Many people begin college with the best intentions, but, sometimes, life gets in the way.

Whether it is due to personal circumstances, a move, or a career change, they find themselves with credits from various institutions of higher education, but still do not have a bachelor’s degree.

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College Degree Completion program is designed to address this problem. The new degree completion program introduced this past year at USM LAC is designed to help individuals, who have a variety of academic backgrounds, employment experience and career aspirations, complete their degrees.

Students can apply and integrate a combination of courses at USM, transfer credits, and credits for prior learning into

a degree in Arts & Humanities or Leadership Studies.

The degree completion program at USM LAC allows greater flexibility and greater access for people who may only need a few more credits to obtain a bachelors degree. Prospective students in the degree completion track work closely with advisors from USM LAC to put together a portfolio of life experiences, assess credit transfers, and help select courses. Students need to take 30 credits at USM through courses and a portfolio. Classes are available in either face-to-face or online formats as well as blended face-to-face and online classes.

“For years I wanted to go back to school to finish the degree I had started, but finding a program that fit my needs was a problem,” said USM LAC graduate, Mark Coursey. “Home and work left me with little time for school and many programs, especially those offered online, were too expensive. The Leadership and Organizational Studies program at USM LAC solved all of these problems. Class schedules were flexible, the faculty understood the challenges of balancing school with life, and I found the course work to be relevant and engaging.”

The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College offers bachelor and graduate degree programs that include an array of courses, internships, research and community service projects, and study abroad opportunities.

As one of three campuses of the University of Southern Maine, USM LAC provides the intimacy of a small college, yet offers access to the resources of the state’s regional metropolitan university. Its internationally-recognized faculty offer classes face-to-face, entirely online or in blended format

(meeting in person some times and online at other times).

USM LAC plays an especially distinctive role in addressing the higher education needs of Androscoggin County through its broad-based interdisciplinary undergraduate majors: Arts & Humanities, Leadership & Organizational Studies, Natural & Applied Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. The Lewiston-Auburn campus has also been responsive to the need for graduate education programs in Central Maine. The Masters in Occupational Therapy and Leadership Studies programs have established national and international reputations for excellence, and make significant contributions to the local community. Certificate programs are available in the Leadership Studies program and the Occupational Therapy program.

For more information about the degree completion program at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, please visit usm.maine.edu/lac or call 753-6500.

USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College

51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME

753-6500

usm.maine.edu/lac

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