Graduate faster by earning your bachelor’s degree in three years

Are you interested in earning your degree faster while saving money along the way? We have the answer for you: the Three-Year Accelerated Pathway to a Degree. It’s designed to help incoming freshmen earn their bachelor’s degree in just three years. 

The pathway follows the same degree requirements as a traditional program, but at a faster pace. Students will follow a carefully planned sequence of classes across fall, spring and summer terms. Advisers work closely with participants to ensure the pathway is both manageable and tailored to their academic goals.

This type of pathway is currently offered for three majors: Criminal Justice Studies, History and Race, Ethnicity and Health. The goal is to add more majors that offer this pathway.

“We find more and more that students are looking for flexibility of options on so many levels,” SFSU Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Kim Altura said. “Some students want to go to school year-round because they find the summer break interrupts their momentum. This is another way we can package our degrees to be more flexible for students while also providing a clear, detailed roadmap to graduation.” 

Why choose the three-year pathway?

Completing your degree in three years provides several advantages:

• Save time: Finish a full year earlier than the traditional four-year timeline.
• Save money: Reduce tuition, housing and living costs.
• Get ahead: Enter the workforce or pursue graduate school sooner, giving you a competitive edge.

With three-year degree pathways, we also work with students to provide them with academic credit for their relevant work experience.

Who is this pathway for?

The Three-Year Pathway is ideal for incoming freshmen who:

• Bring in Advanced Placement (AP) or college-level transfer credits.
• Are committed to following a year-round academic plan that includes summer sessions.
• Want a clear roadmap that outlines the path to graduation.

How to get started

If you are currently a first-year student pursuing a major in Criminal Justice Studies, History or Race, Ethnicity and Health, connect with your assigned adviser in the Undergraduate Advising Center or the Educational Opportunity and Pathway Programs (for EOPP students) to start building your personalized pathway today.

If you’re a high school senior, apply to SFSU today. Once enrolled, you can choose to follow the three-year pathway for the available majors.

Learn more about the Three-Year Accelerated Pathway to a Degree.