As a non-degree student, you have the freedom to choose just the classes that interest you, without having to take unrelated electives or prerequisites. This also means that you do not have to complete a full 4-year program. If your intended career does not require a degree, then being a non-degree student allows you to take just the relevant classes, and not waste time or money earning a full degree. Additionally, non-degree students have the ability to advance and develop their career by earning relevant skills and knowledge for their field, so this means that you can earn practical knowledge for career advancement without going back to school fully.
One con of being a non-degree student is the last-minute enrollment. This may make it difficult to plan your semester courses in advance.
Another con is that it may be difficult to earn credits retroactively, if you do decide to earn a degree or go to school full time. In these cases, it could be frustrating to take a full course and not be able receive the credits that come in handy later. Lastly, the cons of being a non-degree student include the difficulty of receiving financial aid. If time or money is a factor for your education, consider an institution such as University of the People that offers tuition-free degrees completely online.
University of the People offers affordable education to students worldwide, so that students from all backgrounds have equal access to quality education. Our online degrees include business administration , computer science , health science , and education , as well as program advising and career development. On the other hand, classes can still be expensive, and admission and financial aid may be more limited than degree seeking students.
There are many reasons for being a non-degree seeking student. Apply Now. Request Info. Ask a student. UoPeople Arabic. Business Administration. Master's Degree MBA. Bachelor's Degree. Associate's Degree. Computer Science. Health Science. Master of Education M. Ask Me Anything. UoPeople Quality. Academic Leadership. Academic Experience. UoPeople Difference. Online Learning at UoPeople. Global Network. Career Development.
Life After Graduation. Student Life. Web Programming Using Python and Django — With the growth of Python and Django, this type of course is generally for people who have foundational skills using both programs.
Students learn intermediate and advanced skills using the Python programming language within the Django framework. Students should be able to create real-world projects to use for both personal and business applications. These classes can focus on a particular skill, such as resume creation and cover letter writing or job interviewing, but they may also encompass the entire job-seeking process from initial searching all the way through the interviewing process.
These classes are generally for individuals with an established career path. Classes range in length from one day to multiple weeks. The classes are very hands on, as students create drafts of resumes and practice their job interview skills with the instructor and their peers. Lifelong learning classes have a wide range of course topics, and they are designed for recreational enjoyment. Some of these courses include:. Acting — These courses teach students the fundamentals of acting for the stage and screen.
Students learn the emotional preparation needed to deliver effective performances in an authentic manner. Creative Writing — Designed with the aspiring writer in mind, these courses focus on the creative process of writing a variety of different materials, including novels, short stories, and poems.
Students learn characterization, plotting, and basic editing. Digital Photography — Courses designed for recreational photography focus on utilizing digital photography equipment and editing programs, in addition to certain techniques that result in professional-quality digital photographs. The emphasis is on learning fundamental concepts and skills, in addition to the basic technology. Public Speaking — Courses teach individuals how to become strong public speakers in various contexts, such as the workplace and special occasions.
Students learn the speech-writing process and practice their delivery of prepared speeches in class. Pet industry courses generally focus on dog grooming and obedience training.
Dog-grooming courses cover basic and advanced techniques to use on a variety of breeds, as well as the business side of how to run a successful dog grooming business. Obedience training courses teach students how to train dogs, then pass the knowledge of how to control the animal on to the pet owner. Real-estate classes are designed to prepare the student to pass the real-estate licensing exam to obtain their residential license, allowing them to sell homes. Courses cover the processes, procedures, and laws governing the sale of a home, as well as how to succeed in a real-estate career.
Money- and wealth-management courses focus on retirement planning and the basics of investing in a variety of instruments, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other speculative vehicles. Small-business classes are wide ranging and focus on several topics, including writing and submitting a successful business plan, funding sources, tax preparation, marketing, and governmental regulation.
Classes are open to all aspiring and current small-business owners, with some focusing on assisting women and minorities. Personal-wellness classes range from yoga to meditation. Students learn the basics of various wellness techniques that will perpetuate physical and mental health in an active environment. Non-degree programs and courses are usually not covered by financial aid.
The GI Bill is one exception, but the non-degree courses accepted under this federal program are limited to vocational training courses, not university classes. Funds from endowments, private donors, and scholarship monies can be used to provide assistance. In addition to non-financial-aid monies, the tuition and fees for these courses are typically very affordable, and most people can cover the costs themselves out of pocket.
Many students believe that non-degree programs at universities are available only to undergraduate students. Those higher degrees are expensive, and fewer post-baccalaureate students accept the expense when the non-matriculated course does nothing to further their immediate goals.
In some instances, potential graduate students may take a course in a graduate program they are considering but are not yet ready to apply to. In addition, many community colleges offer non-degree courses that can be used by students who are seeking to complete high school but do not want to go the GED route.
For instance, students applying to post-graduate studies might fall into this category. Most of the time, the non-matriculated course is taken between the undergraduate and the post-graduate periods.
If you want to educate yourself on a topic, but you have no desire or need to work toward a formal degree, you might consider applying for a non-degree program at your preferred university.
Colleges offer many types of programs that do not result in degrees. For instance, they offer certificates, diplomas, and apprenticeships. All of these programs are non-degree but many of them are still offered for college credit. Even a program, such as a bootcamp , can result in a student earning college credit. If a student takes these programs they won't be awarded a degree but with just a few more classes they can earn that next credential. At the same time, colleges--both two-year and four-year--offer many programs not for college credit.
At four-year colleges these programs are generally offered through extension schools and are for personal enrichment or some kind of professional certification like project management. At community colleges, a certificate that may be offered for credit at one school may sit on the non-credit side of another. One of the benefits of not-for-credit education is that it can be more nimble to the demands of employers. These programs mean that a student generally needs to take some kind of assessment to get credit towards a degree.
Many colleges have experimented with prior learning assessment and other bridges to help close that divide.
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