North Dakotans may soon be able to attain a bachelor’s degree in far less time, as the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education is weighing if they should allow reduced credit bachelor’s degrees for state colleges. Typical bachelor’s degrees require 120 semester hours, and this new proposal would require a minimum of 90 hours. Superintendent Levi Bachmeier clarified that this would not require schools to offer such degrees, but it could increase recruitment and retention. Some officials warn this may create issues with transfers, graduate programs, and state-to-state licensure agreements, according to reporting from the North Dakota Monitor. Some worry this may decrease the benefit of a four-year degree. The board voted to send the proposal to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee to draft regulations around reduced credit degrees. The board is set to decide on the revised policy in December.
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