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Westminster College Home > Academics > Academic Programs > Degree-in-Three Program

 

Westminster's Degree-in-Three is a carefully planned sequence of courses that allows a student to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and a certificate in Global Leadership, all in just three years.

This accelerated bachelor’s program can be applied to any major, and participating students will take 9 credit hours worth of on-campus courses from mid-June through the beginning of August each summer before their freshman, sophomore, and junior years.

Degree in Three

Degree in Three Summer Dates

The Degree in Three program is a 7 week, on-campus program during the summer.

Classes will begin Monday, June 10, 2025, and ends on Monday, August 1, 2025.

Deadline to enroll is on  Monday, May 12, 2024

The college will be closed on June 19 and July 4, so no classes will be held on these days.
How The Degree in Three Program Works

You will enroll in 9 hours (3 courses) on campus during the summer, and then you will enroll in 15-17 hours each semester for the next 3 years.

All courses fulfill a Breakthrough general education requirement or count toward the Global Leadership Certificate.

If you already completed ENG 103 or MAT 114 in high school, you will also have the option to take SPA 103: Accelerated Elementary Spanish. Your academic advisor will assist you in registering for your summer courses, and the deadline to register is Monday, May 15.

Cost and Financial Aid

Expenses

To be considered for financial aid for Summer 2025, you must complete the 2024-25 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Upon receipt of your 2024-25 FAFSA results, we will determine your Federal financial aid eligibility, and send you a financial aid notification. Institutional scholarships will not be applied to summer costs.

If you have additional questions about the Degree in Three program or would like to commit to enroll this summer, please contact us at Admissions@WCMO.edu or call 573-592-5251.

Course Code Title Credits Schedule
ENG 103 Academic Writing 3 MWF 9:00 am - 10:50 am
MAT 114 Elementary Statistics 3 MWF 2:30 pm - 4:20 pm
SPA 103 Accelerated Elementary Spanish 6 MTWRF 11:00 am - 12:05 pm & 1:00 pm - 2:05 pm
LST 201 Leadership Theories and Practices 3 TR 8:00 am - 10:45 am
GTS 201 Introduction to Global and Transnational Studies 3 MWF 9:00 am - 10:50 am
SPE 3##: Intercultural Communication 3 TBD
GTS 3## Global Problem Solving 3 TBD
GTS 3## TBD 3 TBD

Textbooks
Below are the costs from our campus bookstore:

ENG 103 – Academic Writing

  • Craft of Research by Booth.
    • New Purchase $18, Used Purchase $13.50, New Rental $13.50, Used Rental $7.92
  • They Say/I Say by Graff.
    • New Purchase $35, Used Purchase $26.25, Digital Purchase $21, Used Rental $14.00, Digital Rental $16.50
  • Elements of Style by Strunk.
    • New Purchase $8.75, Used Purchase $6.75
GTS 201 – Global and Transnational Studies
TBD

LST 201- Introduction to Leadership Theories and Practices
  • Leadership by Northhouse
    • NEW Purchase $150.25, USED Purchase $112.75, Digital Purchase $86.00, New Rental $135.23, Used Rental $90.15, Digital rental for 90 days is $47.45

LST 330 – Diversity and Ethics in Leadership
  • Six Stages of Cultural Mastery by Gonzalez
    • NEW Purchase $36.50, USED Purchase $27.50, no rental or digital options available
MAT 114 - Elementary Statistics
  • MYLAB Statistics with Pearson E-text, Digital Rental $126.75
SPA 103 – Elementary Spanish
  • A New Purchase $39.75, Digital Access Card Purchase $32.50
Housing
On-Campus Housing During Summer
Dining
On Campus Dining Services

Degree in Three FAQs

Degree in Three is an on-campus accelerated bachelor’s degree program that allows you to complete your degree in three years instead of the typical four years. You must still meet the same requirements of a traditional bachelor’s program and you will receive the same degree as a traditional bachelor’s program.
In a traditional four-year degree, you complete classes in the fall and spring semesters of each year. The Degree in Three program adds a summer semester to the first three years.
Some accelerated degrees include courses that cover information in shorter semesters. These courses are more intense and require more of your time to complete the same amount of information in a condensed period. The Degree in Three program doesn’t shorten the semesters. Instead, it adds courses to extra summer semesters.
You will save money on room and board, and you can start your post-college plans (applying to graduate school or entering the workforce) sooner.
Yes. All bachelor’s degrees at Westminster College are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Yes. You can transfer credits from an accredited institution to the Degree in Three program. An admissions representative will evaluate your transcripts and let you know how many credits we can accept.
Yes, you can work while pursuing an accelerated degree. You will need to manage your time carefully so that you keep up with your courses while working.
You will be enrolled in on-campus classes during summer semesters for the first three years of your program. The summer classes are typically 7 weeks. You will be able to schedule your vacation for before or after the summer semester.
Yes, financial aid is available for the Degree in Three program. Be sure to submit your FAFSA application to determine eligibility.