure your official transcripts to determine eligibility.

You may also be eligible for prior learning credits if you’ve received professional certifications, earned continuing education units, and more. We will receive all of these options with you.

Alumni Success

Many of our alumni have transitioned careers or advanced in their industries. Alumni job titles include:

Business and Leadership Studies:
General Accountant
Associate Banker
Store Manager
Customer Success Team Lead
Brand Manager

Child and Family Studies:
Childcare Center Owner/Director
Teacher

Psychology:
Caseworker
Mental Health Counselor

Each year bachelor’s degree holders earn $32,000 more than their peers who only have a high school diploma.

National Center for Education Statistics

Professional Core (12 credits)

The Professional Core features three courses designed to help students find their career path. These are the only required courses for all Bachelor Degree Completion students:

Through interactive approaches and real-world examples, students will explore various perspectives of health and well-being. Students will examine leading health indicators in the U.S. and around the world and will learn basic terminology and other health-related data concepts in order to have a deeper understanding of a range of health data and information. Students will apply health knowledge and skills to support health and well-being. As part of the Professional Core in the BA in Applied Arts and Sciences program, this course emphasizes: effective communication (oral and written), critical thinking, ethical teamwork, the ability to work independently, initiative and proactive planning, and real-world applications.

Modern living is complex due to competing desires and obligations: family, career, community, and personal needs. Learning how to balance these competing claims on our attention and affections often involves making choices based on core values. This course explores answers to a variety of timeless questions so students can come to a better understanding of themselves, their desires, and theirobligations. Questions that will be explored may include: What does it mean to live a good life? What is the meaning of life? Does life have a meaning? What does it mean to be ethical and how does one know right from wrong? What makes work meaningful? What does it mean to be happy? What does it mean to be successful? What is the relationship between work, success, and happiness? To whom in my life am I responsible, and what do I owe them? Drawing on religion, philosophy, and literature, students will examine and critique a diversity of responses to these kinds of questions, reflect on the relevance of these responses in their lives, and formulate their own responses to these questions. In keeping with Merrimack College’s Catholic and Augustinian mission, special attention is paid to the Christian tradition and the life and thought of Augustine of Hippo.

As part of the Professional Core in the BA in Applied Arts and Sciences program, this course emphasizes: effective communication (oral and written), critical thinking, ethical judgment and decision making, effective teamwork, the ability to work independently, initiative, proactive planning, and real- world applications.

Examination of the major issues, theories, and findings in the psychological study of positive emotions and experience (Positive Psychology). Emphasis is on the scientific investigation of such topics as the nature of happiness and well-being, psychological flow, savoring, love, optimism, resilience, character strengths and virtues, and the meaningful life.

Arts & Sciences Core (40 credits)

Choose your courses based on your interests and goals. 

Students must complete five courses (20 credits) to earn a specialization. The remaining 20 credits allow students to choose more courses in their specialization area, explore other areas of study, or earn a second specialization.

In this specialization, you will gain the knowledge to work in various accounting positions throughout many industries. You will learn the fundamental skills needed for finance-related tasks and how to utilize current accounting technology.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Introduction to Business
  • Technology Skills for Business
  • Accounting for Business
  • Managerial Finance
  • Managerial Accounting

In this specialization, you will learn the fundamentals of business operations including accounting, marketing, and effective management.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Introduction to Business
  • Accounting for Business
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Management Info Systems
  • Personal Financial Planning
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Ethics and Social Responsibility
  • Legal Environment of Business
  • Human Resource Management
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Gender and Diversity in Leadership

In this specialization, you’ll explore child growth and development and leadership in early childhood settings, and gain real-world insights that will prepare you to advocate for children and families across diverse populations.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Child, Growth, and Development (0-8)
  • Family and Community Engagement
  • Social Policies and Human Services in the Community
  • Child Psychopathology and Treatment
  • Administration of Early Childhood Programs
  • Developing Social Maturity and Emotional Competence in Youth Foundations of Social-Emotional Development
  • Leadership and Human Resource Development in Early Childhood Programs
  • Early Childhood Curriculum Instruction and Assessment

In this specialization, you will learn how to research and analyze information and how to clearly communicate topics through writing, speaking, and mediated communication. research and analyze information and how to clearly communicate topics through writing and speaking.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Public Communication
  • Introduction to Communication
  • Principles of Public Relations
  • Conflict Management
  • Communication & Non-Profit Organizations
  • Communication & Advocacy
  • Persuasion and Social Influence
  • Gender and Communication
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Gender, Race, and the Media

In this specialization, you will learn about healthy lifestyles, and nutrition, as well as develop administrative, ethical, and professional skills to educate individuals and communities.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Applied Anatomy and Physiology
  • Nutrition and Wellness
  • Foundations of Health Policy
  • Foundations of Health Literacy
  • Wellness and Physical Activity
  • Cultural Competence in Healthcare Administration
  • Intro to Public Health
  • Health Behavior and Promotion
  • Science of Stress

In this specialization, you will learn the foundations and theories of leadership, effective leadership styles, the role of diversity in leadership locally and globally, and the challenges of leading in times of crisis. You will also have a chance to develop the leadership and team-building skills needed to be an effective leader in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Foundations in Leadership
  • Leaders as Change Agents
  • Leading Teams
  • Leadership: Principles, Powers, and Persuasion
  • Leadership in Times of Crisis
  • Effective Leader-Follower Models
  • Ethical Leadership
  • Gender and Diversity in Leadership
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Ethics and Social Responsibility
  • Intercultural Communication

In this specialization, you will develop a broad understanding of human behaviors as well as the skills to understand and interpret research findings concerning human behaviors.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Applied Psychology Research
  • Social Psychology
  • Group Dynamics
  • Lifespan Psychology
  • Personality
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Cultural Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Psychology of Trauma

In this specialization, you will learn academic and clinical skills related to speech, hearing, language, swallowing, and communication. You will be able to work immediately after BDC completion and are eligible to apply for entrance into graduate schools for Speech-Language Pathology.

In this specialization, you will develop a broad understanding of human behaviors as well as the skills to understand and interpret research findings concerning human behaviors.

Course Offerings Include:

  • Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Phonetics
  • Language Acquisition and Literacy Development
  • Anatomy & Physiology for Speech, Hearing, & Swallowing
  • Language Disorders
  • Speech Disorders
  • Introduction to Audiology
  • Speech and Hearing Science

*Certification requires a graduate-level degree.

Open Electives (68 Credits)

Students can explore any area of interest in the curriculum with these credits. This is also where your transfer credits will be allocated. You can transfer up to 90 credits from prior college coursework or prior learning (work experience or job training). If you don’t know how many transfer credits you have, don’t worry. Give us a call or start an application and we will help you request transcripts from any prior colleges or universities you attended.

Capstone (4 Credits)

Once you’ve completed 93 credits, you can register for the Capstone Experience (required). In your Capstone, you will create a Professional Development Plan, a Market Analysis of a chosen industry, or a self-designed research project. In all Capstones, students will work closely with a faculty member. Examples of Capstone projects include:

  • Professional Development Plan in Healthcare Administration
  • Market Analysis on Autonomous Vehicles for Business Delivery
  • Research Project: Post-Covid Effective Hybrid Workplace Strategies

What Our Students Are Saying:

“I really enjoyed my experience in the BDC program and I am actually now going to Merrimack for my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to continue their education.”

BDC Graduate, 2023

“The bachelor program is a good program that allows you to use and adapt your personal experience into the course materials. Going back to school was probably one of the most daunting things to me but I really enjoyed it. It was easy to break down, easy to take on, and I’m glad I did it.”

BDC Graduate, 2023

“The professors really made sure you had an understanding of the materials, I really liked that, especially after being out of school for a while.”

BDC Graduate, 2023

“I’m in the Business Administration specialization and I’m moving on to a Master’s in Management. The program has helped prepare me for career progression. I was really looking for that in a program.”

BDC Graduate, 2023

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED

Bachelor Degree Completion Program

A TOP GRADUATE SCHOOL

At Merrimack College, we’re proud of our long history of providing quality degrees to students entering the job market. Our faculty are more than just teachers. We are committed to helping you grow — academically, personally, and professionally — so that you graduate as a confident, well-prepared leader.

  • U.S. News & World Report 2022 #34 Best Regional Universities North
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  • U.S. News & World Report 2022 #3 Most Innovative Schools
  • The Princeton Review 2022 Best Northeastern Regional College
  • Forbes Magazine 2019 Top 10 Most Innovative School – Regional Universities North
  • Money Magazine’s Best Colleges Most Transformative College 2019
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