Three-Year/90-91 Credit Bachelor’s Degree
Johnson & Wales University is proud to continue our commitment to affordability and flexibility for students with the introduction of our new 90/91-credit streamlined degree programs. Launching in Summer 2025, JWU College of Professional Studies will be offering a 90-credit streamlined BS Hospitality Management degree program and a 91-credit streamlined BS Computer Science degree program. View the university’s official announcement page and press release.
Approved by the New England Commission for Higher Education, Johnson & Wales University is the first institution in the nation to offer these 90-91 credit programs. Designed to meet the needs of students who are eager to enter the workforce quickly and with less financial burden, these new programs provide a rigorous and comprehensive education in three years instead of the traditional four years.
For prospective students with questions regarding our new streamlined degree programs, please view the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have additional questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].
FAQs
How does the three-year/90-91 bachelor’s degree program work?
To complete their bachelor’s degree, students will take 90 or 91 credits (depending on the enrolled program) instead of the traditionally-required 120 or 121 credits. The three-year/90-91-credit bachelor’s degree programs will not require summer classes and are designed to fit industry needs. JWU’s three-year, 90-credit bachelor’s degree maintains a core academic foundation while creating a focused pathway to a bachelor’s level education and, ultimately, to career success.
All students enrolled in the three-year/90-91-credit bachelor’s degree program will still be required to complete 42 credits of the Arts and Sciences Core Experience, building a well-rounded educational foundation. The new programs will require the same core general education foundation credits as the current four-year bachelor’s degree and the same major study classes. They will no longer take electives outside of the core general education requirements, allowing for a stronger focus on degree-specific classes. Students will get hands-on, real-world experience through the Work-Integrated Learning component of these programs.
Which academic programs will be offered by CPS as three-year/90-91 credit bachelor’s degrees?
The majors identified for the launch are two programs where there is high demand for talented graduates and where we have strong experience with industry partners. The programs are:
- B.S. in Computer Science
- B.S. in Hospitality Management
What is Work-Integrated Learning?
Work-Integrated Learning allows students to gain real-world experience during their degree. Students are required to complete work-integrated learning hours during the course of their program. Students can fulfill these requirements in a number of ways, including current jobs, military work, community service, attending relevant conferences, earned certificates and more. Our Career Services team will work closely with each student to determine the most effective way to meet this requirement.
How do students apply for the streamlined bachelor’s degree program?
Applying is straightforward — just select the 90-or 91-credit option from our online application. There are no extra requirements, and you retain the option to change your preference at any point in the application process.
Begin your application at online.jwu.edu/apply-step-1.
How do transfer credits apply to this program?
The three-year/90-91 credit degrees are designed for students looking to transfer 30 credits or fewer into the program. For questions about transfer credits, please contact [email protected]. Please note, as with any program, the actual time to completion depends on the number of courses taken each semester.
Is a three-year/90/91-credit bachelor’s degree going to be seen as less valuable than a traditional four-year/120-121 credit bachelor’s degree?
Our industry partners have affirmed that they would strongly consider candidates holding a three-year/90-91-credit bachelor’s degree with resounding confidence. These employers, many of whom have worked with JWU students and alumni, are confident that our three-year bachelor’s degree programs will effectively prepare graduates for the workforce.
Will CPS stop offering four-year/120-121 credit bachelor’s degrees?
No. Johnson & Wales College of Professional Studies will continue to offer more than 20 bachelor’s degrees for students interested in the traditional 120-credit degree program, usually achieved in four years. The option of the three-year bachelor’s degree option provides students with another path to graduation. In addition, students will still have the option to enroll in the traditional-credit program for both the BS Hospitality Management and BS Computer Science degree programs.